It all started with free lemons

Back in late Feb my hubby came home with 2 shopping bags of lemons after giving one away to Lynn to make our own lemon cordial. We had great success with my first previous batch, but dear hubby had no idea that it only takes 6 lemons per batch. So I ended up juicing the whole lot and freezing them in batches for the purpose of lemon cordial. This started my first purchase of a wee little lemon tree and from that I have started to germinate vege seeds and planting up seedlings into a compost bags and numerous pots/containers as our own garden soil is to hard and very clayish. Dear hubby will hopefully make me one day a few timber vegie planters so in the mean time they are all going into pots! Lemon cordial making graduated into Limoncello and liqueur making for our recent homemade liqueur tasting evening organized by Lynn. All our friends got totally into it and some were very imaginative and the evening was a total success - hicup, another excuse for another layout someday...

Credits: Spring Morning by Manue et Nini available at DigiScrapbooking.ch

Be in to win $5 voucher at ScrapbooksGoneDigital

Hello fellow bloggers,
I am finally back blogging again after a busy month with work, lemon cordial making, vegie seedling growing to name a few. Over at ScrapbooksGoneDigital I am hosting my very 1st template challenge as the latest new forum moderator. Using the same template, I am challenging you to scrap your other hobby other than digiscrapping. My challenge runs from now till the end of April and one lucky winner will get a $5 voucher to spend in the ScrapbooksGoneDigital shop. Follow this link to the SgD POST to download the free template to enter and participate.

And here is my take on the challenge:


Credits: SgD Photoshop Layer Template # T0001, Tiptoe Through the Tulips Kit by Mel

Oh dear, my Valentine's Freebie is very late - sorry

I can't believe it's been such a long time since I both blogged and posted a freebie. I had full intentions of posting these before Valentine's, but with work, squash and committee stuff my creative mojo seemed to be lacking. So with hubby out of town for tonight, I thought it was the perfect opportunity to get it finished for posting. Papers and brad created using MickeyBDesigns Commercial Use freebies, WordArt using Marcelle font. I hope you can use it, better still send me a link to your lo's.

As per usual, just follow the link here to download...

Sun, sun, sun - The perfect camping weekend!

The much planned camping weekend finally arrived, together with the JamieGees we'd pick Waitangi weekend and stayed Friday 6th to Sunday 8th Feb at Kaitoke Regional park just north of Upper Hutt. This being the same place we all stayed with Sam & kids last Easter and fond memories. The Butt-kins turned up well packed as usual, this time included trailer with 12 person tent, 8 seater table and chairs and bbq - we did leave the kitchen sink behind ;-)!

The tent proofed a hit with the kids who slept in it and where the food and kitchen items were well kept out of the sun. With the weather co-operating and very hot, the local swimming holes were very welcoming and my CJ finally plucked up enough courage to jump of the walking bridge (at least 15m high) on the last afternoon. Though it took him 3 goes, but the adrenalin was worth it for him, were as I was a nervous wreck watching!

Credits: Simplyyin template 87, Edge of Wood kit by digiscrapbooking.ch

My scrap canvas projects

Wow, a busy couple of days making these hybrid canvases. Started out with a printed layout and adhered to canvas, so did these 2 for BB's birthday. The water skiing one was only done yesterday, hadn't shown the original lo on my blog to him yet, so he got a real nice surprise when he got home and absolutely loved it! Have now got Lynn totally hooked too and I think we both nearly bought out the local shop of supplies - lol. And who did I spot shopping for canvases this morning, you guessed it.

Some CT layouts scrapped

I have been having fun playing around with kits at ScrapbooksGoneDigital for both SgD Club Products as well as One of a Kind Design Studio these last few weeks. Found myself really getting into the Disney theme with borrowed photos from Lynn and all going well we might have an opportunity to go to Disney World ourselves in 4 years time. Me think to better start saving soon!

Credits: Created using "The Mouse Collection" at ScrapbooksGoneDigital, store link here.

