NY Resolution.... COMPLETE!!!

Yep, that's right.... I COMPLETED MY NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTION!! Wow!
My resolution was to reduce my Patterned Paper stash and scrap stash by 20%, including using up the equivalent of any new papers I bought during the year. So that grand total was 106 papers used! I haven't done the count for the scrap stash yet, but once I have that figure I will update you. In the mean time, go ahead and give me a round of applause! {resounding applause} Or send me a chocolate. Or both. Whatever. Just be happy for me, cos I did it! And I'm even one paper ahead too! See how there is a half-a-cross over the last square? That's cos I'm up one! YAY!!

Yes, Felicity, I will have to add on any papers I buy in Hawaii (and I really do need to refresh my stash with some lovely new papers so there's a big likelihood I'll buy some!) so that's why I'm keeping on keeping on with this chart until the end of the year! And the more I can get into positive territory the better!
Yay for me! {patting self on back}! I've had this same resolution for 4 years now, and I've only succeeded on 2 years! So HOORAY {party hooters going off in background}.
Big smiles :) :) :) C

Omg!

Four to go!! Only FOUR to go!!!!!!! Soooooo close to completing my NY Resolution before the end of October!! Awesomeness!!!!!!!!
:) C

NYR Update...

Only 17 left!! Seventeen!!!!!!! Awesomeness!!!! I am so proud :) Now to stop myself buying more when I go to Spotlight this Arvo. Lol!
(and in a strange co-incidence, this pic is number 1717 on my phone! How spooky!)
:) C

Almost there!

Check it out!! I've never been this close to making my New Year's Resolution (to use up 20% of my patterned paper stash, including any new ones I buy) by August! I've only got 27 to go! Yay!! That's an awesome effort {smiles}. Pat on the back for me!!
:) C

New Year's Resolution- an update!

Hi y'all! Hope you're all having a fabulous Monday!
My poor little Jaimeson is sick with some kind of virus/cold. It's really knocking him around & he's very tired & cranky. Which is not at all like his usual self! {frowny} I miss my happy bubba! So we're having a nice, easy day relaxing at home, which is great cos i'm getting so much done!
How about an update on my New Year's Resolution?!
Each year for the past few years I've been challenging myself to use up 20% of my patterned paper stash, cos my stash just kept growing & growing! The first year I did it, last year I did not {smacking back of hand} but I'm pleased to tell you, I'm on track to fulfill my resolution this year {crowds cheering in background!!}
So far I have used up 57 papers, out of a target of 96, so that's an overall reduction of 11.8%!! Yay! That's over half way! I haven't calculated my scrap stash yet, but I know it will be under, cos I've been using scraps like they're going out of style!
What's that I hear? A round of applause?! Why Thank You!! Xo
:) C

New Year's Resolution.. Did I make it?

I can hear you asking.. "Well, did you reach your New Year's Resolution?" In short... No. BUMMER! {smacking self on the bum}. Each year since 2009 I have resolved (resoluted?? It's always a hard word to use..) to decrease my 12x12 Patterned Paper stash by 20%, and also my paper scraps stash by 20%. I need to reduce it by 20% from the amount I have at the beginning of the year, so any papers I buy during the year also have to be used up. You can see some of the previous posts here. Any time I use a 12x12 sheet it gets marked off the chart, and if I buy any they get added on the chart at the bottom, to be used up and marked off too.
When we moved to Hotel d'Lam last year I found a whole bunch of papers that hadn't been counted in with the previous year's totals, like Christmas papers which I had kept separate, and paper packs and pads. Ok, I had cheated a little by not counting them in, but I swear I had forgotten about some of them! So anyway, the count for 2011 (after we moved house and I "found" more papers) was the real, actual, literal (hehe Dave) total amount, and it was a BIG number! I thought I might have had 200-300 papers, I had in excess of 500!! Like double my estimation! You think it's a lot, well go through your own stash and count them, cos it's always WAY MORE than you think!
So yeah, I didn't quite make it to 20% reduction this year, but I came damn close! {giving self a small pat on the back for effort}
By the close of 2011:
Total 12x12 papers reduced by 17.5%
Total scraps reduced by 17.6%
I'd like a small round of applause for that! {golf claps} It wasn't too far off my total goal, and I'd like to think that was a good effort! In fact, I've only ever reached the goal in one of the 3 years I've done it- and I completed the resolution by October of 2009. Lets hope I can do it that quick again! In 2010 I only used up 11.4% of my stash, so I totally kicked 2010's butt with 2011's total!
So, for 2012 I have to use up 93 full 12x12 sheets and 440g of scraps (I only weigh them, I'm totally not counting each little piece!
Wish me luck!
:) C

