Scrapbooking across the universe!

hello again!

2009-03-29T03:43:00.001-07:00

Again it's been a while...
But I found some time to scrap and got a lot of LO's done. Here they are:
Last Friday my mom, sister and me went shopping in Utrecht. We stopped at pippoos and there I found this cute patterned paper! Cool enough to make a double LO about our last trip to the zoo with little Mexx.
An impression of last december, as we celebrated the Xmas days with our family. It was beautiful, the outdoors!
Shopping with Mexx in november 2007, look how tiny Mexx was!
And our other nephew Thijs, 2 weeks old. Simply beautiful. Before I forget, this litte sweetheart turned 1 last weekend. He is growing so fast!
lots of love from me!

On expedition in Ikea...

2009-02-22T08:46:00.000-08:00

Hello there, hope you have a good weekend!
We are still enjoying our sunday evening :) Last Thursday I visited the Burgers zoo together with my sister Karin and lovely nephew Mexx! The zoo was really cool and Mexx had so much fun! Although it was cold and snowing, we had a great day together. Here is a little impression, especially for my sis :)

An impression of the bush, this is my favorite part of the zoo! And the three of us together, I don't think Mexx got the idea of "say cheese" ;)

Mexx and my sister, enjoying the desert and ocean. Mexx just loved all those fishes swimming by, with bright colors! He was reaching out, to see if he could touch them. So sweet.

And some sisterly love on camera :) after all this action, Mexx just fell asleep, so time to go home after a really nice day together, thanks sis!
Friday I had a day off and went to the Ikea with Ralph.It really turned out to be an expedition! It was full of people (vacation time, sigh), packed with little children and we couldn't even figure out how to walk through the store in the most efficient way... Finally we found what we were looking for, a sideboard, two night tables and a beautiful canvas painting. We went straight to the expedition, but couldn't find the kind of closet we were looking for :( An Ikea employee was really surprised that we didn't know the way Ikea worked and we were sent back to the "sideboard department". Ralph went, but came straight back, he couldn't find the route back anymore! So we searched together and finally found the right department where we were half an hour before :( We took notice of the correct expedition numbers and gave it another try... Pfjoe... I don't think Ikea and we are meant to be :) But we managed, put everything in our car and yesterday my parents in law came to visit us. So Ralph and his dad have put everything together. I just love the way it turned out. You can see it here, although the pictures are dark due to the bad weather.

Special thanks to my parents in law! I am closing this post with some scrapbooking, wanted to show yo this double LO: Camping life, a LO about us spending a week at the campsite during the christmas days. We had a great time, visited a lot of family and friends and relaxed together with Gizmo. In case you are wondering, Ralph wasn't so interested in getting in the picture, but he sure was there with us hihi. Love, Judith

OLW # 45 Fun

2009-02-12T12:05:00.000-08:00

Hi there, just saw the word over at OLW: FUN. I immediately knew which picture was perfect to go with this word and created right away :) Thijs and me having fun and laughing at the birthday of his grandmother! He is a sweetie.
Last weekend was also full of fun! We had a little get-together with our friends and two other women we met on our Tanzania trip. It was so much fun to see each other again, exchange travel stories and we visited a little town here in the neighbourhood, were we went on a roundtrip and had some drinks in a medieval restaurant. After that we had a delicous dinner and really enjoyed ourselves! We laughed all evening.

And last but not least, in the beginning of january there was a lot of snow here in the netherlands. On a beautiful friday morning, I took a walk through our sunny neighbourhood and took some gorgeous pictures! Here is a double LO featuring those pictures :)
love from me!

I'm on the roll

2009-02-06T07:53:00.000-08:00

2 posts, in 1 week :)
I found some time last week to scrap again. After I got some cute pictures of my nephews in the mail, I couldn't resist and scrapped them right away :)Here is the result:
Such 2 sweethearts, my SIS irl and her little cutie son, Mexx! This one is scraplift from the talented Revlie. I even scraplifted the title :)
And a LO about our other nephew, Thijs, such a sweetie! I thought pumpkin is another word for that (hopefully I am right ;)
These pictures came last week in the mail, from the sister of Ralph, love them!
A double LO about our "surprise" night, last december. We had so much fun, especially the game "what am I?" ;)
A double LO with our 2 nephews together! They visited us with their mums and dads on the second of january, it was so cool to see them together and react on each other. I wrote about what it means to us the be their uncle and auntie!
This upcoming weekend we are having a little "Tanzania-trip-reunion"! Can't wait to see everybody tomorrow and have a fun weekend together. So, now I am off to get all our groceries! See you soon, love Judith

Hi again...

2009-02-01T10:52:00.000-08:00
Hello there, it's been a while since the last time I blogged... Sorry about that. Been busy with everything and nothing, as we say here in the netherlands :)
I will just start over, a new beginning on the first day of february 2009.
Today was a fun sunday! I went over to the "scrap-clubhome" of Nora, Marije, Jeanetand Tammie. We had such a blast! Thanks girlz for a wonderful day full of laughter AND lots of scrapping! I had fun! You can see the five of us together and I'll show you the LO's I finished.

a double LO about a day trip last october, when Ralph and I visited a national park called Hoge Veluwe. Such a beautiful, warm fall day, love those days and trips :)

The picture of this LO isn't that good, but I bet you can see that Thijs is cute, isn't he? Such a sweetie (this was last sunday)!

Our sweet little Mexx, last summer on the playground together with his mum and dad! Just love the picture where you can see him crawling :) Love these 2 little fellows to pieces!

And another double LO, from 2 weeks ago, our annual family trip to the bowling alley!! We had such much fun, we laughed untill we cried!
Thanks for reading and love from me and especially for the ladies of today in the scrapclubhome: this one is for you ;) Judith viva, viva...

It is winter...

2008-11-23T11:03:00.000-08:00
It's been a while since the last time I blogged. We had a quiet weekend, Roel, Inge and Thijs were suppose to visit us. But they had to cancel, due to the bad weather. And they made the right decision, cause right now it is snowing here in Holland!
I stayed inside and started scrapping this sunday, a lazy day :D
Made a double LO for the OLW blog. The word is energy and I created this:

Golden energy, visiting the golden temple in Vientiane, at our summer holiday in Laos. It was simply beautiful!
Then I created a LO based on the sketch over at the
memorylane scrapbooking blog It is a LO about me and one of my best friends Esther, visiting the Krea Doe last november together! The other girls couldn't join us (unfortunately) but we had a lot of fun!

And last but not least, created a LO about our nephew Thijs, on holiday together with his mummy and daddy, last september. Just love this 3bugsinarug paper :D

That's it for today, now I am off to update my SIS site, love to you!

so much to do and so little time :)

2008-11-11T06:42:00.000-08:00
Today, I have some time to update my blog. Last week, I had so much fun! I worked, but also spent some time with dear friends. First of all I went to the krea doe in Utrecht together with my friend Esther. We had so much fun and all those scrapgoodies looked yummie! The day went by much too fast and in the evening we had diner together. After that we both returned home by train (in different directions) and I missed my connecting train, so I was home at 11o'clock in the evening... But it was still a very good day :)
Last Friday, my friend Marije came by with her baby boy Simon (one month old), he is really a sweetie. It was so good to see her again and talking about everything and holding Simon. That afternoon, I drove for an hour to meet with 2 of my former collegues and we had lunch together! We see each other 2 to 3 times a year, but it is always so much fun. We had a delicous lunch and a great afternoon. Saturday we drove to Limburg, to see our families. We had a lot planned, but it turned to be a good and fun weekend. Saturday we met my SISter, BIL and Mexx at at childrens playground called Pee Wee. Mexx was enjoying every minute and so were we! Ralph and my sister even ended up in the "ballen bak" together with Mexx! It was only afterwards that we saw the sign: only for 12 years and younger! :D
Here are some pics:

On Sunday, we celebrated the birthday of the mother of Ralph. I made a digital photoalbum as a present about our trip to South Africa. My first digital album and they really liked it! You can see it here:

And Thijs was also there, such a cutie :D

And some more good news, my documenting a week LO's are featuring on the blog of the talented Ali, that means Gizmo is on the net ;) and my Imagine LO made it into the faves of OLW!
That are a lot of pictures already... will leave you with two LO's about my SISter and me, i think the pictures speak for themselves :D

See you!

Some LO's to show you...

2008-10-31T10:11:00.000-07:00
Hello, here we are again, it is friday and the weekend is waiting! We had a busy week full of work ;) but now it is time to relax. We have nothing planned for the weekend. Only have dinner plans and wanted to shop for a new wardrobe for Ralph, but not quite sure yet what we will do.
In between working hours I managed to scrap some more :D
Our last weekend was really fun, we drove to our family and cuddled with our two cute nephews, first we saw Mexx and after that we met Thijs and our families of course ;) The nephews are getting big way too fast!! And they are really sweet. Afther that, we showed our new car...
Here is some scrapwork I wanted to show you:
This one is a scraplift from a LO made by my SIS irl. I even used the same pictures, they are soo cute! You can see her LO over here. I just loved it!!
The colors of this LO aren't that good in this picture, but I just had to scrap this picture on a lO! One of my all time favorites of Mexx, look at that face - and how little he was back in april!!- hihi
This is a double LO, based on a sketch made by one of my favorite scrapsters Becky. It is about the 34th birthday of Ralph and the fun we had with our family, that is a month ago. I love the way it turned out. I have to go, Ralph is to the library and I am going to cook diner! Love from me...

OLW # 38 Imagine

2008-10-25T12:43:00.000-07:00
Hi there, and it's weekend again! :)
We had a blast last weekend with our friends Arnaud & Esther. We drove through Twente, a beautiful part of Holland with gorgeous fall weather! Go over here to see some pictures! We had such a wonderful time together.
When I saw the word that was up at the one little word blog, I knew straight away what I wanted to scrap... So here is is:

"IMAGINE if u were here...
My dad died unexpected 8 years ago at the age of 52. On this LO I have summed up the things I would love to do if he was here again, Imagine if u were here...
* Watching movies together (jurrasics parcs or the A-team)
* Eating a dutch fish meal no matter what the smell is :)
* Laughing and goofing around untill tears are rolling down our faces
* Drinking coffee :)
* Cuddle
* Asking you for advice and wisdom! I really miss your clear vison on problems
* Asking advice about creative processes, my sis (Mexx) and I inherited that trait from you!
* I miss you, but I am so glad and thankful that you are my dad!! I truly love you from the bottom of my heart...
My sis irl made also a tribute to our dad, go check her LO out over here! So cool my dad has now 2 LO's dedicated to him, hihi.

I also took on the sketch challenge on the MLS dare blog. This is what I came up with:

It is about our little nephew Thijs and the first time ever we saw him. Just a little, sweet and beautiful boy!!
And our nephew... Embellies are free downloads from over at SIS :)
Now I have to run, so I can see Mexx and Thijs.
Oh before I forget, I won a price at fancy pants. I was really happy with it, can't wait to find it in the mail!!
have a nice weekend and love from me!

one week in my life...

2008-10-20T11:50:00.000-07:00
For one week the camera was "glued to my nose" and I took pictures of our ordinary life. This was inspired by the talented Ali Edwards, see this post! I translated her digital designers into dutch and just started glueing :D This is how it turned out - I just love this project, think I am gonna try it again next year-. And even better, I got an e-mail from her, she thinks this is wonderful. How cool is that? ;)

And do you remember this from the creative Stacy?
"Challenge: Give Yourself a Present!
So, it's October 1st.In honor of October and the inevitable flow and change that is life, I'm issuing a challenge today (with the help of LOTS of blogging friends) to as many people as possible, and here it is: I want you to give yourself a PRESENT.
You have everything you need right now to be vibrant, happy and fully engaged in the creative process of life. Sometimes you just have to slow down, look around and realize it!
Here’s what I want you to do:
• Snap ten or twelve photos of your life right now. Or find recent photos that you've already taken.
• Compile these photos in one of these super-cute Bazzill Mono-Mini albums (keep reading)
• Keep or carry this album with you, tucked in your purse or desk drawer for one full year.
• Promise to glance through the album every time you stumble upon it or pull it out.
• On October 1st, 2009, create a scrapbook page about your experience.
I just loved working on this little book, I will keep it in a drawer of my desk at my office, so I can peek a lot at it ;)

And last but not least, here is my take on the one little word Keep. Journaling reads:
Look for the dream that keeps coming back. It is your destiny." This picture was taken by myself :) in our back garden with some evening september sun. On that moment I just found out a hour ago, that I didn't get the job I really want. But I felt no despair, because I knew MY job will come some day. When it is the right time... There for the journaling: look for the dream that KEEPs coming back, it is your destiny. I strongly believe that!