Also finished these 2 lo gifted to me by a special lady C. I'm adding some cards to my stash, this Thank You card is for my sister-in-law up in Tauranga. I have just send up a parcel for them. Hope it arrives all in tact & that they'll like it!

Credits: Created using "Glittering Joy Brag Book".

Happy Birthday my dear BB

It's my dear hubby's bday, unlike me he didn't quite get to take the day off. Though he did take time out to have lunch with his parents. CJ & I didn't make it as it clashed with a hair cut appointment, never mind. Making it up by planning one of his fave dinners tonight, Lamb stew with mash and spinach - yum. The weather is somewhat cooler again today, me think 20 not the 34 we experienced on Saturday, so stew & mash will be perfect, especially with a nice drop of red win - gorgeous!

Just a quick scrap of BB from our last jet skiing day out last month, another perfect day. The little show off managed to get on one ski straight away unlike last time it took at least half a dozen times. Poor Lynn & Cameron to tried, but found the going very tough. Hopefully they will give it another go next time.


Credits: BlogTemplate4 & You Always WordArt by YouandI Designs, paper Edge of Wood kit by http://digiscrapbooking.ch/

My own QP freebie scrapped

Busy day with an early start getting ready to meet the Jamiegees on the water at our usual local jet ski spot. Didn't get there for nine like some, but 10am was pretty good going especially for the Buttners.
The weather was hot, just as well there was plenty of water to keep us all cool. The youngest member of our party learned to knee board today, and T managed to get up on the first go too. We were all so happy for her. BB & I didn't get home until late afternoon and have blobbed ever since, the sun and water out there is so very tiring.


Credit: my very own QP freebie, see this post & love heart WA at http://tinasdesigns.blogspot.com/

It's here at last, Be My Valentine QP freebie

I have found some spare time with my hubby being in hospital last week and this week I had a girlfriend stay all week, so thanks for your patience if you have come back in anticipation. Well the NZ summer school holidays are coming to an end another week and a half and CJ is back at school. Will keep my ramblings short, BB is back on the mend now thank goodness. So onto the freebie

For your download pleasure here

A belated 2nd Anniversary lo

I have been meaning to scrap our anniversary photo from earlier this month, then found this so befitting QP. Just great when I'm still trying to find my scrapping mojo! We were out on our special day for both lunch & dinner. Photo was taken at the end of lunch by BB's brother in-law at local cafe in Tauranga, where we all enjoyed a yummy meal each.

Apologies for not having my promised QP available as yet, but thanks so much for your return visits. It should be ready soon...

Credits: Biebels Scraps Intensity QP & WordArt by WordArtFun

How about that, a scrapped LO at last.

I seem to have hit a drought, with my scrapping that is. Though I have been beavering away at making my freebies, so it's nice to get my hands dirty again and scrapping for real. Just had to scrap this LO of the boyz, especially such a neat moment these two were having at the time.
You can't beat Wellington on a stunner day and yes BG did get the weather just right again as he does 9 times out of 10!


Credits: Template #46 @ http://scrappingwithliz.blogspot.com/ using Edge of Wood kit available @ http://digiscrapbooking.ch/ and AWP PlasticAlpha @ http://vicki20.blogspot.com/

Not the best of starts to the week!

Well, the weekend started with a hiss and a roar! The retaining wall project got started up again on Saturday and by late afternoon the wall wall was up. Just great to see this taking shape from the inside and have a few ideas in my head now how I want to plant it up. Then on Sunday BB & I just wanted to finish of the last of the 2 posts. These still needed digging & concreting in, so after digging 2 huge holes as our first attempts kept hitting cables & pipes, we managed to get the job done in the end though BB had both back and tummy niggles. By night time the latter had developed into severe stomach pains, which started to look more & more like a repeat episode of last year's Diverticular disease (inflamed intestine). After a very painful sleepless night we decided to take precaution and go to a&e just to be on the safe side. Arrived there just after 9am, waiting, check up, more waiting, x-ray, more waiting. Finally BB admitted into his ward at 3.45pm with Divericulitis at least he's at the right place, though bored and very hungry - poor BB!