New Year's Resolution 2011- Recap!

Hi Y'all!
Do you remember I have a New Year's Resolution to reduce my Patterned Paper stash and scrap stash by 20%? And if I buy any papers throughout the year I have to add them to the target too? Well, I thought i would give you a re-cap as to how I am going, seeing as we are half way through the year already! Where has time flown to? {looking off into the distance with hand against forehead}
So using up my Patterned paper stash is going really well! I (shamefully) had over 500 papers at the beginning of the year and I have used up 10%, so for half way through the year that makes me right on target! Unfortunately it's not going as well for my scrap stash! I have only used 2.8% of my total stash, instead of the 10% I should have reached by now. EEEK! {hiding under the table in shame!} I really need to work on that one a bit more. I was pleased I managed to not even look at the papers at the Quilt show the other day! I really don't need any more in my stash!
I did make a bunch of cards yesterday which would have used a few more scraps! Maybe I should just go through them and throw some in the bin! I have a compulsion to keep even the smallest scrap thinking "I can stamp a sentiment on that!" I think I'm a hoarder!
And here is your Friday pic of our little man! It's from a long time ago, when he was still a tiny 3 week old Bub! Oh he is such a cutie! He was even too small for his 0000 clothes and used to wiggle a shoulder out!
:) C
Enjoy your weekend!!

Happy New Year! Bring on 2011...

I think it is with a touch of sadness that I farewell 2010! It was a year of big celebrations- First there was our Wedding, then our American Honeymoon, the birth of Xander, Mum & Dad's 40th Wedding Anniversary, finding out we're having a baby!, Mum's 60th Birthday, our trip to Hawaii, Sienna's 1st Birthday and moving house. What a year!! I don't think there are many that will top this year for busyness or fun! Will and I spent NY's Eve at work (as usual!) but rocked these cool hats to bring some New Year's Spirit to the workplace! We did actually get an early mark and make it home in time to catch the fireworks on TV. Did you see them? Pretty awesome. There was so much smoke around the bridge from the fireworks that you couldn't even see the finale on the bridge! I joked to Will that I wouldn't be surprised if the bridge is melted this morning. And in this heat I would believe it too! Right now it is 35.6ºC with a forecast high of 34ºC (take that weather bureau!) I'm powering down the water today!
So here's a recap of my 2010 New Year's Resolution - remember I want to reduce both my Patterned papers and my scrap papers by 20%. Well guess what... I didn't make it this year! I blame the ultra busy year! And also I was not motivated at all during my 1st trimester with Peabody. I would sit at my desk for about 10 minutes looking at everything, picking things up and putting them down again and then just walk away {nervous laugh}. It wasn't productive at all! So instead of using up 20% of my PP's I only used up 11.4%. (mostly cos I bought a whole bunch more in America and Hawaii and from 2 peas!) At least that's better than actually having my stash grow! And I missed out on using up 20% of my scraps too, and I only used up 16.6% (yes very technical numbers I know!) And then in the move I found a whole bunch more papers that I hadn't included in the count for 2010, so my aim for this year is actually to use way more papers than in the previous 2 years! Wish me luck! For 2011 I have to use up 74 papers without buying any new ones (I have a total of 372 papers- how many do you have??!) and I have to use 500g of scraps (I have a total of 2.5kg of paper pieces). Do you think this is excessive?? How reachable do you think my goal is when I will be having a baby in May? I hope i can do it! Maybe I should get down to my scrappin space and get a head start now!
Happy New Year!
:) C

New Year's Resolution 2010!

