Hi my name is Alicia Redshaw and I live in Gladstone, Queensland. I am married to the most amazing man, and later this year we will celebrate 20 years together. We share three beautiful and talented children, who are our reason for living the life we live. I own Scrapbook Fantasies and love that my life is full of creativity and I get the opportunity to meet new people every day.
My Scrapbooking Class Next Week @ Scrapbook Fantasies
By Alicia.R. | April 28, 2012
Proud as can be
By Alicia.R. | April 27, 2012
I just have to share how very proud I am of my oldest son, Milton. He had a great Term 1 at School which led to us receiving the most amazing and pride inspiring half Semester report. It wasn’t an academic based report, it was the harder kind to impress in….the performance, behaviour, presentation and general effort type report. And when we congratulated him for his efforts he simply said…”Thank you”. He didn’t ask what he would receive or what was in it for him, he said something to further inspire pride.
Now some people say that being a parent is a thankless job, however I don’t agree. Furthermore, someone once said to me that I was a mean and cruel Mother because I didn’t give my kids more than they needed and lots of gifts and stuff. I now know that I’m not a bad Mum because I put my childrens health, wellbeing, education and life-skills before “Stuff”. My oldest son (the one mentioned above), my wonderful Milton recently thanked me for the way his Father and I have raised him so far to appreciate the little things, to learn from everything he does and sees, and to not be a materialistic follower of trends and “Stuff”. He doesn’t have a phone, he doesn’t have facebook and he has never received a gift or desire (i.e. DSi, laptop) until he was truly able to appreciate it for himself, and he knows that he is a better teenager for it because he told us so.
It is moments like these that make me so proud and realise that I am a good Mum. Milton thanks me on a regular basis for the life he lives and the opportunities it affords him. He has even thanked me for being his employer, even when I ask him to do things he doesn’t want to do. I can’t say he is the most efficient employee I have ever had, however he makes up for it with his enthusiasm and pride.
I haven’t raised a mob of spoilt brats, which proves that going without a few trends and a whole lot of “Stuff” doesn’t cause harm to a child. So to finish this off nicely I wanted to share a picture (from Anzac Day) of just how grown up my son has become, now that he is the same height as his Father.
Lest We Forget
By Alicia.R. | April 26, 2012
Yesterday was of course Anzac Day, and to so many Australians it is just another public holiday. The momentum is definately gaining in the significance of this wonderful celebration of the Australian spirit and history, with many people attending services for the first time in 2012.
As ex-service personnel ourselves, Quentin and I have attended Anzac Day ceremonies for most of our lives. My Grandfather (Calliope Grandad) and two of his brothers served in the AIF. Calliope Grandad trained horses for the American Forces who were stationed here in Australia, prior to them shipping out to the frontline. Our children have never missed an Anzac service in their lives so far, even if it is only the main service of the day when they are babies.
This year we all went to both the Dawn Service and the main Parade/Service. Milton sang with the Chanel Choir at the Dawn Service and marched in the main Parade for the last time as a Scout, before he heads off to Venturers in the coming months. Naomi-Jon marched at Dawn Service with the Scouts (her first year since leaving Cubs) and marched in the main Parade with her School. Noah, who isn’t a morning person, was perfect at the Dawn Service with Mar Mar and I before marching in the main Parade with his School wearing Calliope Grandads medals. Noah was so proud to be actively participating for the first time and wearing Calliope Grandads medals.
Quentin participated in both ceremonies in his role as Scout Leader at Dolphin Sea Scouts. He has never been one to glorify war or skite about his service (this actually gets up his nose a bit), but the significance and respect of Anzac Day is something he is very passionate about. We never want our children to glorify war or celebrate the killing of others for the sake of land or religion, we do however want them to fully understand the sacrifices that have been made for our freedom and where the spirit of what it means to be an Australian comes from. The Anzac spirit lives on in the Australian traditions of courage, loyalty, honesty, strength, selfless sacrafice, mateship and duty to ones country.
I took this picture of Milton at the end of the Dawn Service, by which time his voice had received a thorough work-out. We can’t get over how grown-up he is, and are very proud of him and his many achievements.
This picture (below) means a lot to us as a family because it shows what Anzac Day is really all about….The ordinary soldier and his/her sacrafice for the peace, safety and wellbeing of people all over this wonderful world.
After the ceremonies of rememberance were over for the day we went home and it was my Birthday. My Birthday is actually on Anzac Day, but we don’t celebrate or overly acknowledge it until after we have payed our respects and done our duty to our country for the day.
I received this lovely pendant of gold flakes from Quentin and the kids, as well as some new art supplies that haven’t arrived yet. I also bought myself a mini Cloud 9 straightener, if you see my new haircut you will know why it has to be a mini straightener. (Will have to upload a pic before it grows too long)
This was my Birthday cake (there were others also), made by Milton. He is learning how to pipe icing, and doing very well at it so far.