Am working on another kit and have at this stage this Add On available to "Be My Valentine", I hope you like as much as I enjoyed making them! If you come back later this week I should have a QP available too and I'll reveal the kit at the end of the month. So keep coming back to check....

You can download here

Missing in action, but Happy New Year btw

Hope you saw in the New Year safely with your loved ones. We didn't as too tired from a very windy bike ride on the Rimutaka Incline earlier in the day. Did manage to go to a bbq at friends, just were too shattered to call into the Jamiegees to see in the new year, how sad is that!
We felt we hadn't had a holiday as yet and as we couldn't get ferry tickets to join our friends in the Sounds we decided on a road trip to Tauranga where BB's sister lives. Left on Sunday and we are leaving again today back to Wellington, but will be calling into the Luge at Rotorua so hopefully will have some thrill pics to scrap.
BB & I celebrated our 2nd anniversary yesterday and went out just the 2 of us for a small meal in the evening, dinner was yum just as great as lunch earlier in the day. We have managed to relax with walks and shopping while we have stayed here in Tauranga. Oops, forgot to mention we did hot pools at the Mount with peoples getting a wee bit too much sun burn, though BB and I did a night hot pools here in Tauranga under the stars with back lit gardens, very tranquil...

Freebie Christmas Glitter WordArt

I hope your time off is cruisey like the one I am having right now. Not much scrapping going on yet, but am still dabbling with creating Christmas wordart. So wanted to share these 2 wordarts with you, one winter and one summer one perfect for those Kiwi or Ozzie Christmas layouts. The white/grey background is for preview purposes only and wordart is saved in png file format. I hope you can use them...

You can download them here

A quick Merry Christmas posting

I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas with your families and enjoyed the festivities together over the last few days. For us it was spend at my Mum's place with my sister and her family there too. We couldn't have asked for any better weather as the day was sunny but not too hot. Christmas this year was really for the kids & even our Corey got spoiled with new toys and dog treats.
Well, haven't the last days just flown by. It seems like we have been eating non stop since Christmas eve! My BB being the bbq king has been on duty every day even yesterday when we joined our friends for jet skiing our bbq came with us. Nothing like a great sausy on a hot Wellington day! I took a heap of photos yesterday, so plenty to get scrapping with soon.

This year I did a bunch of Pecan pies for presents and I am so pleased how the bag toppers have turned out. My Christmas baking has been well received & are a scrummy mouthful treat, yum yum. BTW, Buttkins is our family nick name - thanks Eilish ;-)


Credits: Paper, elements & WordArt by ScrapbooksGoneDigital Christmas Collection Kit & Christmas Messages. For a limited time get 40% of all SgD Club Products.

I'm on a roll, here's my 2nd Freebie

Thanks to the many visitors to my tiny blog this week I have hit nearly 100 downloads of my 1st freebie. You have come from far & wide and hopefully you'll visit again soon, perhaps to download my 2nd effort. This time I have on offer some frames, 6 glitter ones, 1 black and a grunged one I'd use for a mask. The glitter ones were created with MzCora's freebie glitter, which I just had to grab! What girl doesn't lover her bling.

Well it has been a busy week, my CJ is already on school holiday as of this Monday. So he's had to fit in by spending the majority days with either BB working or at my work. Just as well he has his own laptop and can watch the latest borrowed DVDs in peace. I am working till Tuesday 23rd, so that I have at least Christmas eve to get semi ready for the next day. Though some of the day will be spend visiting friends as one has her birthday and another has his yearly Christmas eve party.

Signing off now, it's late. Hope you have a fab weekend wherever you are. Oops, I nearly forgot the download link.

