Dilemma of the day......

I'm soooooo trying hard to get on with my Soul challenge, and may have to type this weeks challenge as it's a challenge in itself to grip my pen!! This weeks challenge for me is the deiveway! After doing Soul over the last few weeks, I can no longer choose to ignore things as I did in the past - such as dead-heading the roses! 5 years ago roses were deadheaded on the way to the mailbox every morning (prior to having the shop) then once the shop came along, roses were deadheaded by my hubbie - once a year - with a chainsaw. With me still being at home - it's like the deadheads are "staring" at me! aaaaagh....BUT I can only hold the secateurs in my left hand and I'm right handed. Before the SOUL , this would have seemed like a bloody good excuse, now it's just adding to the frustration because they have been "noticed!"...But alas, I see 2 boys running up the drive off the school bus - what do you reckon - 1 cent per deadhead - they'll think they have a bargain and I can get it photographed - adding to the rapidly expanding pile of "to do's" that have been compiled in just a few weeks.... Now to put my plan into action.........

Sneaky peek!

We just KNEW that Priscilla wouldn't be able to resist doing this!!! What she is wearing in her hair is actually one of the embellishments from our upcoming December crop box!! (Yes, we know she is a little 'different'!!!)

Halted In My Tracks....

Well more drama from the queen!! Monday morning saw me being rushed over to Waikato with the possibility of a slight stroke!! I soooooo tried to explain to them that it was the effects of working with my lot at the shop - but they wouldn't have it and insisted on an MRI !! All of my "FRIENDS" then text John to say that I wouldn't be out for the next year because they'd still be looking for my brain..How does the saying go about friends and enemies???? I'm getting them back by having my slaves at home pandering to my every whim!!! But all is well - or will be when I can walk properly again, and stop people from thinking that i'm drunk all of the time... The girls at the shop think that it's funny to skite but they haven't seen the mounting pages in the project book here - even if it doesn't look quite so appealing because it's been drawn with my left hand - lol.....Maybe that's what is wrong - I've just got brain overload...A few more revivals should do the trick - you'll have to keep looking out for them in the "WHAT'S NEW" section of the shopping cart.

Until next time..I'm off for my nana nap!

Wait a minute....

Hey does this looked like they struggled with the mushy peas to you?????????

Guy Fawkes Celebrations

Well, our Annie sure knows how to throw a Guy Fawkes celebration!! There was hot pot, toffee, mushy peas, there were people everywhere and a fantastic fireworks display (that Annie nearly got divorced over when her hubby found out how much she spent! - but it was well worth it!)
And then there were sparklers for the kids ............. and the not so small kids as you can see by the photos of Christine and Priscilla below!!
What did you do for Guy Fawkes?? we'd love to see your layouts in the gallery - and remember that there is a competition going on in the gallery - we want to see your halloween layouts!!

We've extended the current
time limit on the competition in the gallery
for Halloween & Christmas
The idea is simple -
load your projects into this category
and ALL names/projects (with the exception
of mine of course) go into the hat
and one lucky winner will be pulled out of the hat
to win $100 prize pack.

Closing date is now Thursday November 23rd
Winner announced Friday November 24th
it will give you chance to scrap your Halloween photos..
or just click online to get some ideas!

Get busy!

This came in from WILMA and we just had to share it....

Pregnancy, Oestrogen and WomenPregnancy Q & A & more!

Q: Should I have a baby after 35?
A: No, 35 children is enough.

Q: I'm two months pregnant now. When will my baby move?
A: With any luck, right after he finishes university.

Q: What is the most reliable method to determine a baby's sex?
A: Childbirth.

Q: My wife is five months pregnant and so moody that sometimes she's borderline irrational.
A: So what's your question?

Q: My childbirth instructor says it's not pain I'll feel during labour, but pressure. Is she right?
A: Yes, in the same way that a tornado might be called an air current.

Q: When is the best time to get an epidural?
A: Right after you find out you're pregnant.

Q: Is there any reason I have to be in the delivery room while my wife is in labour?
A: Not unless the word "divorce" means anything to you.

Q: Is there anything I should avoid while recovering from childbirth?
A: Yes, pregnancy.

Q: Do I have to have a baby shower?
A: Not if you change the baby's nappy very quickly.

Q: Our baby was born last week. When will my wife begin to feel and act normal again?
A: When the kids are in university.