We had such a blast last weekend, but I will tell morte about it in a next post!
love, Judith

Autumn is here...

2008-10-11T12:04:00.000-07:00
Hello everybody! Today was a good one, the fall holiday has started here. Ralph and I spent this beautiful and warm autumn day outside. We drove to the Hoge Veluwe, a national park and cycled around in this national park. They have what is called a "white bicycle project", there are white bikes everywhere without a lock. You just pick up a bike and drive away on it. When you reach your destination, you park your bike so other people can ride it too. It is a fun system!! It was a gorgeous fall day today, with bright warm sun and the warm autumn colors. I just love this season, it reminds me of my dear grandfather, I just love the smell of fall, the leaves and the wood! We bicycled for 10 kilometers and visited the Kruller Muller museum and garden with statues, it was just beautiful.
Especially for all you scrapsters :D

Then we cycled 10 kilometers back. This is just huge for me, ask people who know me very well! I just hate physical activities :0 so this is pretty extraordinary for me.
What is also extraordianary is that I lost 7 kg! I feel very good about it, and it makes such a difference! I bought some new clothes and can fit into 1 and sometimes 2sizes smaller! I am really happy about it, now I have to keep it that way :D
And some more good news: last week my dear friend and collegue Marije gave birth to a healty litle boy called Simon (3160 grams). They are doing okay and I hope I can see them soon.
Lat but not least, the new dutch dare is online on the Memory lane scrapbooking blog. It is all about scraplifting your favorite dutch scrapster! That is not difficult for me :D
I scraplifted a LO from the wonderful talented Birgit! Just love her work and love the way my LO turned out!! On this LO called painted ponies you can see my sister and her cute son Mexx, they are on the merry go round at the fair. It was the first time ever for Mexx, but he didn't like it that much because the music was too loud. When I saw his granny a few weeks later, she told me that his dad and his uncle also didn't like the fair, because the music was too loud!! hihi, it must be the genes!!
Have a beautiful sunday and see you soon!

project document a week...

2008-10-04T12:59:00.000-07:00
This week the talented Ali Edwards is hosting a challenge called: a week in the life. This is what it says on her blog:
"Join In : A Week In The Life.
Fom 2005 through 2007 I taught a class at Creating Keepsakes University called A Week In The Life (the project is also highlighted in my book Life Artist). These were album classes that focus on documenting everyday details over the course of seven consecutive days. The albums themselves are definitely up there on my list of favorites. Even though I am not teaching the class any more I want to do the project again. Things in my life are much different right now than they were a year ago. I want to make sure I capture some of those little things - the way things look in our house, how I am feeling, our growing family (and the last few months of life as just 3), what Simon is up to, etc. Consider yourself invited to play along. Next week will be content gathering week. From Monday through Sunday I will be using my camera and gathering "bits of life" to add to my album. The following week I will be putting the album together using supplies I have on hand. Look for more details to come tomorrow including the categories I will be using and a list of photos to consider as you go through the week."
I thought this would be so much fun, so I played along last week. And indeed, it was fun!!
After that, Ali wrote on her blog the following: "just a note that Stacy Julian organized a really cool project encouraging everyone to give ourselves the gift of the present moment. This is precisely what we are doing with this week in the life journey. Check out het blog today!"
So I think I will be participating in this challenge too! I mean I am already half way through :) Just love it!!
Here are my favorite pics of this last week:

Style mavens kick ass :)

2008-09-23T12:17:00.000-07:00
Hi there, just a short update. Thanks for all your sweet comments!
Just created another LO last night, about 2 of my favorite sisters, my sis irl Karin aka Mexx and Aranka. I met Aranka at the second SIS crop and she is just a sweetie! I created this for the two of them :) hope they like it!
Journaling is half in dutch and reads: "Aranka and Karin... they already been through a lot in life. What I really admire in them is the way they embrace life, enjoy life, good around and have fun. Style mavens do kick ass! I know I'll always get by, i heat up, I cool down, when something gets in my way I go round it. Don't let life get me down. Gonna take it the way that I found it!" Love you girls :)
Did you see this ? Karin and I made it both straight into the faves! WOW that is way too cool!
And last but not least my own sister made it into the design team of category stories *YAY!* Congratz little SISter!!

been creative!

2008-09-18T12:20:00.000-07:00
Hi guys don't have that much time, but thought I share my newest LO's! Most of them are scraplifts, because the mommie of Mexx makes tons of pictures! I have a lot less pictures of Thijs, so if his mommie is reading this, please mail me pictures of your cute son, so I can scrap them! :) So get reading for all those LO's about my nephews ;)

This is a scraplift from a gorgeous LO made by Kelly which I saw in the scrapbookmagazine. I just love this clean style and these pictures of Mexx. When I saw that 7 gypsies sticker "soap is for sissies!" I just knew it had to go with these pictures!

Just after we got back from our trip to South Africa, we met Mexx with his sunny hat and walking around in a baby-walking-chair (don't know the exact english translation). He was so cute and I shot these pictures of him. And one thing is for sure, M(exx) is for mischief ;) This one was inspired by a LO made by the talented Nili! (who I met at the SIS crop!)

Here are some pictures of us,Inge, Thijs and Gizmo! Just loved it when they came to visit us and made this LO, this is a scraplift from a LO made by Revlie. I met her at the SIS crop also and she has a wonderful style, love her work!
A double LO about the first bday of Mexx. Just had I lot of pictures and wanted to fit them on a double LO. Inspiration was found in the creating keepsakes magazine.

and last but not least, I made this LO about the first year of Mexx. Can't believe how much he has grown over the last year! So funny to see that he can't fit into that tiny wheel barrel anymore. Journaling is in dutch and reads: dear nephew, dear Mexx, It is just amazing how much you have grown the last year! Ever since the moment I laid eyes on you I just knew you. The way you are, the way you look, it's funny that it works this way. I wonder if you know how much you already mean to a lot of people around you (even though you are still little). They all love you dearly, you are our little sunbeam :) You made the sun shine again in the lives of your mommy and daddy, grandmothers and granddad, and Ralph and mine after a difficult period. And for all of that Mexx, I just really love you!! A big hug from your godmother :) Judith xxx

# 35 OLW: Love

2008-09-14T12:10:00.000-07:00
Hi there! Finally found some time to scrap and took up the challenge at the one litlle word blog after a long time!
When the word was up, I immediately knew what I should create, a minibook for my dear sister and our 30 years of SIS love!! She turned 30 yesterday, so that means we are 30 years sisters :) and loving every minute of it ;)
So here is the minibook especially for my sister, she just loved it!

Last week we had a blas at the 4th dutch SIS crop, it was a really cool afternoon, meeting all those sisters and scrapping and chatting together! I put together a cool minibook (which I'll show in a few posts), I had fun with my SISter IRL and I even won a really great price (KI album)! Thank you Marcia!
WOW, we had a blast! Yesterday we had a wonderful afternoon tea with my SISter, our mother and her mother in law. The special occassion was the 30th bday of my sister and we had so much fun yesterday afternoon! I leave you with this picture, more to come in a next post! Lots of love from me...

I'm on the roll...

2008-09-02T08:45:00.000-07:00
Hello here I am again!! Finished some more LO's last sunday and it certainly feels good to scrap those pictures and look at the finished LO's :) They are still in the living room, so I can peak a lot :D
I just love the Bookwurm LO of Antoinette in the scrapbookmagazine. I scraplifted it twice ;0 Made 2 cute LO's about my nephews, Thijs and Mexx.
Cutie Thijs, wondering on the arm of his uncle Ralph!

Sleepy Mexx, Just woken up and already smiling! You are truly a sweetheart!

2 weeks ago we spent a really cool morning with our friends, riding the Segway!! This is an electronical, self-balancing personal transportation device with two wheels -had to look that one up in Wikipedia- ;) You can see the segway and how it works over here. It was a really cool experience and we just had great fun with our friends! Although it was raining cats and dogs that morning ;( it was a fantastic trip! First we had an one hour training and then it was time to rock and roll... We drove through the old part of the city Maastricht which is just beautiful. Ralph and I would love to have a segway here at home, or to go to school hihi, but they are really expensive... You can see all of us here on the Segway, cool huh?

Or "kijk zonder handen! Kijk zonder tanden!" as they say in dutch. Now I only have to figure out how to match those orange-yellow shirts with some nice scrapbookpaper ;) And looking at these pictures it just cracks me up only the girlies are wearing a transparant raincoat on top of all the clothes and jackets! It didn't help at all, we were already soaked! But I think it's funny to see...
Seeing our friends at these pictures reminds of another picture from last june. We were celebrating the 5th anniversary of our friends marriage and a really nice picture of the whole group was taken that afternoon. Just thought I share it:
I just love this picture, we just know each other for such a long time! A lot of us go way back (all the way to high school!) and we spent some amazing holidays together. I just know that they will stand by me no matter what. And that is such a good feeling!!
Lots of love from me to you!

It's been a while....

2008-08-30T08:45:00.000-07:00
Hi guys!! Thanks for al your comments it's been a while since I visited bloggerland!! We had such an amazing time in Asia, it was wonderful to be back in Cambodia and Laos was just stunning! Our trip was so great and I took a lot of pictures. I will upload some of them soon, but I want to figure out some other way than blogger so I can also easily upload my travel stories.... If you have any idea on an easy site or program, please let me know!
But once again, Asia was truly amazing!!
I've been home for 2 weeks now and finally found my mojo to start scrapping again. The only problem is I have too many pictures ;( I just scrapped 250 pictures of my last trip, Now I have 260 pictures left from this trip (hihi what a problem!) and I have a lot (and I mean a lot) of pictures of my nephews... So I took the scrapbookmagazine and just started scraplifting. Have to make life a little bit easier! I lifted a LO of Revlie and one of Jeanet, thanks girls for your inspiration!! Here they are:
Splish splash, look who's taking a bath?? 8 months old, even with a nasty ear infection you stay sweet and cute! Enjoying your bath on march the 8th 2008.

Twins? No Mexx and Thijs aren't twins, but have an auntie in common who bought them the same outfit!! In april 2008 they meet each other for the first time and are having fun together! Or as they say: "families are like fudge, sweet with some nuts!" :) Just look at the face of Mexx in the last picture and you know what I mean!! Last but not least: my sister was facing a hard time these last weeks and I wanted to brighten her days and send her some happy mail:
(I just saw this idea Jo anne's blog and loved it!! It worked, she is feeling much better know and I just love her so much!! She truly is my soulmate, some one who knows exactly what is going through my mind ;) I went shopping with her, Mexx and our mom yesterday and we had such a blast!! She created a really heartfelt LO for my over at SIS, it brought tears to my eyes! Thank you dear SIS-sie ;) You can see it here!
I leave you with some super adorable pictures of Mexx! These were taken by photographer Laura on the first birthday of Mexx. I just love him and these pictures!!

Asia here we come...

2008-07-23T12:52:00.000-07:00
So sorry I didn't update sooner... last weekend we celebrated the first birthday of Mexx and he is such a sweetheart!
Look at that outfit and that cute smile :D

And as I took all the pictures, I got only 1 with Mexx and his godmother in it (me), so glad to have this picture!

His party was a blast, you can see this over here:

Ralph and I bought him a "speaking Miffy" but Mexx was only afraid of it!! So now after a few days he plays wit Miffy, but when my sister says "look Miffy is coming to get you!" he gets up on his feet very quickly and hugs my sister big time! hihi Hope it will get better, but my sister and her husband still loved the gift! I also scrapped a year book of Mexx for my sister, mother and the mother of my brother in law. I made a page for each month of the first year of Mexx. Design is by the talented Dutch Revlie!