For your download pleasure here

Are you ready? Christmas is nearly here. WordArt Freebie

I found myself dabbling with a WordArt this evening. As you can see I'm no pro, but thought it hadn't turned not to shabby so wanted to share my very 1st freebie with all of you out there including my nearest and dearests. Don't freek, the "GiMP Girl DesigNZ" logo isn't part of the WA. I've created it in a png file with transparent background so hopefully any editing software out there can use it. But if not, just give me a holler and I'll change if required. All I ask is if you like it give thanks where thanks is due & please leave a link if you end up using it as I would absolutely love it if I can peek at the final result of your LO! I think if you used some of that lovely bling out there to replace my stars it would give it some real sparkle ;-)

So enjoy and download HERE

Spreading Christmas Cheer

Well, it has started. The mass production of numerous Christmas card & Pecan Pie baking. But there still seems to be no end to it all. Feels to me I am leaving things to the last minute again this year!!! Nothing changes ;)
We just had the most stunning weather over the weekend here in NZ, so that called for an impromptu bbq @ Dom's on Friday. Which followed by another one @ Lynn's with both BB & Dom in charge of the cooking. There was sooo much food, we didn't eat it all but we gave it a good try. Both nights we managed to sit outside till late and it was great to see kids enjoying themselves as kids do. Then Sunday afternoon was followed with Christmas drinks and a bit of a get together at Neil & Diane's. Yes, the weather was still perfect in fact it was the hottest day over the weekend. What a nice way to spend it among friends over drinks and nibbles outside on the patio.
We're of to CJ's school prizegiving at Wellington town hall tonight, I wonder if he'll get anything. His report arrived in the mail too on Saturday, he did so well - we are very proud of him. Keep it up my boy.

Credits: Christmas Spirit kit by Lisa Whitney Designs

Tree, what Xmas tree? & latest Award

Well, still no real Christmas tree in sight in our lounge so this girl still not feeling like she has her Xmas mojo. So to get in the mood, I pulled out last night our wee fake tree with fibre optic lights instead. Not the real McCoy I know, but it's a start! The tree is too tiny to pose with, so got Corey to be my test subject. Doesn't he look TOTALLY bored, lol. Didn't see the point in wasting it so scrapped it straight away. Just love a QP, especially when time is precious at the mo.

credits: GirlTalk - November QP, Believe in Santa WordArt by Kathy

To my many scrapping girlfriends out there (I have friends!), thanks Cat & Sam for giving me the latest Treasured Friend Award. Also a thanks to Mel for tagging me with the same award post on her blog. You gals all ROCK! Now, I'll take a little breather from passing this award on until I have my thinking cap back, hope you don't mind sweeties.

Christmas is around the corner

Thanks to Sammy, I get a reminder how close Christmas is with her countdown on her blog every time I visit over there. Girlfriend, your blog is looking fab and at least one of us is already into the swing of things. I am getting a bit more closer each day in finishing our family Christmas cards. I'd better hurry up or they could end up being shelved, hehe.
On the home front, things are steady for BB business wise and he's kept busy enough with jobs and quotes leading up to Christmas. It's a shame that things will be very quiet from Christmas till mid January with the glass suppliers all having closed factories, just what BB didn't need just having started out this month. Just as well I am still working.

Credits: Christmas Collection - kit & QPs, WordArt - Christmas Messages all available at ScrapbooksGoneDigital
, get your 25% store wide discount for month of November

GIMP Digiscrapping Tutorial - "Installing fonts for use in GIMP"

I got asked this question by Cat not so long ago, which she managed to follow no problems. So thought to might as well share it with you GIMPsters out there if you wondered how.

1) First download, unzip, install font to C:\Windows\Fonts - refer to Dafont-faq for more instructions.

2) If GIMP is already open, exit GIMP and re-open OR with Text Tool selected, click on Font selection icon,
click on Open the font selection dialog (bottom right button),
click Rescan font list (looks like arrows pointing at each other at bottom of dialog).


The rescan may take a while, so be patient.

3) With Text Tool selected, click on canvas or new layer and type away with your newly installed font.

That's all folks.

What a hoot, another award

Great minds think alike! It turns out when I was in the process of leaving a comment for Lynn, about her award from me, she nominated me for the same award. How about that, 2 GIMPsters on the same wavelength. So thanks Lynn, and I am very pleased you like my tuts too.