Due to the success of my 2009 NY Resolution (to use up 20% of my Patterned Paper stash over the course of the year) I am repeating the Resolution again! This year I only have to use up 42 papers plus any extra I buy in 2010, compared with last year's 54 (which ended up being 97 cos I bought more and had to use them up too in my self proclaimed "Rules" for this resolution). I think 42 is a well achievable goal! I also have to use up about 600g of scraps (weighed on the kitchen scales cos I ain't gonna count the scraps one by one!) Keep your eyes peeled for some updates over the course of 2010! It feels like such an achievement when I use up papers and get to put a big red X over the number on my chart! I love it! And now my paper box actually closes, although I do have other papers hanging around here and there... :)

And to prove that I did manage to squeeze in some scrapping late in the year, even though I didn't blog it at the time, here is a page to show it! Sorry bout the dodgy pic! It is about Cooper having a go "In my shoes" with Granny. I remember loving to wear Mum's red platform 70s High Heels from the dress up box when I was a child. Does Mum still have them? I wish she did :) Cooper loved holding Granny's hands and trying out my pink patent flatties! Look at those cute tiny sausage feet!

:) C

New Years Resolution.... RESOLVED!!!

Yes, with the completion of this page I have managed to kick the butt of my New Year's Resolution!!! I resoluted (resolved??) to use up 20% of my Patterned Paper stash and scraps pile. That's right, I originally had to use 54 patterned papers without buying any more, which initially blew out to 89 papers cos my self control hadn't kicked in and I kept buying papers! But on Wednesday, it happened...... I DID IT!! Are you proud?? I am, cos when I started I realised it was a really daunting prospect for me, I only did 68 pages last year and so to use up 89 papers was gonna be hard! But I did it {happy dance!!} I'm even one paper ahead! I am really looking forward to getting some more new, fresh papers but I do want to use up some more of my stash before then. It's very theraputic to be using through stuff that I have hoarded for years!! Wow, it's like a weight off my shoulders!
A bit about the page: the title is actually a linen swing tag that came on a cute top I bought in Grafton! I loved the tag and knew I wanted to use it on a page and when this pic came along I knew it was perfect!! The OLD on this page is the heart lace cardstock, the fozz felt, the slide holder, the rub on flowers and the "bestfriends" and "family" stickers. I love my sisters! Thanks for always being there for me and for making our Engagement Party special and for all your help with the party too MWAH {kissing noise!}
:) C

AWOL?!

Hi, I really am still around! For some reason I have been super tired after work each night and so have just been vegging out on the lounge. I can't even be bothered to turn on the computer some nights! Whoa!! But rest assured, I'm here. And I"m still thinking about you, I just haven't gotten to post anything.

The bummer about slothing on the lounge is that I haven't really been creating anything this week! I'll have to dig out through my old pics and find a page I haven't posted yet... hmmm....

Oh this page is only from last week, so thats not too old at all! Probably one of my fave meals of the day to eat out is Breakfast!! (Followed by dinner, dessert and then lunch comes in last, unless it's one of those long, lazy lunches where they let you sit and chat and drink coffee and graze for 2 hours :)!) Well, American's know how to make a gooooooood breakfast and so when I spotted Denny's in Hawaii I dragged Will along! Will ate steak and eggs (trust him to find the steak on a menu- he always eats steak if he sees it!) and I ate the 3 meat breakfast with pancakes. Yep, everything in that right hand pic is my breakfast! Oh it was sooooo good! I had a ham steak, sausages, crispy bacon, hash brown, 2 poached eggs and 2 pancakes! At least we didn't have to worry about eating lunch that day! The OLD on this page is the BG paper (it's double sided and I had actually bought it for the other side which was a rough pink with yellow and white dots, but this side turned out to be the winner for me!), the lettering stickers (I was amazed I still had all the letters to write that title!) the "Happy" punch out, the DENNY'S lettering rub ons, the stitching and flourish rub ons and the lace cardstock. WOW!! I actually really like this page, I know that probably sounds weird, but it is only a page about breakfast, yet I really like it!