You have to wait a little while before I can show you the rest of this minibook :D I am running out of time this evening as I am packing for our next holiday!
We are leaving tomorrow evening and I didn't even have time to mention it here :O
We are travelling to Bangkok tomorrow via Dubai and after Thailand we will visit Laos and maybe Cambodia. I am so looking forward to it! Ralph and I are travelling on ourselves with our backpacks. I hope it will be a gorgeous trip. Will let you know everything about it when I get back, or maybe from Laos or Cambodia. For more info during our trip, take a look here (online travel journal in dutch!) See you and have a nice holiday also! Want to leave you with our other cutie nephew, Thijs:
So adorable! lots of love from me

South Africa LO's!

2008-07-09T08:00:00.000-07:00
Finally found some time to take pictures of my LO's and edit them :D
So here it goes, made the first LO's of my new South Africa album, here are a few:

You can find more of these LO's over here!
Can't believe this little goofball :D is turning 1 in about one week!! Look what my sister made for his first birthday -invitations-:
I just love this little guy and that cute face!! He was here two weeks ago and Mexx was very sweet and funny, a lovely little guy! Here are some pics of his visit:

You can see more, over here.
And last but not least, I got a gorgeous black, white and pink minibook from my dear friend Esther. Thanks sweetie!! You can see the whole book over here. I love it!

Lots of love from me!!

Creanijn sketches blog...

2008-06-21T14:23:00.001-07:00
Just a little note to show you some LO's I created for the creanijn sketches blog! It so much fun working with those sketches and makes scrapbooking a lot easier ;) Go over there and have a look!
A LO about the wedding of my sister-in-law Inge and her husband Roel, on 31 december last year, with Thijs still in her belly :)
I love the simple style of this spread, my parents-in-law became grandparents when Thijs was born! And this is a LO about that special moment!
I created some more LO's with these sketches this afternoon, but can't show you yet.
Can show this one, a golden oldie ;) totally forgot about it! Our friends and us, visiting Walibi last year, riding the roller coasters and having fun. I just love those bright colored children stickers I used on this LO, there are so easy and cute.
Have a nice sunday and see you soon! Mexx is visiting us tomorrow, can't wait to see him, my sister and brother-in-law!! And cuddle Mexx-ie, hihi!

Some more happy scrappin'!

2008-06-18T08:30:00.000-07:00
He everyone, thanks again for all your sweet comments!! Took some time this evening to update my blog, it's been a while. We had a great weekend when all our friends came over, played untill late at our Wii!!
And my sister in law also stayed a weekend with us, together with Roel and their cute son Thijs! You can see more pictures over here.
Isn't he sweet??
I managed to create some more, I'll show you:
First of all, I love the card workshops over at Nancy's blog! So I took a change at this workshop and created two cards for some dear ex-collegues. Here there are:

I also made some minibooks and some cards to thank friends and collegues for all the goodies and gifts they gave for the childrens home in south africa! Here is a mini book I created especially for the dutch children who gave their own goodies away!

I had to make 6 of them, so I kept the design pretty simple! Made the cover from a transparancy, so you can take a good look at the group picture.
For everyone else who gave so much, I created a thank you card. I sat down in the garden on a sunny afternoon and created all those cards in one afternoon!
So much for the scrapbooking. Do you know what you get when you order a Wii fit? This!
Hihi, when we were out, Gizmo managed to open the door to the living room and enjoyed the Wii balance board all on his own! The marks on the board gave him away :D I just love this silly little rabbit! See you soon!

A new addiction...

2008-06-06T03:30:00.000-07:00
is born! Told you there would be more cards to come after I followed Nancy's workshop! I created some cards this last week, so here it goes:
Created with the dreamy days get inspired kit from de creatie! Love those stamps!!
And inspired by american crafts! This one is for a little boy who will turn 3 next sunday!! Congratz!! It's a pity we can't make it to his party :(
Saying hi card, based on another workshop over at Nancy's blog!
Last but not least, an anniversary card for our friends wedding day :) Happy anniversary tomorrow! You know that I mean you ;)
I am off: Roel, Inge and Thijs are visiting us this weekend, so still enough to do around the house :D Lots of love from me!

32 is kicking in...

2008-05-31T10:38:00.000-07:00
Hihi :) No I am just kidding!! Yesterday was my b-day, and I had a great day!! In the morning I visited a scrapbookstore de creatie with my sis irl. We had a great day, shopped till we dropped:

After that, we went for a delicous lunch and shopped some more! I got really cute presents from her: a gorgeous bag and a LO about my 2 favorite nephews: Mexx & Thijs! I bought them the same shirt a while ago, and here they are in the same outfit!! They really are really sweetie peas! I just love love this present sis!! thank you so much, it made my day. I love the way Mexx and Thijs are looking, too cute. I made also a little something: a mini book about Mexx (suuny side up!)
You can see all the pages over here! I just really like putting this little book together! Yesterday evening my old collegue and dear friend Bernke visited me for my b-day and in the middle of the night I got my present from Ralph (a really nice eau de parfum!) Today the parents of Ralph visited us and in a short while all our friends will be arriving at our doorstep (yippie) to party together and I think play a few games on the Wii!!! So looking forward to this evening! My sister will visit us soon with Mich and Mexx :)
And especially for my scrap friend Jeanet also congratz on your birthday!! Enjoy it and have a nice weekend you all!!

A card...

2008-05-25T01:00:00.000-07:00
Hi there! I am enjoying a relaxed weekend at home. The weather was beautiful, up until now. I spent some time working in the garden, scrapping in our back yard :) and shopping with Ralph. Today we have nothing special planned, so I am going to scrap all those beautiful pictures of South Africa. Finished 4 spreads already, so far so good! And I am going to put some thank you cards together, to thank the people who donated money and goodies for the childrens home!
Speaking of cards, I came across the card workshop over at the blog of Nancy. She makes gorgeous stuff and made this card making very easy for us! So I gave it a try (my first time at card making) and this is how it turned out:
I am really happy with it, and there is more where this came from! Just made this card with little pieces of paper I had lying around. So I think there will be more cards to come!!
I leave you with this: yesterday I found this in my mailbox: Our little nephew Thijs, he is such a sweetheart!!
And Mexx -my oldest nephew- is growing so fast! Here he is: Such a cutie!!
Have a nice sunday!

Rollercoasters...

2008-05-20T09:15:00.000-07:00
Thanks for all your sweet comments on my last post!! Just wanted to share my latest LO with you: Ralph and me with our friends Arnaud &
Esther riding all those rollercoasters in Walibi World!!
It was last november and they invited us to come with them, we had such a blast! Just love these 2 pictures, the only pictures we took that day! Can you believe that?? See you soon, I am going to clean my scraproom! ;(
lots of love from me!

South Africa was amazing!!

2008-05-13T08:00:00.000-07:00
And once again Africa has bedazzled us....
It was so great to be back in South Africa again. We had 2 awesome weeks, we saw so much and visited a lot of beautiful place. The parents of Ralph were amazed about the beauty of this wonderful country -and so were we!- ;)
Here is a review of my last two weeks:
We arrived in Cape Town, a beautiful city where we visited Table mountain and Robben Island, both very impressive!

The next day we drove around the Cape Peninsula, with the Chapmans peak drive, one of my favorite parts of South Africa! Such a beautiful coast road, it is stunning... Here we saw cape of good hope and cape point, just like our history lesson of primary school. And to sleep in one of the biggest suites I have ever spent a night with the biggest window!! We had a beautiful view over the ocean here in Sunny Cove Manor and met the really nice owners Peter & Solveigh, inspiring people!!

After the Cape Peninsula, we drove along the coast via Hermanus to Stellenbosch, the winaries!! We spent the night in the most charming B&B ever, summerwood!! We stayed here also 2 years ago and let me tell you... it was the happiest homecoming with Annelien.... Just love this place... the winaries were also good ;)

On 1 May, we flew as real Kalulu fans with Kalulu to Durban. Here we bought all the pampers we could get in a local Spar and visited Esimphiwe the next day, a childrens home!! Buy not before we loaded up our SUV with some more goodies and toys for those kids!! Just loved being here, the childrens home was impressive, it was really nice, homy, cozy and very clean. The kids looked happy and were cuddled all the time. I also helt a little girlie with HIV, she was such a cutie and there was so much love in this home, WOW! And I really felt in love with this cutie, Hamilton. He is like the dark version of Mexx, the same joy, laughter and 2 teeth as Mexx!!
And don't you just adore her?? Love her hair and she was checking out our pockets and wearing a Minnie Mouse sweater! :)
The day after, we traveled through Swaziland... And spent our night in Swazistyle, real beehives! It was such a wonderful gamepark and such a cool experience to sleep in a beehive :) Feels like happy campers.
And after that, we visited a real Swazi village, where I became the first wive and Ralph the chief! Some more dancing and singing, it's all Africa!
And then it was time to meet the game: Here is an impressive elephant! While we were driving right in front of him, the engine of the car stopped running... oeps... not that funny...
And after Kruger we drove along the Panorama route to our private Camp in Thorny Bush...
Here we saw a lot of animals, and I really mean a lot!
giraffe

rhino!!

A roaring lion!!

And a leopard, up close and personal. WOW....

Sundowner... once again Africa bedazzled us!

Giving away goodies at children in the streets of Soweto, impressive!! What a trip... we had such a blast, it was great.... I am off to scrapbook all of those precious memories. Love you!

Just want to show you...

2008-04-24T08:10:00.000-07:00
one more LO!!
These pictures were taken last february at a transparency workshop in Heesch. We had so much fun, me scrapping with my friends Esther, Esther and Puck. It was great!!
Now I am off to packing the last things and then I'll see you in may! Lots of love

Some more LO's...

2008-04-18T13:50:00.000-07:00
to show you!
Just had to take a break of packing my bags for our trip to south africa. Or in this case packing all the goodies for the childrens home we are visiting. I still have one week left, but have to look what we can take with us. The response of friends and collegues is overwhelming and heart warming, even a store nearby donated a lot of clothes and goodies for the kids in Afrika!!
So that is so so so cool! Here is some more scrapwork:
A trip to the labyrint with Rene & Esther, we had so much fun (and couldn't find the way out! :)
My LO for the challenge over at creating keepsakes an album in a year! 10 things I love about february!
See you, have a good weekend!

A wonderful weekend!

2008-04-15T19:40:00.000-07:00
Last weekend was great! Our friends Rene & Esther visited us. We had so much fun....
We went out for dinner and to the movies! Stayed up untill 3 o'clock in the morning playing on the Wii... Slept late on Sunday morning, played a little bit more on the Wii and scrapped together! Such a lovely weekend :)
And I got some more scrapwork to show you: For the designteam of Vicky I created the following spreads (go and take a look over at the creanijn sketches blog, it's so much fun!) Scrapping the 85th birthday party of my dear granny!! These are pictures of the bachelor party we threw for my sister in law Inge, back in december! Meeting the cool Annie Hafermann last january, together with my dear scrapfriends Jeanet & Marije. I am so happy I got to know these 2 lovely ladies, they are great :) Congratz on becoming scrap aunties yesterday!! And last but certainly not least, I received this great RAK in the mail the other day from Esther. i just love it, thank you girl!!

Week 14 in pictures..

2008-04-09T20:00:00.000-07:00

31 march: preparing the presents for the upcoming weekend... 1 april: the weather isn't that good, the rain is coming down on the trees in our street and our bedroomwindow! 2 april: Ralph spoiled me by buying my favorite cookies (pimmetjes)! 3 april: Gizmo just loves to watch the internet while being petted ;) 4 april: being spoiled by my happy mail SISter Kerri! Love it! 3 april: visiting our little nephew Thijs! 5 april: cuddling with Mexx, he unwraps his own presents :) Just a good week!
And I took some other cute pictures of our little nephews Thijs & Mexx, here they are:

I just love the picture where Thijs is looking right at me ( just love this little cutie. and I really like the picture of my sister, Mexx and me! Love the way Mexx is looking into the camera, it makes me laugh every time I see it!
All of this cuteness lead to enough scrapmojo: Karin has sent me some cute pictures of Mexx and I took out and old LP and started scrappin' on it, just love the result!! So here it is:

And a cute give away album for the pictures of Thijs (my sister-in-law Inge loved it!) Thanks to Estherfor sending me a great RAK!! I got so spoiled, I will post a picture soon! Have a lot more to show, will do that in the next post! Lots of love from me...