Finally I have to say thank you to everyone who wished me a Happy Birthday yesterday. I am always surprised by how many people remember my Birthday when so much else goes on at this time of year.
A Card and A Layout
By Alicia.R. | April 24, 2012
I created the card and the layout pictured below from the one $5 Creative Kit from Scrapbook Fantasies, plus one sheet of cardstock as well as the lettering, flowers, wide blue ribbon, bling and butterfly sticker. The card is created with my April Card Sketch, which gives you the opportunity to win a voucher from Scrapbook Fantasies. The layout is just one for fun, and getting the last of Noah’s first week scrapbooked and into the albums.
Supplies used:
Patterned paper – Basic Grey
Cardstock – Bazzill
Ribbon – Vandoros (teal/black), Birch (yellow)
Bling – Kaiser
Lettering – American Crafts Thickers
Cutting dies – Marianne Design (butterfly), Spellbinders (ovals)
Ink – Versacolor (black)
Supplies used:
Patterned paper – Basic Grey
Cardstock – Bazzill
Flowers – Prima
Butterfly sticker – American Traditional Designs
Ribbon – Vandoros
Bling – Kaiser
Lettering – American Crafts Thickers
Ink – Adirondack by Ranger
Glimmermist – Patina, Daffodil
Pen – Uniball Black Gel Pen
The Color Room – Palette #107
By Alicia.R. | April 24, 2012
This weeks Color Room palette is simple and sophisticated. It was perfect for some photographs of Quentin and I that were taken just prior to our 10th Wedding Anniversary (back in 2005). Unfortunately the couple whose Wedding we were at that day separated a couple of months later. I kept my layout very simple whilst keeping closely to the original sketch with the palette.
Supples used:
Cardstock – Bazzill
Patterned paper – Graphic 45 Kraft Reflections
Glimmermist – Vanilla Breeze
Lace – Green Tara
Flowers – Prima Fabric Fancies (Garnet)
Pearls & bling – Prima
Rubon quote – Kaiser
Pen – Uniball Black Gel Pen
Stamp – Darkroom Door Script Background
Ink – Versacolor (black), Versafine (onyx black)
Key – Teresa Collins Blingage
Lettering – American Crafts Thickers
Weekly Challenge #17/2012
By Alicia.R. | April 23, 2012
This is what I created with this weeks challenge at Scrapbook Fantasies. I pulled out a pack of space related products that was just waiting for the perfect layout opportunity. The products were all from an old Sandylion range, including patterned papers, chipboard subtitle stickers, flat stickers and layered stickers. The buttons were left on my desk from another project recently and the rest was all within easy reach. I have enough leftovers for another layout and a couple of cards, which I may get to eventually.
Supplies used:
Patterned paper: Sandylion
Cardstock: Bazzill
Mist: Glimmermist
Buttons: Basic Grey
Stickers: Sandylion (layered, chipboard, flat)
Ribbons: Vandoros (orange), Green Tara (navy)
Embroidery thread: DMC
Ink: Colorbox
Lettering: American Crafts (thickers), Been There Done That (rubons)
Pen: Ranger (Adirondack Denim)
Layout Sketch Challenge – April 2012
By Alicia.R. | April 22, 2012
This is what my Mum did with my April Layout Sketch Challenge. There a few more days left to enter (here) for a chance to win a voucher from Scrapbook Fantasies.
My Scrapbooking Class this Week
By Alicia.R. | April 22, 2012
Another Tooth Lost
By Alicia.R. | April 21, 2012
Guess who lost another tooth…Yes, Noah lost another tooth this morning whilst I was cleaning his teeth. Thank goodness I was there as we don’t have a good success rate at keeping his teeth once they fall out. We now have three out of five, as he ate one with an apple and another with yoghurt. Todays tooth was from the top left, so now he is missing his two front teeth.
Flourishes Card
By Alicia.R. | April 21, 2012
I created this card using one of the new Flourishes stamp sets to arrive at Scrapbook Fantasies, called Spring is Sprung. I enjoyed creating it so much, especially since the stamps are clear and great to colour with Copics. It is also very versatile with multiple designs and sentiments.
Supplies used:
Patterned paper: Pink Paislee
Cardstock: Bazzill
Dies: Spellbinders
Flower: Prima
Bling: Kaiser
Cluny lace: Birch
Ink: Versacolor (pinecone), Memento (Rich Cocoa)
Blending Card: Xpress-It
Stamp: Flourishes (Spring is Sprung)
Copics: R00, R01, R02, G40, G82, G85, E30, E31, E33, E35, BG70, 0
« Previous Entries Next Entries »