BTW, I am doing so well on my New Year's Resolution that i only have to use up 5 papers to have reached my goal!! SO PROUD!!

:) C

Project 365 Collage #20 & YAY for the Weekend!

Well, actually I have been off work sick the past 2 days, but Yay for the weekend anyway!!


I am way behind with lots of postings at the moment (I think I will never catch up on the Project 365 collages at this rate!) but I haven't forgotten about you, my tiny handful of readers! And also I wanted to give a giant HURRAH {blowing on a paper hooter and waving arms crazily} cos I reached 2500 visits!! THANK YOU FOR DROPPING BY OVER THE PAST YEAR AND MAKING MY BLOG FUN!! So have a seat, relax and share a Blue Hawaii with me :) YUM! P.s. We're going to Hawaii in 2010 for my Mum's *significant (not going to say how many, for her own protection)* birthday! Should be awesomeness!! Yvette, you HAVE to come... it wont be the same without you there... pLEASE!!

Ok, so I'll start with another Project 365 collage:

Hmm... this is getting a bit long ago now, but I think I remember whats going on! This is how I usually spend my Saturday morning, in some comfy clothes eating breakfast at my computer and blogging (hence, that is exactly what I have done this morning!!); my makeup trial at the photographer that we decided we didn't like; reading the second Twilight book (I read all 4 books in just over 1.5 weeks, wow, they really suck you in!); I have been trawling etsy looking for wedding ideas and I saw some really cool stickers and Yvette suggested we could make our own in photoshop- so thats what I did! This is the rehersal one (you'll notice I put it as a button on my blog cos I like how it turned out! Less than 9 months to go! {smiles}; card making; on to the third Twilight book now!; drove Mum back home to Wollongong cos I felt I needed to get out of Sydney and for once I got to stay in the "big bed", not my childhood 2x6 foot antique bed; I bought my Wedding Dress!! The very first one I tried on- So so so beautiful!!; LOOK WHO's BACK!! MR PUFFY!! I hadn't seen him for AGES and he popped by to see me on this day. Mr Puffy usually visits me when a change is on the way... (no, I'm not supersitious, I just think he is delivered to me to say Hello!) so I'm guessing this time it is cos I'm going to be Mrs Lam soon enough. Missed you Mr Puffy!

NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTION UPDATE!!
Well, I am just over 6 months into my New Years Resolution to reduce my Patterned Papers and scraps by 20% by the end of the year, and I have to say I think I'm actually doing quite well! In fact, if I hadn't bought any papers at all this year I would have achieved it already!! But seeing as I am weak and can't possibly go a whole year without buying delicious, exciting, awesome pieces of printed paper, I have caved and bought 30 papers this year. Honestly, thats only just over 1 per week, I don't think that is so so bad, is it?! Well I only have to use up 27 more, without buying any additional papers, and I have conquered my Resolution fair and square!! What do you think? Can I do it?!! I hope so!!

Wow, at risk of having you drop dead from boredom from reading this long, long, wordy post I will stop now, but might come back later to post some of my recent creative exploits!!

:)C

Hooray for Saturday (and a confession about my New Year's Resolution)

My gosh, I was so excited to finish work at 10pm yesterday and realise I had NO PLANS for today or tomorrow except dinner and a movie with Willy tonight. Woo hoo!! This means so much time to just do whatever!! {Happy dancing, head down, arms flailing, legs kicking... WOOT!!}

So.... I slept in til 9am, made eggs on toast in the tiny pink frypan I got off Mum and Dad for my birthday... watched RAGE and sat down at my desk and created.... YAY!!

I actually started this first page when I got home from work last night. It's using more of the Cosmo Cricket Mr Campy range I bought specifically for this holiday.. I love the little car towing the caravan so much!! My family used to tow our caravan around the countryside for holidays.. I have many many fond memories of our caravan holidays! Maybe when we have kids we'll have a caravan too. I think Will wouldn't care, as long as wherever we go he can go fishing! I did have to drive this section between Grafton and Yamba though cos we went the back way through Lawrence and Will hasn't driven on such narrow country roads before! Lol, it was so funny watching him try to put 2 wheels off the edge of the road and miss the guide posts when a car came in the opposite direction! I didn't realise how much subliminal training I must have gotten being a passenger for all those years growing up and driving on those roads!