Some amazing happy mail...

2008-04-04T05:50:00.000-07:00
I got spoiled rotten these last few weeks!! I received a lot of happy mail from my dear happy mail SIS-ters Silvia, Kerri Lynn, Anna and my SIS irl Karin!! Love, love, love it! And won another RAK over at the blog of Esther's! This is what I got so far :)

A Tofu is what you get when you have a SIS that orders scrapstuff in Taiwan!! I just love this little Tofu! So Arnaud -I know you are reading my blog :)- if you get to go to Taiwan in the future, you know what scrapsupplies to bring ;)

Today started a little bit as a sad day... On this day 8 years ago, my dad died suddenly of a heart attack. I always get a little bit sad on this day and try to remember all the good times I had with him, my mother and my sister. He was a funny dad and we still love him very much!! I always think of him as our guardian angel and that gives me some peace...
So I was feeling a little bit sad, but then our mailman arrived on our doorstep. With 2 (!) packages from my happy mail SISter Kerri from the USA. And what she got me -WOW!- She sent me the march kit from SIS and the mini kit from SIS!!! I just love it!! Always hoped that one day I could get my hands on these gorgeous SIS supplies, guessed that day is here a little bit sooner than I expected :) Thanks Kerri, you really made my day, I am off to do a little happy dance with ALL my happy mail :)

This upcoming weekend we are visiting our family so we can cuddle again with our 2 little nephews Mexx & Thijs (I got them a little something to wear, exactly the same thing hihi) Love!

Week in pictures...

2008-03-30T13:00:00.000-07:00
Hi there!! I finally picked up again at the week in pictures, so here is week 13 in pictures:
24 march: second easter day, relaxing at home and enjoying the chocolate egs ;) 25 march: my brother-in-law Roel his birthday, congratz!! 26 march: got a cute pic of Mexx in the mail, he is listening to "Nijntje"! 27 march: after visiting a lot of stores, we finally found 2 new chairs for our desks, really cool. 28 march: cleaning the house while Gizmo is enjoying the sunny side! 29 march: today is the birthday of my mum!! I scrapped a really adorable minibook for her... 30 march: some more scrapping to do for the design team I am on.
Thijs is doing great by the way. This weekend we were supposed to visit our family and celebrate the birthday of mum and Roel and cuddle some more with Mexx and Thijs, but Ralph got ill. So we stayed home for a quiet weekend. I catched up at my scrapping YIPPIE! Finished 3 double LO's yesterday (can't show you yet), started on 2 minibooks and I created a lovely minibook for my mum last friday! I'll show you here, (mum if you're reading, don't look any futher!!)
The idea and lay out was up on the blog of the talented Ali E, she introduced this thing called weekend creative and I gave it a go. Here is the result:

And I created this spread based on sketch provided by Vicky of the creanijn design team. I just love working with these sketches!!

These pictures were taken last july, when we visited Toverland with our friends Rene, Esther and their 2 boys. We had a fun day and enjoyed the rides outside and inside!! On the lower half you can see my husband, Rene and Vincent trying to cross the water. hihi... It was a great day, we had so much fun.
Lots of love from me! And thank you for all your sweet comments, love it.

Meeting Thijs...

2008-03-24T16:45:00.000-07:00
Thijs is the new-born son of my sister-in-law Inge and her husband Roel. He was born last week on 20 march!! Thijs is a healthy (3200 gr) boy and he and my sister-in-law are doing great. We met Thijs on friday night and he is so tiny and such a cutie!!! I already love him so much :) We spent our easter days with our family and enjoyed it, especially cuddling Thijs. Here are some more pictures:

If you want to see more pictures, take a look here. I made a basket full with presents for the next 10 days and made a scrapbook album for the first year of Thijs, Inge loved it!

As you can see, I had another "working name" than Thijs, hihi. But I fixed it in time, don't worry :) Lots of love and enjoy this easter day!

Week 9 in pictures & Deck of me...

2008-03-12T18:00:00.000-07:00
Sorry guys that it took me so long to update. It was a busy week and I've been sick along the way. But now I am back to my normal self :)
Even found my scrapmojo, created some cool stuff, but can't show you yet because these are presents.... But I am really excited that I started scrapping again :)
Here is my week 9 in pictures:
25 feb: just a day at work, thinking about a lot of stuff... 26-2: Today it is the birthday of my sister in law Inge!! Congratz sweetie! 27 feb: making another happy mail package for my happy mail SISter Kerri 28 feb: goint out for diner with my former collegue and still dear friend Bernke! Talked very much that evening hihi 29 feb: being at home, enjoying the sun shining in on the "ranonkels" and cleaning the house 1 march: Mexx paid us a visit together with his mummy and daddy! 2 march: my sister brought me a lot of cool goodies! Love it sis!!

And here a two more cards of the deck of me:

Week 38: I wonder... I wonder if I am able to do some volunteerswork in foreign countries. I think it will be great, visiting Africa or Cambodia again! But I am not sure I can get away from home for that period of time. So I am still wondering...

Week 52: art... This is a fun one!! I just created a card using the card made by the lovely Lucy for the second dutch SIS crop. I just love her style and love her kindness, soo cool!!
By the way, about Africa: in about 7 weeks we are heading to South Africa and are visiting a childrens home near Durban. This is their website: www.esimphiwe.givengain.org They are so excited we can pay them a visit and they are in need of clothes and pj's. i think I get a lot of these from friends and relatives. We already got some backpacks from my hubby's work and I think it would be cool if we can fill it with pens, crayons or penholders. But we can't take to much with us, althought we want to contact our airline and explain the situation, so we can see if we can take more with us for these kids. If you also would like to help out, pleas feel free to contact me at: judith_lahaye@chello.nl
Thank you very much, I leave you with a gorgeous picture of my sweet nephew! Look at these arms :)
Still no new nephew or niece, I'll keep you updated!!

Week 8 in pictures

2008-03-04T12:45:00.000-08:00
I am a little behind with my week in pictures, so here is week 8:

18 feb: A workday nothing special today! 19 feb: This evening I went to the movies with Ralph and cuddled a little bit with Gizmo.. 20 feb: buying presents for a lot of people, my sister in law, my grandmother and collegues at work who have to say goodbye. 21 feb: my dear grandmother turned 85 today! And doesn't she look gorgeous? Love her very much! 22 feb: Visited a friend who got a baby daughter last november. What a cute and little girlie this tiny baby is!! 23 feb: Celebrating the birthday of my sister in law Inge. Her own baby is due in about 8 days... so we are very excited about meeting our new niece/nephew!! 24 feb: visting the labyrint with our friends Rene & Esther, having fun and laughing!!
Week 9 will follow soon! (I hope :)
I don't have much scrapmojo these days... Maybe because I am busy editing our travel movie from our trip to South Afrika (we are visiting south afrika again in about 8 weeks!) So the movie is going to be really cool (if I say so myself). And there is a lot of stuff going on at work, taking way too much energy of me. And last weekend my sister Karin visited us, with her hubby and their cute little son Mexx!! He is such a cutiepie! And she made me some really cool stuff: check it out here:

Love you little SIS! And lots of love to all of you who made it till the end of this post ;)

# 23 & # 49 Deck of me...

2008-02-26T20:30:00.000-08:00
Last weekend we had a blast!! My sister in law Inge was celebrating her birthday and we had a really nice evening together! The baby is due within 2 weeks, so that is exciting! Can't wait to meet our new little niece or nephew... Talking of nephews, we saw my sister, her husband and Mexx last sunday and he is really cute! He has grown so much and his eyes are getting more blue every time I see him. He is really something!! And he also thinks his godmother and -father rock, hihi.

My grandmother turned 85 and when Mexx saw too many ladies with greyish hair, he started crying! Just to start laughing when he saw his mommy and daddy and me :)
We also went to the labyrint with our friends Rene & Esther and their kids. We had so much fun and wind up getting lost in the labyrint!! Afterwards we had coffee and apple pie, it was good to be in the fresh air!
And I finally finished the Deck of me. I had fun working on it. So here are some cards:
# 49 time flies: Photos from Mexx when he was born and last december, he has grown so fast in the last months and he is so cute! Time really does fly...

# 23 right know: 19 january the Dutch SIS crop! Right know my sister Kaatje and me are having a day full of fun with the other SISters. We do not think about our work, but only about scrapping together, taking pictures, making fun and enjoying ourselves! A lot of people say: "you do not look alike, you are so different!!" But I am really proud of it, that you are my sister Kaatje, a positive and uplifting spirit!! And a whole lot of lub! Love you SIS! xxx photo by Corinne

PA operation 6 & 7, week 7 in pictures..

2008-02-20T21:45:00.000-08:00
Operation 6 of the paper adventure is all about colors! I just love colors, and that shows in my LO about color: Those tulips are really gorgeous!!
Operation 7 is about scrapping a bold statement. I used this statement I found on the blog of the talented Jody. And I have to remind myself more about this in the upcoming year: sometimes you have to create your own joy!! I love this quote...
And last weekend I managed to finish the last card of the deck of me!! 52 cards down!! I just love working on these cards, will post the last cards in a nex post.
First, my week 7 in pictures:
11 feb: really tired from work, I spent the evening in front of the tv with Gizmo. I crawled into my bed at a very early hour... 12 feb: preparing presents for the last work day of my collegue Bernke. 13 feb: taking pictures of the place we work, to use in my present for her! 14 feb: valentine's day!! Enjoying a show of the Bee Gees!! "you should be dancing, yeah!" And I got a great gift from my husband Ralph, so sweet!! A deluxe shower package, really yummy! 15 feb: Gizmo is not happy about valentines day, he didn't get anything! grump... 16 feb: working in the garden, planting flowers, it is a beautiful day. 17 feb: finally finished the deck of me 2007and created the cover!
And I received my first happy mail from my happy-mail-SISter Kerri all from the USA! Kerri, you really spoiled me and I love all the goodies you sent me!! Too cool, thanks so much! Last week was not an easy one at work... I Started working alone and that's not really my kind of thing. On Monday morning the feeling that overwhelmed me was more the kind of "welcome-to-my-pity-party"... I thought of the bold statement (see aboven) and must say I have really great other collegues who think of me and support me, so thanks guys!! ! Day by day it is getting better, still keeping my eyes and ears open for a new job... who knows what more is in store for me? :) And I couldn't deny you this magical picture of Gizmo and my really really cute little bunny nephew Mexx! Love from me!

week 6 in pictures & some more scrapping!

2008-02-15T13:10:00.000-08:00
Here I am again, last week was very busy at work. I said goodbye to my dear collegue and friend Bernke, so that was a bit sad. She is starting her new job in 3 days, really exciting! To celebrate our 7 years of friendship and being collegues, we went to "a tribute to the Bee Gees" last night! We had such a fun evening, we even danced in the theatre and "ha ha ha stayin' alive!" is still bouncing through my head, hihi. It was great!!
Today I have nothing special planned, so here is my week 6 in pictures:
4 feb: the days are getting longer, it is still light outside when I get home from work! 5 feb: thinking about the future and ofcourse what to scrap... 6 feb: our litte Gizmo is a very curious and funny rabbit! 7 feb: scrapping together at work with collegues, I am really happy the way this LO turned out. 8 feb: the sun is shining, birds are singing, and flowers are growing. Love these first "krokus"! 9 feb: visiting our friends in Dordrecht, with the most amazing weather! 10 feb: scrapping on transparencies together with my friends!
A few weeks ago I made a spread for the DT, sketch 6 of Vicky. Go check out this blog, when you make a spread with her sketches, you can win a creanijn check! My take is also up on her blog and I really love these bright colors!
I used the Rouge Garance paper and cut out the circles! And used bubble wrap for the first time to stamp bubbles on my paper (with glitter paint!) The bubble wrap makes also a great detail under the title. The spread is about my friends Esther & Esther and me scrapping together, last april in Heesch. This is what we also did last sunday, we learned to scrap on a transparency and design our own hambly :)
Good weekend everyone!!