"OESTROGEN ISSUES"
10 WAYS TO KNOW IF YOU HAVE "OESTROGEN ISSUES"
1. Everyone around you has an attitude problem.
2. You're adding chocolate to your cheese omelette.
3. The dryer has shrunk every last pair of your jeans.
4. Your husband is suddenly agreeing to everything you say.
5. You're using your mobile phone to dial up every car sticker that says: "How's my driving- call 0800-".
6. Everyone's head looks like an invitation to batting practice.
7. Everyone seems to have just landed here from "outer space".
8 You can't believe they don't make a tampon bigger than Super Plus.
9 You're sure that everyone is scheming to drive you crazy.
10. The ibuprofen bottle is empty and you bought it yesterday..

TOP TEN THINGS ONLY WOMEN UNDERSTAND
10. Cats' facial expressions.
9. The need for the same style of shoes in different colours.
8. Why bean sprouts aren't just weeds.
7. Fat clothes.
6 Taking a car trip without trying to beat your best time.
5. The difference between beige, ecru, cream, off-white, and eggshell.
4. Cutting your hair to make it grow.
3. Eyelash curlers.
2. The inaccuracy of every bathroom scale ever made.
AND,
the Number One thing only women understand:
1. OTHER WOMEN

It was just a little somenthing that made us laugh.........

Managed 4 days.......

WEll that's me done till next Monday!! I managed 4 days and I can hardly keep my eyes open LOL......We've worked like mad for the crop boxes to be leaving tomorrow, and we've all found it sssooooooo easy to work with. The gallery has been well loaded this week, and we have quite a few people coming for bonfire night with the traditional English bonfire fare of hot pot and mushy peas, treacle toffee and toffee apples - so loads of photo opportunities on that night - most probably the screwed up faces of those eating REAL mushy peas and not those from a can LOL.... I've finally finished off the fairy challenges that were started before my surgery and will be working through the rest when i'm back on track - but you can view them here on the GALLERY. The new SOUL challenge will be posted below once it has gone out on the
G & T eNewsletter and don't forget to keep an eye out for the new listings on the gallery for this month's crop boxes....

Whacked....

First day back in over 3 weeks and I'm whacked - if it wasn't for the grey hair and my need to dye it, I would have been in bed ages ago....I brought home ALL of my bookwork to do and it hasn't made it out of the car oooopss...... BUT I just had to tell you - as I await the grey to magically change colour - that Novembers crop box is well underway - and that the new 7gypsies paper range springs to mind - but don't tell anyone I told you LOL......

Soul - the new challenge started 20.10.06

Heres where we'll post all of the details to SOUL
- our new challenge that will make you think even more than the last
Journal Block Challenge -

was created after the death from cancer of my friend Linda - 3 years ago.
It truly was a defining moment in my life, probably because her
children were the same age as mine.
Last year more of my friends decided to make a change
and I've seen them work tirelessly on this for
the past 12 months, and next week their "vision" finally becomes a reality
and SOHLNZ opens it's doors.
This challenge has come about as a mixture of both events
and will definately make you think a little more
and leave a mark......
Each challenge may be over the period of
1 week, 2 weeks or slighly longer depending on
the "complexity" of it..........

SOUL

You will need either an 8x8
or 8.5x11 album ready to start.

But to get started, you need the following:
An Album (or digital ability!)
Your most favourite photo of you at any age (can be a copy)
A photo of your most favourite feature of you
A close up photo of your eyes

It can be handwritten, computer journalled
you can complete this digitally if you wish,
the reason I've specified a size of album
is that the cardstock & papers can be printed directly onto -
YOU CAN WORK ON ANY SIZED ALBUM IF YOU
WISH TO WORK LARGER..

Keep Watching....

or keep an eye out on the gallery HERE [so to speak......]

WEEK 1

Create your title page using the following items:

The word SOUL

The phrase - THE EYES ARE THE WINDOWS TO THE SOUL

and the photograph of your eye / eyes.

You can use any colours & any product or style.

You have 2 weeks
for the next part of the challange......
Still on the EYE theme,
over the next 2 weeks, you have to look around,
and list 5 things that for whatever reason
you have never really noticed before
- it could be because you've never had the time to notice,
or that you've never needed to notice
or never felt the need to look beyond the surface....