And then the next page about Willy. This was one of those moments when my heart dropped all the way down to my feet and I felt so genuinely sorry, grateful, apologetic, loved and cared for, all at the same time! Not sure if you can read the journalling so I'll give you a quick summary. Australia Day, out all day, Will dropped me home at 11pm then dropped a friend off at Ashfield and went home. He tried calling me 10 times but I couldn't hear my phone ringing cos it was in my handbag in my bedroom and next thing I know there's a knock at my door and it's Will. He thought something had happened to me, he thought I had been abducted between his car and my front door or that I was in a Diabetic Coma so he had rushed back to my house to make sure I was ok. I felt sooo bad and was so sorry I hadn't heard my phone ring! He wasn't even angry or upset, and he didn't want to come in to the house, he just said "Ok, goodnight. Make your ring tone louder next time". Oh!! I thought "What kind of person would do that for me and drive all the way back to my house to check on me?"! It's not a short trip either. Poor Willy, my hero!

So.. my New Year's Resolution....

I AM TRYING!!!

Really I am... but I am only just holding on!! I accidentally bought 6 more papers (LOL! How do you accidentally buy papers?!) last weekend which means instead of being in the positives with trying to use up my stash I am 1 paper behind. That's right, now I have 1 more paper than when I started this challenge January 1. BUT... that's not too bad really. As long as I don't buy any more for a while, I think it is quite self controlled! I always love papers and forced myself to only buy 6 and only ones that I could think of specific projects for.

As for my scraps... somehow my scrap stash has gone from 2.35kg of scraps to 2.53kg. Hmmm... I think there may be some paper love going on and they are multiplying without my knowledge! I swear I keep using them, and the stash keeps getting bigger! I think the Scrapbooking Fairy is sneaking in at night and planting more scraps in my box!

So... forgive me for not having any positive news about my New Year's Resolution, but it's not all together that negative either! I will try harder!!

:) C

Happy New Year!! Bring on 2009!!

Happy New Year Everyone!!!

I hope you managed to get out there and party.. guess what?! We saw the fireworks!! We were sitting around at work (for like 1.5hrs doing nothing) waiting for out last delivery to come (due at 9:30pm, but went AWOL) and we begged and pleaded to be let go.. I think our manager was scared the crew were going to riot (not far off the truth!) and he let us go!! So at 11pm Will and I jumped in the car and raced off to Gladesville to try to see the Fireworks. We drove around for 30mins trying to find a carpark but the place was PACKED!! We eventually did a dodgy park (if you're a Policeman reading this, our park was completely legitimate and within the boundaries of the law) and RRAAANNN to the Burns Bay Bridge and made it with about 2 mins to spare! Even though the Fireworks were a fair way away and we had the Butt view (everything is angled out to the harbour and not the west!) it was still so pretty, heaps of beautiful colours, MASSIVE bursts and the ones that hang in the air for ages... soo beautiful! The greenies musn't have been happy with the smoke though cos by the end it obscured half the fireworks from us and we couldn't see the city any more!!

Here comes some exciting news too... I'm going to make a New Year's Resolution!! WHOA!! I've never made one before so I hope this is one I am going to stick to!!

Drum Roll Please.. {brmmmmmmm}

"I solemnly Resolute to reduce my Patterned Papers and Scrap stash by 20% by the end of 2009"....

WOW!! How Liberating!! I'm serious about this you realise and I've done the figures:

Here's the current number crunching...

Full Sheets of Patterned Papers: 269 (4.15kg on the kitchen scales!)

Scrap Stash: 2.35kg (I'm so not going to count these individually!)

So this means a reduction of 53.8 papers/0.83kg (oh no!) of full sheets and 0.47kg of scraps.

WHAT HAVE I DONE!!! How will I ever use up that many, not including new ones I buy... hmm.. I've got some serious crafting to do!

Have a great Public Holiday! I've got some creative plans for my day!

:) C