Week 5 in pictures & paper adventure...

2008-02-08T06:23:00.000-08:00
Hello, here is my week 5 in pictures:
28 jan: The wind is blowing hard but the sun is shining through the curtains... 29 jan: preparing my first happy mail package for my happy mail SIS Kerri!30 jan: flowers for my friend Bernke, she found herself a new job! 31 jan: my guardian angel, hoping everything will turn out right 1 feb: my day off, washing lots and lots of clothes...2 feb: together at home, went for a walk, shopping and goofing aroud 3 feb: home alone, scrapping all day and finishing my Tanzania album! In order to scrap the pictures of january,I took on the challenge over at CK. They are creating an album in a year and provide a sketch each month! My friend Esther is also particpating in this challenge. Here is my LO:

I really like the way it turned out, love the orange color!!
Yesterday evening I went scrapping with my collegues and friends. After a hectic week at work, we had such a blast last night! We scrapped together, talked and laughed, such a good evening. I worked on the paper adventure, here is what I came up with:
Operation 4: Frozen time... A day of my life right now.

Operation 5: Little picture
I love this blurry picture, You can see me and Gizmo on it! I took this picture to imagine what someone would see if he took a peek into my room from our roof. I love these evenings, me scrapping and Gizmo inspecting all the papers or just sleeping around :)

This weekend we are visiting friends who we met on our trip to Tanzania, so good to see them again! We are staying the night and sunday I am attending a workshop scrapping on transparancies with my friends Esther, Esther and Puck. So looking forward to this!
And have you see this ? Jeanet, Marije and I actually made it onto a LO of the talented Annie Hafermann! I think this is really cool!! hihi! And if you want to help the south African children out, check out the post below! Enjoy the good weather this weekend!

South Africa & a childrens home... need your help!!

2008-02-01T11:28:00.001-08:00
As a lot of you know, my husband and I love to travel. Upcoming April we are visiting South Africa again, with the parents of Ralph! I am really looking forward to this trip. Last time we visited South Africa (2006), it was a beautiful country and we met a lot of kind people! We also came across a child day care in Khayelitsha (Cape town) and those children stole my heart! On this trip we would love to visit and orphanage and bring goodies which the children really need. (As much as would fit in to our backpacks). So I am looking for a childrens home who would love this visit and these goodies!! And to contact them so they can tell us what they really need. It would be great if this home is on our route: Johannesburg, Kruger, Durban, Pretoria, Swaziland, Capetown, Stellenbosch) .
If you know an orphanage, would like to help out of have any ideas on how to make this work, feel free to leave comment! I hope to get in contact with a childrens home and then I can tell you what these children need. You can also email me at: judith_lahaye@chello.nl . I posted a message over at SIS and the really nice fashionista Wilna posted my message on her blog. Thanks so much Wilna, I hope a lot of people in South Africa are reading this message!
And I finished my Africa album (Tanzania) almost, to stay in the theme :) You can see some LO's here:

Lots of love and let's hear it for these children...

Annie Hafermann & week 4 in pictures

2008-01-28T21:50:00.000-08:00
The workshop of Annie was SOO much fun!!! At a very early hour, Marije picked me up at the trainstation (thanks sweetie!!) and we drove to Jeanet. She served us a delicious breakfast, how fun is that? I am so glad that I got to know you ladies :) And then we met the lovely Annie Hafermann! She is really cute and full of humor, hahaha ;) We worked on a project with a lot of stitching, so half way across, Marije and I were thinking this: We used the cool Recess paper of basic Grey. I think I am going to use this picture on the LO I made at the workshop. Will upload the LO soon!
And before I forget, Annie made the most DE-LI-CIOUS mint brownies! They were really to die for, so so sweet!!
My week 4 in pictures looks something like this:
21 jan: to get into 1 picture together with Gizmo is really difficult...
22 jan: taking the afternoon off, relaxing and shopping with my friend Bernke!
23 jan: taking pictures of my afrika album, nearly finished! to bad the light is not that good...
24 jan: Gizmo is also interested in scrapbooking! Love the way his paws reflect in the pictures.
25 jan: I went cropping with a collegue and friend Ria!! We had a great afternoon and also spent some time in the shop. And I finished some DT work this weekend.
26 jan: attending an awesome workshop by Annie Hafermann, together with Jeanet & Marije.
27 jan: staying the night in the town were I lived for 22 years and were my father is burried. We slept right across the grave yard, to me it was a good and save feeling to be back to my roots and to be so close to my father :)
And for my scrapwork: I finished a double LO for the DT of the creanijn sketches blog, with a few pictures of last xmas and the Love Elsie line! And last but not least: I am participating in this happy mail swap over at SIS. This is how it works: "do you like happy mail? i do. a lot. Every once in awhile amidst the countless bills, there's a small package or card that says my name on it. And my day is automatically better, no matter what!
The point of happy mail is that it doesn't have to be BIG. It could be a homemade card, a comic you found in the newspaper that you think your partner will like, a small goody (even from your own collection), or really anything that just says "Hey! I'm thinking of you today! Hope you're smiling!"
This will be a two month commitment to your partner - for february and march. And then we will start a new happy mail group so you can stay in or drop out. There is NO monetary minimum commitments because the point of this is not to go out and spend a ton of money. The only requirement is that you send some happy mail to your partner at least once every other week. Not too bad, right? wanna know what will be even better? You'll ALSO receive happy mail at least once every other week!"
Can't wait to send my first happy mail off to SISter Kerri, all the way over in the united states! See you soon girlz!

Week 3 in pictures & Operation 3...

2008-01-23T22:15:00.000-08:00
The third week of 2008 in pictures, here it goes!
14 jan: staying for diner at my dear friend Bernke's house and helping her bathing and feeding her kids! After this visiting a meeting of our work...
15 jan: it's raining, it's raining... but just love this photo :) 16 jan: a lot on my mind these days... 17 jan: checking out my mail and SIS TV for this cool VIDEO Silvia made of the 1 dutch SIS crop! Check it out, I'm in it ;) 18 jan: my day off and enjoying the sun setting above the trees (view from our bedroomwindow) 19 jan: second Dutch SIS crop! Meeting all those cool SISters -especially Lucy all the way from Sweden!- 20 jan: still enjoying yesterday, all these gifts and meeting my friends, Jeanet, Marije, Tammie, Karin -xoxo- and meeting new friends!!
At the dutch SIS crop I worked on operation 3 from the paper adventure, Next. Next stop, a new job?? Was the first thing that came to mind. I am not enjoying my work as much as I did. All the changes, are taking a lot of negative energy from me. When I get home, I feel drowned. I am soo soo tired... My collegues and the people I work with are the ones who make my work good at this moment (luckily). But still I am thinking a lot about work these days and what I want to do with it. So here is to operation 3:

And thanks SISters for giving me positive energy last saturday!! XOXO

2 Dutch SIS crop/ euro crop...

2008-01-20T12:08:00.001-08:00
was great yesterday!! The SIS crop in Ede was so much fun. I travelled with Marije, Jeanet, Tamara and Esther to Ede, to the shop scrappendoejezo. My SIS irl Karin travelled from the south part of the country together with Aranka. It was really great to meet all of the SISters again and get to know some other SISters.
Lucy was also there all the way from Sweden and it was really nice to meet her and see her gorgeous craft work!!We started in the morning with a round robin, this means: you get into a group and work 5 minutes on a LO and then you give it to the person to the left of you and you work on the next LO. This is a cool way to scrap great and I just love the way my LO turned out:
I used a picture of my SIS and me taken last Xmas, just love it.
And there were a lot of gifts and prices yesterday! In the afternoon we strut our stuff, talked and cropped a little bit more, put 3 LO's on the catwalk, Corinne took A LOT of pictures of all the girls and I won a workshop for next week with Annie Hafermann, together with Marije and Jeanet!!
In the evening we went to an Italian restaurant for a delicious pizza and we had a wonderful day. And the fun part is: there were gifts throughout the entire day! A goodie bag from my SISter Karin, filled with great goodies: hair spray, bubble wrap to scrap, the newest Love Elsie papers(!), papers with cute patterns that stick to any surface (from the Gamma!), a cute little bag with OWL's on it and inside was this cute one! Thanks sweets, also for the other scrapgoodies I received :)
A nice card from Lucy:
Really cool thickers and a RABBIT from Corinne, thank you!
And a cool minibook, I think from the store.
So we were really spoiled! I leave you with an impression of this cool day, bye for now!

Week 2 in pictures...

2008-01-16T22:10:00.000-08:00
I just love this cool challenge I am participating in over at Esthers blog! I'm already hung up on making as many photos on a day hihi!
Here is my week 2 in pictures / review:

7 jan: nothing better than the smell and the feeling of crisp fresh sheets!! 8 jan: giving my blog a new look
9 jan: news at work, the works of council has ended their trust in the board of management 10 jan: my wedding ring. On this day my husband and I are 15 1/2 years together! 11 jan: my mom -who lives 2 1/2 hours away- came over with her friend to spent the night and we went shopping together. Really nice! 12 jan: visiting the holiday market (?!) a huge convention, with stands from al lot of touroperators. It was really great AND a lot of inspiration! 13 jan: a really mellow sunday afternoon, just the way I like it, sun shining through the curtains...
So that was week 2!
I managed to create some more LO's. There was a challenge over at the green frog studio of Celine to scraplift a lay out of hers! That isn't too difficult, she makes beautiful work! And I am really happy with this result. This LO is about my HB, visting down town Las Vegas last february. We had such a blast!! And I just love this picture.

And still 3 nights of sleep before I am meeting all my dutch SISters again for the second Dutch SIS crop! Can't wait to see you all again, love it!

sketches blog

2008-01-13T14:00:00.000-08:00
The creanijn sketches blog is up and running and the second sketch is featuring. I used this sketch to create a spread about my cute nephew Mexx. It works really fast and easy these sketches! Go and have a look and we would love you to join in! your spread will also feature on this blog.

Another challenge I am participating in, is the "weeks in review" challenge from my friend Esther! Plan is to take a picture each day and create a collage at the end of every week. I am a little behind, but here is my collage for week 1 of 2008.
From left to right: 1 jan: relaxing and thinking back of the beautiful wedding of my sister in law (in the pic are my husband and his sister Inge, love those sparkling stars!) 2 jan: back at work in an unsure time, 2008 definitely will bring some changes 3 jan: Gizmo loves to scrapbook AND read those scraps!! 4 jan: this day off brings me a lot of "messy" scraptime (I love it!) 5 jan: gathering with the family of my dad! Bowling and dining together and my sis and I both won a prize (those red noses!!) 6 jan: discovering the paper adventure and taking part in it. So far this first week of 2008! I created this mosaic with a tool I found at Ali E's blog. It is so easy to use! You can find it over here.
And look what my SIS made me! It is soo cool and I just love the look of it, an owl minibook!! Isn't it great? Just leave here some praise over here!

Paper adventure...