You can scrap them in any chosen style

Next part

With it being thanksgiving..

list 5 things about YOU that you are thankful for,
it could be anything
it could be a characteristic
or something physical
ANYTHING
but it has to be about YOU

And the next:

SOUL

Well this week, I have another awsome friend
Annie Jameson
(good solid name.....lol)
Who has written this amazing & thought provoking book!
It's a spiritual book
kind of like the book - Conversations With God
but not sooo much of it (YET)
- and YES - she even lets you download
the first chapter for free here:
The Light Of Chileo

everyone so far that has read it
has interpreted it in a different way
BUT
on page 9 of the first chapter it states
The Law of the Universe is that if you give out,
it will return to you multiplied...

Do one thing for somebody this week
- or just do something
and on one page of your layout
say what you have done, why, when and who for.
Then on the other side of the layout
leave it ready to write in what comes back to you..

This week -

comes from a quote from
Elanor Roosevelt -
You gain strength, courage and confidence by every experience

in which you really stop to look fear in the face.
You must do the thing you think you cannot do.

What would be yours?

Ok - we're back into it again after a long break..

Another 2 week challenge

Take a photograph of your most favourite part of you

and journal why it's your favourite asset

and I mean REALLY JOURNAL

that's why you're being given 2 weeks to do it.......

Now for the hard bit....

and this is a two week challenge too

Take a photograph of your LEAST favourite part of you

and once again journal why

you may need longer for this one as it's harder than you think

but you have 2 weeks - from the whip cracker

Countdown to back to work....

Well the web problems are finally sorted - and I got snapped at home loading up new product onto the shop cart - the new stuff is here - there's loads more to go on - but it's a case of sneaking in when I can LOL I've been banned from the computer until I'm back at work next week (the joys of sneaking in at milking time for a quick fix)..... The countdown back to work begins..hehehehe. The gallery is underway again- crop boxes are HERE and the halloween & christmas ideas are underway here, and work is underway for The Spice Trail crop box which is due out next week.

GIN & TONIC BARMAID'S

- our Scrapbookin Annie Design Team
There's still time to send your work in,
so keep them coming!!!

WE'RE LOOKING FOR A NEW DESIGN TEAM!!
WE'RE NOT LOOKING JUST FOR SCRAPBOOKERS
WE ARE LOOKING FOR
SCRAPBOOKERS
CARDMAKERS
ALTERED ARTISTS
DIGITAL SCRAPPERS
PAPER CRAFTERS

You will receive a parcel for free every month
to create whatever you wish - this may be
crop box product, store product,
challenges, or lessons...

We're looking for all styles - simple, technical, mixed media & digital
and this is what you need to do:

Simply send in 3 projects
that define you and your style....
You can either post colour copies
to us here at the shop
or email them to us
(please save to files under 150kb)
Please mark envelopes or subject line
"G & T Barmaid Design Team"

Entries Close - Friday 27th October 2006
and the team will be notified
before 10th November 2006
- so come on & get inspired...

Well I can see the boys getting off the school bus and their on strict instructions to dob in their mother for not resting - with the promise of McDonalds for each occasion caught - needless to say they're vigillant so until next time.....

Sneaking On The Net......

Well I've had my surgery and I'm finally home....I've been banned from the shop and it's driving me mad! I had to go for blood tests on Friday and John drove past the shop refusing to stop AND telling me to stay away from the computer (he's milking at the moment and I'm typing quickly LOL) Anyway, we've had some problems this week with the web. First of all we were off line for upgrades and then it turned to custard....After the upgrades - we can't upload photos... PLEEEEEEASE bear with us B is frantically sorting it (I'm wondering if John has had something to do with it). Anyway- in addition to the Christmas / Halloween competition that's running at the moment - we've been asked to put in a section for those that wish to share the Journal Block Challenge images- keep an eye out in the gallery. The next challenge starts next week and is entiltled SOUL - more info with it's release next week, along with the latest swap!! And RETRO - well, we're going back to the class that we tought 5 years ago with a few twists & turns that will be available as a kit....Lying in my hospital bed - I've filled a full book full of designs, sketches and ideas! The girls will kill me - 2007 for Scrapbookin Annie holds huge surprises.......................................................

No Zoo Photos....