Slight hick-up is that her list is 7 long, so thought to better add a 7th love of mine.
1. My boyz - BB, CJ & C you guys keep amazing me. I am so very blessed and loved.
2. Life - although things might be tough and tight for us at the moment, we could be a whole worse of.
3. GIMP - I am totally addicted, just call me GIMP Girl!
4. Photography - probably my longest held hobby & still going strong, first joined a club at age 11.
5. DigiScrapping - goes hand in hand with my previous 2 stated loves. Our new laptop sure makes scrapping a breeze.
6. Squash - I am no A grader, but I get my kicks!
7. Good food & wine with good company, nothing better than sharing finger food and wine with friends.

Over to you lovely ladies, pass it on
1. Kristin, your designs are just scrummy & many thanks for the sweet comments you leave on my blog. My wishlist for Santa includes some spending money in your store.
2. Corry, your LO's are fantastic & your dog ones a real inspiration.
3. Norma - SgD Designs, I so enjoy being on your CT right now - keep up the great designs.
4. Mzpimptress, thanks for letting me use your designs in my blog header - your stuff has attitude, love it.
5. Twinsmom1, goodluck with your designs Mel - another great GIMP scrapper
6. Colurb, that's my boy!
7. Pursuit of scrap happiness, I take my regular peeps here - beautiful fun & bright!

Gee whiz, I got a Kreativ Blogger award - Yippee

How cool is this, Scrapness left me a message on my blog to say she had awarded me this. Sooo totally unexpected - but wow THANKS!

So if I have this right, I am to pass this on to my choice of 6 blogs together with the 6 things I love. Here goes:
1. My boyz - BB, CJ & C you guys keep amazing me. I am so very blessed and loved.
2. Life - although things might be tough and tight for us at the moment, we could be a whole worse of.
3. GIMP - I am totally addicted, just call me GIMP Girl!
4. Photography - probably my longest held hobby & still going strong, first joined a club at age 11.
5. DigiScrapping - goes hand in hand with my previous 2 stated loves. Our new laptop sure makes scrapping a breeze.
6. Squash - I am no A grader, but I get my kicks!

And passing it on to you amazing ladies out there:
1. Cat, my 1st official blog follower - thank u Cat
2. Lynn
3. Fryske, who got me on my 1st CT
4. Nikkiana
5. Tanya-Faye
and
6. Sammy, who I taught GIMP digiscrapping & Blogger and more ;-)

over to you ladies have fun... sending u all HUGS

Good luck with your exams Colin

Well, it's exam week for CJ. Starting with Japanese today, followed by science and social studies later this week. It reminds me of when I was at college back in Holland at CJs age. I rang him earlier after BB & I came back from taking Corey for a walk, he said it went great and that he didn't feel he struggled in any areas. Sounds very positive! Good one CJ, you put in a lot of effort in your revision work for Japanese, so hopefully it all paid off. This will be no doubt good ground work for your up and coming years at school and you'll be used to the expectations school sets out for you boys.

Credits: YouAndI Template & Wonderful kit by Fryske at Youandidigidesign by Fryske

A busy weekend

With an early start on Saturday morning with voting. Turns out BB & I both are still under our old electorate, so what was supposed to be a 5 min vote turned out to be a 15 min event! Then we were off calling into a few jobs before arriving at Mum's to mow, weed & goarse (how you spell that?) removal. CJ too worked hard, water blasting paths & steps, washing Nanny's car and goarse removal. We worked solidly till dinner time and collapsed on the couch afterward. When we got home, too tired so we 3 snuggled up in bed for a DVD. On Sunday, the office got rearranged after BB bought additional office furniture for fax/printer. BB got struck by a hayfever attack, while shopping earlier for office furniture, the van still had remnants of garden waste in it which brought on a severe attack which left him utterly miserable for the rest of the day. Even with medication the sneezing & runny nose didn't lessen until about 3 hours later. Poor BB!

Credits: Au pays des rêves QP