2008-01-09T13:04:00.000-08:00
I was just looking around at SIS and YOUR blogs and came across a new challenge for 2008, the paper adventure from Elise. I just sounded right and I decided to enjoy and join in!! It already is so much fun and a really easy format to work on: my husband threw this organiser out and I saw it in his paper trashcan. So I immediately so a scrap product, I saved it and am glad I did. Here is how it turned out:

Operation 01 was about Balance: "So today, think about Balance.
How are you balanced? How are you struggling with balance? What does this word mean to you? What do you want it to mean to you in 2008? " To me it means finding more my balance, that will be my main goal for 2008. I want to care less about things I can't change and enjoy life more! To not get out of balance by my thoughts and feelings...
Operation 02: So this week, ask yourself, "What sort of souvenir am I leaving?" I thought about this one and came up with the following:
I am thoughtful
I can empathise with other people
I care
I *heart* bunnies
When I am working, I am fully committed with heart and soul
I use diplomacy
To say it simply: I am!!
And remember: do something for another person because you love to do it, and not to expect something in return... (that last one is from Guus Lahaye :)
So I just love this new challenge, hope YOU will join in too!! And another challenge caught my eye, it sounds like a lot of fun and you can find it over at the blog of my friend Esther. I am taking pictures and will make a collage as soon as possible!
And some news of my work: The works of Council (OR) has stated today that they are ending their trust in the board of management... So maybe that means that the board has to go...I feel that will be justice at least, but nothing is sure yet. So when I know more, I keep you posted! For now, good night and lots of love from me!

OLW # 17 steps

2008-01-07T22:35:00.000-08:00
Changed the lay out of my blog once again, Xmas is over!
We had a great weekend, I scrapped a lot, went shopping with Ralph and we visited our family in the southern part of our country. We went bowling and dining with the family of my father and went a little bit crazy! But I'll tell you more in my next post. We also saw Inge, and her belly is still growing! She and the baby are doing great, so that is realy good news!
I created a LO for the OLWchallenges about STEPS:

In the picture you can see my husband and me, at our wedding day! Journaling says: every journey starts with a single step!
And my sister made me a beuatiful canvas gift for Xmas, I just love it!!! Thank you so much dear SISter You can see it over here:
I just love the little picture of Mexx and little stamp. Too cute!!
And the creanijn sketches blogis up and running! It looks great, and there is so much inspiration. Go and take a look if you like! I leave you with this :)

Happy new year, happy new year...

2008-01-03T11:14:00.000-08:00
Happy 2008 to all of you! That it may be a good year and all your wishes may come true! We had a great time these last few days...
First of all we had our "surprise evening" with the family of my dad. On these evening everyone has to make a poem and something nice or goofy for 2 other persons with some little presents. I got a beautiful scrapped canvas from my SISter! I will make pictures tomorrow and post them over here. Thank you sweet little sister!! And I got 2 really sweet poems, and amazing pink scrap tote (hehe)!! Scrapbookstuff, the second book of Karin Slaughter and bath oil. So I am definitely spoiled! I made a little gift book for my mum, who became a grandmother this last year, with some cute pictures of the little Mexx. Here it is:

She really loved it, I am so glad that my mum liked the present.
On 31th december, my sister in law Inge got married to her Roel. It was a magical day! They looked gorgeous and it was a day full of laughter and love, wow! Here are some pictures of their wedding:

If your interested in more pictures, take a look over here! we really enjoyed ourselves!
Here is everything okay, my weekend is on the doorstep, Ralph is enjoying the last days of his holiday (he is a teacher) and next saturday we are going out with the family of my dad, they really rock hihi!
And last but not least, some really goofy Xmas pictures! love from me :)

Merry Xmas everyone!

2007-12-29T16:55:00.000-08:00
Merry xmas to all my blogging friends and a wishing you a happy 2008! We've been on holiday for a week in the south part of Holland and visited with family and friends. We rented a little house on a campground and Gizmo just loved it!!
It was no fun time at work last week...
I can keep my job but my close-by-collegue is one of the people who got the news that she can't keep her job... So that is truly a bummer because she is a close friend and we are a great team together :) Next week I will be returning to work, so I will hear more then.
Thank you all for keeping your fingers crossed and your hopes up. Special thanks to Esther for your nice card!!! I received it today.
But first of all I am going to enjoy my days off, in 2 days my-sister-in-law Inge will be married!! I am so looking forward to that!!!
We threw her a "bachelor" party last weekend, and my part was scrapping a little book for her as a gift with pictures and journaling of all the ladies who joined us at the party. Hehe, I totally can manage that! :) So here is a picture:

Last Xmas was great, we saw our family and friends and our cute little cousin Mexx. He just smiled all the time, making my heart melt!!

They say we look alike...

2007-12-18T21:30:00.000-08:00
Family and friends of my sister are pointing out to her that they can see me in the little MeXx-ie! He is changing and his face is getting more round and people say he looks a little bit like me. That makes me a proud godmother! And the funny thing is, I have dimples and he also got dimples!! So them 2 weeks ago for the first time and that is so sweet! hihi So see for yourself:

He is just so cute, can't help it :)

Tonight I finished my LO for the OLW challenge. Here is my take on the word HOPE:

The deer I drawn myself, by an example of the hema, just love those deers. Journaling reads: I hope that I can keep my job...
I *heart* my job, working with the eldery that is what I *heart* most! Not to speak about the close friendship I have with my collegue Bernke!! I do hope so that tomorrow everything will turn out right, otherwise it will be: destination unknown...
Tomorrow the 207 people who have to get fired in our company, will get a phone call. So please keep your fingers crossed that it won't be me or my close by collegues...
It really sucks that people get this kind of news a few days before the holidays, that is not really cool :(
See you and HOPING all the best of it!

This is how we celebrate x-mas!

2007-12-14T12:30:00.000-08:00
These upcoming holidays are hard when you have to miss a loved one...
But instead of feeling down, my dad always encouraged us to make something of our life and have fun! The last x-mas I celebrated with him, I received a gift from my work, a santa claus. This turned out to be my favorite x-mas ornament/decoration, because when this santa claus started singing and dancing, it cracked my dad up! He was laughing to tears and I was laughing because of him. Every X-mas I unpack this santa claus and I have to laugh again. Here it is:

One of the things I was wondering is how my dad would celebrate this first xmas with his newborn grandson Mexx?
Well I think I have found the solution, check it out here! It cracks me up, this is how we celebrate X-mas!! Special thanks and love go to Jody who has to miss her lovely daughter Teagan. Lots of love to you Jody and thanks for pointing this out, hihi!

60 years ago & design team!

2007-12-11T21:30:00.000-08:00
60 years ago, my granny gave birth to this beautiful little boy: This boy is my father and would have turned 60 today!! Although he is not amongst the living anymore, I carry him close to my heart. And he lives through me, my sister, our mom and ofcourse his brothers and sisters. They also still love and think of him. To celebrate his birthday here is a little note about him and the deck of me # 24 remember when...

The x-mas tree caught fire!! My sister Karin started screaming, my mother began to blow at the fire and I just watched... My dad -luckily!- got a bucket of water and saved us, our home and the x-mas tree! hihi! Just love that memory!! So this one is for you dad with all my love...
And then I have some other news: Vicky of Creanijn is starting a sketches blog. I am very proud to be member of her design team!! I am so happy that she gave me this opportunity, way too cool! You can see the blog here!
We'll be creating LO's based on the provided sketch and will start from January on. But in the next few days all the design team members will be introduced, so check it out.
Last friday a package arrived all the way from Germany, from lovely fellow scrapbookster Nat It was my pay it forward RAK and looks like this:

It looks even more gorgeous in real life hihi. Even my husband -who doesn't like scrapbooking because of the mess I make- was impressed! :) Nat, I love to hold your work in my hands, that it was first in your workspace and created by you and that it is now in my living room! I love looking at it carefully and taken in all the little and beautiful details. Thanks, it really makes my day. And especially this special day....

# 31 & # 45 deck of me...

2007-12-05T21:25:00.000-08:00
Thanks for all your sweet comments!! Here are 2 other cards for the art journal challenge of Emily, still love it after almost a year of creating! Here is my take on # 31 no regrets!

Never regret getting a pet! Gizmo is my sweetheart, he is funny, stubborn, sweet and cuddly. Toward other people he often gets a little bit grumpy, but he just adores me. And that feels good! hahaha. "Best 10 euro's ever spent!" :)
And here is # 45: "brick-over-the-head-moment":

Brick over the head moment for me was this quote: "If life is giving you 100 reasons to cry, think of 1000 reasons to smile!" So when I am feeling down, I have to remember this and think of all the good things happening in my life :) For example a really good thing right now, is this: a mexxy christmas! Just love it and it really makes me smile!!
And last but not least, another hobby of me is "flower arranging" (don't know if that is the right translation). This evening I made a christmas piece to put on my father's grave. He would have turned 60 next tuesday (11 dec) so I made him a little something. This one is for you lovely dad! From me and my SIS :)
I just saw those reindeer christmas balls and just knew he would simply love them! I think they're cute too, but my dad used to misspell Rudolph and always called him Randolph, hihi. So still 7 1/2 years after he died, we are still laughing about it and calling Rudolph Randolph in all our Christmass poetry :) That was so my father!! Just love these little stories about him or our lives... More to come in a next post. Lots of love!
And I even got a Sinterklaas present in my shoe this evening, hihi, a really good book I wanted to read (about Natasja Kampusch the missing girl for 8 years...)

# 48 & # 46 Deck of me...

2007-12-03T21:45:00.000-08:00
Back on track at last! I finished 8 cards last weekend, yay!! I will post 2 of them:

This weeks prompt for #48 was IDEA! I often get good ideas when I am not thinking about that specific subject... for example: when I am driving in my car, when I am cooking, or when I lie down in my bed, just before I fall asleep... I can see everything clearly then and good ideas come to my mind! Hardest part is remembering them the next morning hihi...
And I finished # 46 rejuvenation! Rejuvenation to me is doing fun thing with my SIS! I *heart* her!!! I can't imagine anyone else were I can share this really funny things with, just acting stupid and laughing out loud about it! She understands me just by looking at me :) We R family, I got all my sisters with me :) The pictures are taken at the dutch SIS crop and as you can see we were having a whole lot of fun!

Last weekend the parents of Ralph visited us and we went shopping together. It was really nice and yesterday we stayed at home because the weather was too bad (stormy!)

OLW Live...

2007-11-30T18:05:00.000-08:00
Today was my day off and did a lot of stuff in the house and some groceries. Also bought some christmas presents... And scrapped the OLW challenge, to use the word live!
Live life to the Mexx, the beautiful baby boy from my SIS! Just love them and this picture!!
And I took on a challenge on the new blog from Scrap-club, check it out here It's is gorgeous and I made this LO for the december sketch challenge. March 2007 Visiting the farm with our friends and their children. Didn't know that this could be so much fun!! Love those boys AND these little rabbits..
Tomorrow we will go shopping, for some nice clothes for the wedding of Ralph's sister! And sunday will be a quiet day, hopefully with some more scrapping! Have a nice weekend everyone!

A new look...

2007-11-27T19:05:00.000-08:00
Not me but my blog! hihi. I wanted to make a christmas theme, think that worked out pretty well, didn't it :) I am back on my feet (so happy about that) AND created some scrapwork. A LO about a great walk on a beautiful fall day (last september).
We walked with our friends and their 2 adorable boys. Journaling reads:
* the kids are walking, so we walk slower...
* it takes always longer than planned!
* even WITH signs, we end up getting lost!
* we are having a great day, off to "the goose!"
(a famous restaurant)
I just love this Mellow Line from Basic Grey! It is gorgeous and adorable...

And check out this cute dog Bella, that our friends got one of these last days!! Isn't she adorable? You can see her here!

OLW Full...

2007-11-24T11:30:00.000-08:00
Didn't have time to change my blog, I've been sick yesterday :( It was my day off and I had an appointment with my mom and sister to go shopping, but instead I was in bed the whole day... Today I am feeling better but not all good, so I am going to take it easy! Last week I took on the challenge of the OLW blog to create a LO about full. This is what I came up with: I heard a strange noise and I was looking around me and saw our sweet bunny Gizmo picking ribbons out of my "bunny" :) bag and suddenly it hit me: Gizmo is FULL of inspiration! hihi. I created this one at the SIS crop, I was also full of inspiration :)
And I got some cute photos of Mexx from my sister and couldn't resist scrapping a double LO about him. So here it is:
Have a nice week to you all!!

# 40 & # 44 Deck of me...

2007-11-21T20:00:00.000-08:00
Managed to create 2 cards for the deck of me at the dutch SIS crop, hihi. So here it goes :) # 40 Not anymore...