Well - I'm back in hospital next week, and this weekend is our 5th Birthday - but I'll be busy at home stuffing myself with prep for surgery - no-one will want to know me, so I've put back the celebrations until I can join in!!!! We're doing some revivals this week so watch out for them in the kits! The layout above is the start of the fairy challenge layouts - the flowers in the layout are actually the fairy skirts added onto penwork - more to follow. Things have slowed this week project wise with me off on surgeon visits but theres sooooooo much in the pipeline - lol.....I'm wondering if Zeetra ever got over her last visit to the shop. Tom was 8 on Monday and on Sunday we took him to Auckland zoo and the day started off fantastic then rapidly turned to custard as the rain set in with the balance of the day spent at Mercer (WOW!!) but a good day was had by all even after the fun & games - we ALL went back to Christines to watch idol!! Well as I sit here typing on the new broadband, I hear my 2 ds systematically trashing the house - so please excuse me as I depart to inflict torture and save these 4 walls..........

Shocking......

Is the only word that I can use for our inability to be keeping up with the blog at the moment. Wilma's been sick, I've been off on the surgery run again - Rebecca has been inundated with instructions to type up and Christine has done a runner at the thought of us leaving it up to her.....On a positive note, I now have broadband at home (well we are out in the WAPS) and so I can now be on the computer without te family demanding the phone......So does that mean that it will be left up to me? Kids holidays are on at the moment and Tom came to work with me on Thursday - NEVER AGAIN - he told me this morning that when I go in for my next surgery, he will stand in for me even though he doesn't have his own "COSTME" but he will be a creator because he had put 3 punched stars on my layout that now made it worth $100 - his father the farmer is having a heart attack........Well Kit mania has been hitting us again as you can see from above - loads of new kits online - simply click on the image above.........

Busy Bees!!!

These are the 3 lastest classes from the shop. We have been busy making the classes - last weeks Christmas scrapbook in a box was made and sold out within 15 minutes, we had to re-make the kits 3 times!! We hope that you've all enjoyed making them. Don't forget that our classes can be viewed and purchased here. We have sooooooo many classes in Annies head, she's driving us mad churning them out at the moment! Keep an eye out for new classes - we will keep you posted. Jenny has been in the shop today - she's supposed to be on study leave and we're trying to figure out a 16 year olds reckoning that just because you bring your books with you, that qualifies for study - and can't seem to work out why we "oldies" don't see it that way!! Anyway - keep checking for the new classes.........

Sneaky Peek!!!

Crop Box - Countdown 2 Christmas

These two cards below are just a couple of the samples we made this month to show you what you can do with the September crop box 'Countdown 2 Christmas' - we had so much fun with this crop box and even after we have them all ready to go out to crop box subscribers this month we are still making more things using this crop box!! If the samles below have you drooling already then click here to go to our online store and order your own crop box!!

Card Swap

We sent out our card swap on Friday - it was lots of fun, lots of cool cards were swapped and lots of inspiration swapped too, if you want to take a look a the cards that were swapped you can see them here in our gallery.

Lesson On Line

This weeks lesson on line is a very chic embroidered layout designed by Annie,

You can buy the pack here, it comes with all the materials (minus adhesive) and instructions to complete the layout. Just like going to a real class only you don't have to leave the comfort of your own home!

Right, back to the big work table to whip up some more inspiration for our wonderful customers!! Hope you are all enjoying a bit of sunshine - we are having peeks of it today!

Lousy Weather Day

It's cold & miserable today which is perfect scrapbooking weather. I wish I was by the fire at home scrapping away, so Cill & I will have to be content with the shop heating instead. I'm in early after dropping the kids off at school to get the heating cranked up so we can get to work on the Christmas crop box - ooops catching up with work. How are you supposed to stay focused knowing that something in the warehouse is far far far more tempting... Christine has her day off today, so there's nobody to keep me in control! We'll see what happens. We're still chasing half a Pebbles order that we need for the crop box gggrrrr - it went missing en route - so after that, who knows!!!!

Have you seen????

Has anyone noticed that Cills been busy of late?? She's been busy posting products onto the website HERE - they aren't always the latest in, it's just that we estimated that half of the shop ISN'T on the web - so that's her job for the moment!! Rebecca has been busy making die cuts as we've been totally wiped out at the store, and me, I've been busy with the Family Tree crop box and loving it! I found a whole box of family photos that I found POST house removal - infact, we only emptied the cottage last weekend, and I want to get them into my album... Christine is about to start on ALL of her photographs on her recent trip to the UK, and we're awaiting a delivery from the states that seems to have been as elusive as LORD LUCAN......It's supposed to be in the shop tomorrow - a day which seems to have gained momentum faster than an avalanche. Speaking of which, our trip to the snow took a major turn last week when a friends 6 year old child that was with us {forgot} to jump off his sled and crashed into an icebank with his helmetless head at 30kms per hour at Whakapapa - she asked me to take photos for his scrapbook - HOWEVER we had BOTH planned to use the JULY CROP BOX - but the emergency reds of the paramedics carrying him down the hillside on a backboard with neckbrace don't work well with the simple blue & whites!! I'm not being blaze about it, but now that we know that he's OK (he was back on the slopes that afternoon) we can finally breathe a sigh of relief!

So keep an eye out on what's new - whether it's new to the site OR new into the shop, and get planning your projects for the next FAMILY TREE CROP BOX....

Don't forget the Pet/Animal layout competition!!

Be in to win an American Traditional Designs 12x12 Pet Album!!
Simply by loading your pets and animal layouts onto the gallery and be in with 1 chance per entry. All entries will go "into a hat" and be drawn on August 11th 2006.

You can see in the slide show above some of the fantastic entries we already have in the gallery!

The above layouts were done by the following members: ChristineS, Chris, Countryslave, jmuir, Kluffy, Memories by Manda, rosaliejb and Sejie. (not in any particular order - you will have to check them out in the gallery to see who did what layout!!) (Rebecca has just imformed me that if you don't have broadband you might not see the slide show above - sorry about that! - but you can still check them out in the gallery!)

Remember it dosen't have to be your pet - it could be a friends pet or a zoo animal. We realise some people don't have pets (Like Priscilla whose pets all either run away or die........)

So far we are having a fairly quiet week at the shop (I think Annie needs one after her exciting time at the snow on the weekend when a friends son sled into an ice wall and knocked himself out and split his head open - scarey stuff!)

- But we did have lots of cool new stuff arrive yesterday!!! Its always exciting when a box of new product arrives at the shop - a bit like Christmas. This week the new stuff included:

(click on the names to be taken to them in our online store)

Basic Grey Wholy Cow Birthday Rub-Ons

7 Gypsies Rubbings A La Card Birthday

7 Gypsies Rubbings A La Card Thank You

Creative Imaginations Ribbon Rub-Ons Loved Ones

Creative Imaginations Rub-Ons Endearments

Creative Imaginations Rub-Ons Travel Designs

Creative Imaginations Rub-Ons Loved One

Creative Imaginations Sports Extreme SK8er epoxy stickers

Creative Imaginations Sports Extreme SK8er stickers

K & co BW Maison Travel Transfer

Creative Imaginations Lush 2 Alpha

Creative Imaginations Sonnets Safari Stickers

and those are just some of the new products!!

(I would have put pictures here for you but blogger isn't co-operating with me today!)

GOT BOYS??

If so we've got a range for you!! Just in is the new Rugged Range from Creative Imaginations, which is specially designed for boys!! Click on each image to be taken to it in our store.

Well, we are now over half way through the school holidays - if you have school age children we hope you are still keeping somewhat sane........we are, but only just!! The kids classes are going well at the shop - so far the kids have made some awesome cards - Even Wilma was impressed - and thats saying alot!

New stuff....

The new stuff in this week has seen Cill hyperventerlating.....New Creative Imaginations papers and stickers, yet more and more K-ology and Sweet Pea from K & Co, Sticker Studio awesome home renovation stickers, embellishments and transfers & stickers galore. The Crop Boxes have been good to work with this month and I suppose that I'm biased as icy blues are one of my favourites.... We've had a chance to make some "quick cards" and they are online here in the gallery. Don't forget to check out the Pet cometition in the gallery too. We've had lots of new faces in at the shop this week with some oldies too - sorry Z, I didn't mean that you were old - just that you're a regular - and beware Tokoroa, Wilama's on her way down there tomorrow. Just a reminder, we will have kids classes running in the holidays, keep an eye out on this weeks Friday Gin & Tonic. Now home to light the fire, so until next time.....

Oooops, by the way, our local Woolies had some awesome clear toolboxes in for $19.99 which are great to alter or hold your supplies....