Speak up! I find it difficult to speak up and say what I really think. I think it is important not to hurt others and be tactfull -otherwise I've chosen the wrong profession! ;)- But at times this doesn't bring me anywhere and I end up feeling blue... So instead I am trying not to get caught in the middle :) and speak up -tactfully!- Sometimes this needs to be done...
And here is # 44 home:

This my parents house, although I have a great home with Ralph en Gizmo, this is also still home to me... Although this house was sold about 1 1/2 year ago, it took me all those months to get over it... And finally I can wrap my thoughts about it, but sometimes when I look back at this picture and think about all those happy times I spent here, it can freak me out that this is also gone... Still brings tears to my eyes as I write this post... Journaling says: Tell me about yours happy memory? and saddest memory? The home that my dad built with his own hands. Since Karin & I were born, we were very happy here together with our mom and dad!! -Playing cable cars hihi-playing shop - putting up the Xmas tree with mom and dad!- But the saddest thing is that our dad died here... So to me home is where the heart is giving up... It may sound a little bit sad this post, but I am not, for I have so much fun memories and people around me who love me, and hehe, I just have to remember: Sometimes life is about creating your own joy! :) I am off to take a look at blogger, want to pimp my blog a bit, so I am curious if I can manage that!
And last but certainly not least ;) one of my best friends Esther, decided to join in in blogger world, so check her blog out over here!

Dutch SIS crop was a blast!!

2007-11-18T13:45:00.000-08:00
Hi SISters, good afternoon! We had such a fun day yesterday, I love meeting you all irl. Especially Jeanet and Marije, it was so good to finally meet you and have a fun time together. After the crop we went to the mac, were we made more plans for scrapping together in the new year and scrap-a-ganza, here we come! hihi! Thanks for a really fantastic day!!
My sister Karin even got picked out as the STAR SISter by fashionista Jo-Anne! That is so cool! Here is an impression of the first dutch SIS crop:

It was great! In the afternoon we worked on a round robin, that means you get to work on a LO for 5 minutes and than you have to pass it on to your neighbour. So you get an LO back where all the SISters worked on! It was really cool and not hard at all! You don't have to think, but just grab some scrapstuff and throw in on there. It was really fun and my LO turned out like this:

I think it is pretty cool ;) When I got home there was a parcel from my SISter that got lost in the mail a few weeks ago and on this night it arrived at my doorstep! It was a RAK en looking like this: But inside were some yummie scrap-goodies!!! And a gorgeous and heartfelt ABC-see-through-minibook! So so cool, it brought tears to my eyes!!

Thank you "real life SIS" I love you!!! xoxoxoxo

MeXx-ie...

2007-11-16T11:10:00.000-08:00
Hi, yesterday evening was a fun one :) I scrapped at work with my collegues untill late in the evening. We had a lot of fun and I finished 2 double LO's and some little other things! I scrapped a lot of pictures of my cute nephew Mexx!
So here they are:

First one is a scraplift of Becky Higgins, just love her work!!
I am off to unpacking my bag of yesterday and packing other scrappbookgoodies for the Dutch SIS crop tomorrow! Can't wait to meet you all in real life SISters! Until tomorrow!

Prefun dutch SIS crop 2

2007-11-12T17:30:00.000-08:00
Hello everyone! We had a really good weekend!
We celebrated the 60th birthday of the mother of Ralph, which was fun! We saw Inge, the sister of Ralph, who is pregnant right now (22 weeks) and getting married on december the 31th! So the next party is coming up! And we are gonna be uncle and aunt again in the new year. Sunday I saw my mum, my sister and cuddled with Mexx! So good to be with our family.
The dutch SIS crop is getting closer and closer... Yippie! I couldn't resist but altering a little album for all those gorgeous play cards, to keep them save!! Just altered an album that was lying around here for more than year! You can see it here:

Lots of love from me!!

Dutch SIS crop!

2007-11-09T09:40:00.000-08:00
**Edited: I got an amazing LO from my german SISter, Nat! Take a look
here! It is gorgeous Nat, totally love it, thank you! **
It is just a week away: our very first dutch SIS crop! I am so looking forward to it! Through the site of SIS (Scrap in Style tv) the dutch members ("SISters") we were invited for a first crop in Ede, on saturday the 17th! Me and my "real" sister immediately planned to go and meet al those SISters in real life! Can't wait! We have to bring scrapbookgoodies, yummie food and drinks! And last but not least the biggest sunglasses you can find AND a photocamera! hihi I think it is gonna be so much fun! I am travelling together wit Jeanet, Marije and Tamara and my sister is also travelling from the south part of the country with a "fellow- SISter"!
Besides the above-to-bring-list, we are making tag cards, with our own picture, name and mailadresses to hand over to each sister. It is an altered playing card and it was so much fun to make! (times 21, for each SISter one card, hihi)
Here is mine:

And here is my SISters (Karin), love those glasses!! hihi

I think Gizmo also loves scrapbooking. I was just hearing a little sound like tearing up paper... I looked around to see Gizmo sitting beside my litte bag (with rabbits on it:) and he was pulling out all the RED ribbon! hihi,maybe I can let Gizmo pick my supplies for my next LO! Lots of love and a good weekend! We are celebrating the 60th birthday of the mother of Ralph, that is gonna be fun!

Delight...

2007-11-05T22:00:00.000-08:00
Last Friday I visted the Krea Doe with my sister karin and my-sister-in-law Inge! We had a great time and a lot of fun and bought a lot of scrapgoodies :)
It was a truly magical day full of laughter and this inspired me to make the OLW LO about delight! The last year was not an easy one for me... I was looking back to the past very often and I missed a lot of things (the home of my parents, my father, my grandfather, my childhood memories) and I love looking back to the past and would love to return to it :) I know that is not possible, and last Friday I realized that life is also about making new memories and having fun in the present time!! So I have to learn not to look back too much but enjoy the life as I live it at this moment. That was a real eye opener to me! The next day I came across the wonderful blog of Jody Ferlaak, also a scrapster (and fashionata!) What this woman writes about is truly amazing and really touched my heart! She lived through real tragedy, but still managed to live an amazing life full of love and laughter! Her words are: "sometimes in life you have to create your own joy"! And this words couldn't be more true for me in this stage of my life. So here is for you Jody, I used your words on my LO! Thanks for the inspiration!!

And some more pictures, I am a Nutella addict, so now you know :)

# 43 Deck of me...

2007-10-31T20:45:00.000-07:00
It's been a while but finally made another card of the deck of me and it feels good! And because today is Halloween, I made this card as a tribute to this special horror day boehahahaha!

On the card is a story about my father and how he used to scare my sister and me! When we were on a holiday, we were playing outside and my father was listening to what we were saying from behind a tree. We were talking about the mooses /elk(?!) in the wood and suddenly we heard a very strange noise from the bushes. I could only shout to my little sister "it is a moos!!" And I ran for my life back into the house with my little sister behind me. And you have to know I was always very slow as a child and never so scared like my SIS, but that time.... Untill I looked back to see if the moose was coming, but instead saw my father cracking up behind the tree ;)
It's always a good scary story to tell because it makes me smile! There are 2 pictures, one from my sister and me about 3 years ago (Halloween at Disney!) and one were we are still very young and were celebrating carnival (I think it is 1980).
And then something else, I was tagged by Esther, but more about that in my next post! And I was nominated for this cool award by Marije, thanks sweetie!

I nominate
Karin, Esther and Nat for this award. You rock girls!!
I leave you with this, especially for Halloween my little "sweet" nephew!

i'm a BELIEVE-R

2007-10-23T21:15:00.000-07:00
I really am!! The word on the OLW blog is believe. I immediately thought of my dad, but I made my last LO about him. So I thought of something more funny :) And I came up with this:
Journaling reads: eat dessert first. Life is uncertain. I am a believe-r!!! Used a doily on the cardstock, something you also use in real life for chocolates. And I took a pic of my old time favorites: chocolate with peanuts, chipped in chunks!! Just love them!! That saying couldn't be more true....

Friday is here!

2007-10-19T15:05:00.000-07:00
And again it is friday! Been already busy, got the groceries, cleaned the house, went to the hobby shop :), took a long warm bath and talked over the phone to friends! And now it is time for scrapbooking and blogging!
I finally got a change to take pictures of my africa album, so here are a few LO's:

Go over here to see some more LO's, the one I finished so far :) And I am also working on an ABC album in an online workshop, it's been so much fun! Here are the first two letters:

Have a nice weekend everybody!!

Thank you ladies

2007-10-16T21:00:00.000-07:00
for these nice RAK's!!
I just love your RAK Iris! It arrived today with the mail, and it is gorgeous!!! Can use it very well on my Afrika album.

And special thanks again to my friend Esther for this gorgeous Afrika themed RAK, I am loving it!

Last weekend was great but very busy. Friday night we had a bday party for Ralph and his collegues. Saterday in the afternoon all our friends arrived and we had diner together. It was great to have them all over and enjoying the company of each other!!Sunday we went for a walk and I scrapped the whole afternoon, went a little bit crazy with my afrika album haha! I haven't taken the pictures, because the light is too bad in the evening. So hopefully I can take teh pictures soon.
And for all of those dutch SIS-ters, they are organizing a crop in november for all those SIS-ters, check their site out! I am visiting with my own SIS Karin, I am really looking forward to it!!!
Yesterday I started with an online workshop at Moniek's! We are working on an ABC album, mine is about our daily life, and it is already so much fun! So here is the front and back cover.

And last but certainly not least, I have some sad news, yesterday the sweet little bunny Wolke from my SISter Karin, died... I can't believe he is gone, he was such a sweet sweet bunny and a little friend of Gizmo... See you soon and lots of love from me to you!

WOW!

2007-10-12T16:45:00.000-07:00
I just can't stop smiling, because my dear little SISter dedicated a whole post and LO to me!! I love it and this totally makes my day, thank U SIS! Take a look here!
Today was a really busy day, got a day off from work but did a lot in and around the house!! This weekend we have two b-day parties, one tonight, for the collegues of Ralph and one tomorrow evening for our friends! They are all staying over, so that will be a lot of fun!! Today I did the groceries, brought our car away, went shopping and cleaned the house untill late in the afternoon. Now I am finished and will try to scrap some more! I am still working on my Afrika album and scrapped last week a whole evening together with collegues. that was really fun! Made 3 double LO's! I am taking part in an online workshop over at Moniek's! Can't wait to get started next monday. I think my book will be about our daily lifes.
I still scrapped some more for challenges: the first one is for a sketch over at pencil lines This is my take: Just love the pictures of little Mexx, such a sweetie!
And I scrapped a LO for the Gigi challenge over at SIS-tv, you have to use a favorite lyric. I used the lyric of the song "everything" by Michael Bubble, love that song! Go over here to listen to it, and here is my LO!

This picture was taken last february, at the fire state park in California! I love this picture, you can see the fun we had in our eyes!! Have a nice weekend and see you soon

Gone..

2007-10-07T23:00:00.000-07:00
We had a good weekend! Friday I scrapped, went shopping and cleaned the house and yesterday we visited our friends and scrapped a whole evening together! It was so much fun to be scrapping together and I finished a lot of pages in my Africa album, so will show you soon! This afternoon we went to a birthday party of a collegue of Ralph and went out for dinner. We had a good evening! So now on to the next OLW challenge: Gone... I used a picture of my really really beloved dad who past away 7 years ago.

Title says "never gone for good"! Journaling reads: dear dad, even after 7 years you are still in our hearts, by all means!! Every single day I think of you and the things you taught us with a lot of love. And even now you are protecting us! "That it will never come again is what makes life so sweet" xxx 7-10-2007
When I saw the word gone, I immediately thought of my dad!! I love him so much and so does my little SISter, look over
here to see what a beautiful LO she came up with!! Just love that picture she used!
Lots of love from me and see you soon!

Almost weekend...

2007-10-04T20:30:00.000-07:00
It is almost weekend and I am really looking forward to it!! It was a busy week at work, with a lot of difficult cases and a meeting for employees about the plans to fire us employees. So far, no concrete plans, sigh...
So I am really glad I have a day off tomorrow and planned nothing special, just some scrapping and cleaning the house I think! I love those fridays :)
By the way, I suprised my awesome :) little SISter Karin with a little inspiration book combined with pictures of that lovely son of hers :) Mexx!

She was really surprised and loved this little book right away! And that's what is all about... If you like this, go here now! Maria Grace Abuzman: she doesn’t just show you how to make it…all the pages are a pdf download that she made…then you just print it on to white cardstock and you’re there. Add what you want, bind it how you want, and then write in it and stick stuff in it. Special thanks to Shimelle, for pointing this out to me! Lots of love with a picture of Gizmo on this special day (4th of october) hihi

# 36 Deck of me...

2007-09-30T22:50:00.000-07:00
Here a short note from me... We had a great weekend! Ralph came back from Prague last friday and had a great time -a little bit tirying though- :) And I watched over Mexx while his parents enjoyed a visit to the sauna! I really loved being with him, he is just too cute! When I was changing his diapers -yep!- he really smiled with a big smile at me and tried to touch my hair and glasses!! He is really adorable and grows much to fast!! I made a card for the deck of me and used a picture of Mexx in it.
Journaling reads: Life is beautiful! I have to remember this more! Much too often I am only thinking about the same over and over again or what could go wrong. And since Mexx is born, life is even more beautiful!
We had a great weekend, today our family has visited us for the birthday of Ralph. It was a good day and we enjoyed ourselves!! So see you!

Perfect & # 33 Deck of me...

2007-09-26T19:45:00.000-07:00
I saw the new word on the OLW blog and this is what I came up with: To me this is perfect! 31 july, evening before our trip to Tanzania. Just goofing around and Loving each other! The picture even came out wrong out of the printer (you can see it at only two white lines ;) Even more proof that this is PERFECT to me! xoxo
I just love that picture, every time I see it, it makes me smile!
Yesterday I received a wonderful RAK from my friend Esther. Thank you so much, I just love it! There were a lot of goodies with an Afrika theme in the RAK, so cool! I can't show you, because Ralph has the camera with him... Karin, Iris and Miranda please be patience :) hopefully your RAKS will be on the way by the end of the week, so stay tuned!
And yesterday evening I had a very cosy and relaxing evening with my collegue and friend Marije, thank you sweetie ;)
The painter is painting our stairs, some of the last things that needed to be finished in our new home! And guess what... I just stepped right into the paint... Jikes... hopefully the painter can manage it tomorrow, or my footprint will be there for several years hihi
I leave you with this, card #33 out of the deck of Em, 10 minutes.... You never guess what I made? Had this photograph lying around and there it was, this adorable card! 10 minutes of pure bunny love! See you!

# 25 & 35 Deck of me... and ode to my family

2007-09-23T20:00:00.000-07:00
Hi, here we are again on Sunday evening... after a very sunny and warm day!! Our weekend was great. Friday I went shopping with a collegue and friend of mine, Ria. We went to Scrappoint a great store, with beautiful scrapsupplies!!! I bought a lot, but don't have my camera with me so can't show the new stuff! We also scrapped together in the shop and I started a 8 x 8 album with my bday photos of last year. It was a great day!! Yesterday the parents of Ralph came to visit us and to do some work around the house... It was really great to have them over and we went out to diner, hmmm!! And this morning -very early- I brought Ralph to school (he is a teacher) and they took off with the bus on their trip to Prague!! He is still on the bus right now... He will be gone for the rest of the week and will return on Friday morning. So it is very quiet over here...
But I scrapped a lot today, I put all the stuff outside and scrapped in the sun! I started my Tanzania album and so far finished 3 double LO's and I am pleased with the result. I only have to add some journaling, will post them soon over here.
But now on to the deck of me: I finished 2 cards, and their about my family. Family Lahaye in particular. They are the family of my father and we have a really special bound! We don't have to talk every week with each other, but just know how the other one is feeling! Without words, I think that is so special. Especially after my father died, they have been such a support and sweetie pies! I love you all! xxx
When I visit my uncle in the southern part of the country, and I hear him tell about their holiday and his feelings, it is if I hear myself talking! Same thoughts, same feelings, same anxiety ;) Every time I have to smile and it feels good to have some one near who really feels and thinks like I do! It must be in the gene-pool is something I think often! But when I see him and another sweet auntie ;) it just feels like coming home!! And to me that means a lot, so thank you family Lahaye :) you rock and this one is for you:

And another card, about a picture I love.

It is a picture of my grandmother (mother of my father) and me at the age of 4. It is one of the few pics I have of me and my granny, because she died when I was 4. Journaling reads: Grandmother Meerssen! This picture is dear to me because it is one of a few with me and granny on it. She past away already 27 years ago (!) but the love that I feel for her and she for me, is immortal. Even after all those years I can still feel it. Ever since I was 4 years old I knew that she is my guardian angel. And it comforts me to know that my dad is now with his beloved mother and my grandmother: Janet Krapels. For always in my heart!!
I feel that it is important to keep calling the names out loud of the people who passed away, that is why I spelled out the name of my granny. It feels good to see and here her name after so long. Wow, what an emotional post :) One more special person of the family I would like to remember here: last Friday on the day that fall starts, it was 10 years ago that a brother of my father (Wiel Lahaye) died. He was a special man, on his own but with a great deal of humor. I think of him and it always brings a smile to my face. He looked very simular to my father and also has a special place in my heart... And now for something humerous which is also very much family Lahaye like: look here and be amazed a pair of scissors to cut your pizza!! It looks like my grandfather Lahaye could see into the future, because he used to cut his bread always with a pair of scissors!! hahaha, it really cracked me up when I saw this add and then to think that we used to make a lot jokes about my grandfather Frans :) have a nice evening all of you!! xoxoxo

Scrap-sisters!

2007-09-18T18:10:00.000-07:00
Last weekend was great...
We visited our family, enjoyed the birthday party of Ralph's father and went on a little walking trip with our friends :) You can see the whole story over here! We had fun!!
Yesterday my sister Karin and Mexx came over to our house (a 2 1/2 hour drive). They arrived in the morning, and first we scrapped together... (naturally!!)
I finished some LO's of the birthday of Mexx :)
Both are scraplifts, one of Patty and one of Ali!! The colors are much brighter in real life, but he...
After scrapping we went shopping and in the late afternoon I took some nice pictures of my nephew: Mexx is growing so fast, at these pictures he is 2 months old (already)! Always look at the bright side of life :)

After Mexx his photoshoot, my sister began cutting...my hair! It turned out very nice (thanx to u SIS!) and my collegues loved my new hair-do. You can see it here, have a nice evening!!

Pure...

2007-09-13T09:00:00.000-07:00
Pure... When I first saw this word on the OLW blog, "pure adrenaline" was the first thing that came to mind. My husband, our friends and me, we love to ride rollercoasters!! We've visited Disney world in Florida a couple of times. And in the MGM studios is my favorite ride: the rock & roller coaster with onboard music of Aerosmith! I totally love it!!! We are sure we will go back one day for some more Disney magic... Last february we visited magic mountain in the states with our friends, and that was great!! And in July we went to Europapark in Germany for some more roller coasters!! Keep the adrenaline flowing :) My second favorite roller coaster is the Silver Star in Europapark, front seat. We just love that feeling of plummeting to the earth!
This is what I came up with for the OLW challenge, with special thanks for inspiration to Christiane!! :)

And thanks to Nat and Esther for making my day and winning the RAKs! Thank you, you are both sweeties :)
I just received the de creatiekit and it is gorgeous! Just love it all and can't wait to get to scrap with it. Next monday my SIS is visiting with Mexx, so we are gonna scrap together. She will bring her kit also and we will be cutting not only papers, but also my hair !! :) And I received my scrapbookgoodies for my holiday album of Afrika, so have to go now and get this party started :) There is still no news on my job, but hehe no news is good news, as the say in Holland.

# 27 Deck of me and winners of the RAK!

2007-09-10T18:40:00.000-07:00
Our last weekend was great, we were home and had no appointments or whatsoever! Yesterday we cleaned out our barn, we put some old stuff for sale on the net and we worked in the garden. Gizmo was also outside, so that was really nice. A relaxing weekend... But now the workweek has started :( I work in an elderly home in the health department. And last week we got the message that they have to cut down on the costs, mainly on the personel. That means that 100 full time jobs have to disappear but we don't know which jobs are disappearing...yet.... sigh...
So that is not so good news. I am keeping my hopes up that it won't be my job, but my dear husband is already making jokes about it ;) so we have to wait and be patience. untill the big bosses have the plans ready to spill them out...
So far so good...
Now for some happy news!
I would love to share the winners of my RAK:
1. Karin!
2. Iris!
3. Miranda!
Mail me your adress girls, at judith_lahaye@chello.nl and you will find a nice RAK in your mailbox within the next 2 weeks!!
And I did some scrapping hehe :) I was inspired by Elsie to make a doorhanger for my scraproom. You can check it out here, a little bit in freestyle :)

I managed to create card # 27 out of the deck of me. It is about junk mail...

Journaling says: junk mail, that is an easy one!! Every add from Mexx draws my attention since July the 17th! And not because of the brand, but because it reminds me of my lovely newborn nephew!! My sister sent me a picture of Mexx bij email, so here it is, such a cutie!!
And look what Gizmo was doing last night...
I think he really loves Basic Grey :) that is the color he turns in the winter! At least the brown spots are :)

# 29 Deck of me and our new furniture!

2007-09-07T20:45:00.000-07:00
Hi there!
Last week we finally got our new chairs to go with our new dining table. You can see it over here (also handy for family and friends in Limburg :)
We really love the way it turned out. The beautiful boedha was a gift from Inge, the sister of Ralph. Beautiful!

And I found some time to scrap again a card for the deck of me.
It is # 29 perfection... What is perfection to me? Because of our trip to Afrika I would say: Zebra's print!!! They are my favorite kind of animal and their print is beautiful! Funny thing is every zebra has his own unique print! Like a finger print, so that is perfection to me... *LOL*

Last but not least: yesterday a bought a can in the supermarket because I really loved the way it looked (the color and transparancy)... You are a scrapbooker or not! I think it brings inspiration, so check it out here:
Have a nice weekend!

# 34 Deck of me...

2007-09-05T21:30:00.000-07:00
Hi here is a short note from me!
I finished card 34 of the deck of me. I am really into scrapping these cards right now, but also can't wait to create a 12 x 12 LO again! Or start scrapping my holiday pictures! I have some ideas popping in my head, but first I have to select the pictures and buy some more scrap papers :) And that last thing is always a good thing ;) Here is card 34: funny!

The colors are not that bright in the pictures, but you'll get the idea :)
Funny is: non stop chocolate cookies! I only recently discovered these delicious cookies and they taste great especially while scrapping! I really thought I had hidden my addiction because I didn't tell anyone about these cookies and ate them in silence ;) untill... Ralph went to the supermarket to get some groceries and he came back with these cookies!! He discovered my addiction and brought these cookies home without asking or ever talking about these cookies! Now that is funny to me :) as is the name of the cookies. I honestly now know why they are called NON STOP.... :)
As I already mentioned my SISter is back into scrapping (look here!) And I am so happy about that, it is good to share the craziness of scrapbooking with someone you love!! So did she with her son and my nephew Mexx :) hehe can't start early enough with scrapping!

# 22 Deck of me... & a RAK

2007-09-02T19:10:00.000-07:00
Today I finished the # 22 card of the deck of me, it is about what you would like to learn. Journaling reads: Ever since I was a little child, I admire the architect drawings(?) my father made. The drawing itself, the thin paper and the bright colors were getting my attention! The drawing on the card was made by my dad and it is our home. The home were I lived with my sister and parents for 22 years! My father also built this house by himself. Therefore I would love 2 learn more about architecture and building in itself!!

I think my little sister will recognize it immediately. Which reminds me, my sister Karin is back into scrapping since she gave birth to MeXx. And I totally love it! She also has her own blog, so check it out at Flowers, freestyle, scissors and MeXx!
So good to see you in bloggerworld and back scrapping Kaatje, jippie!
The sister of Ralph (Inge) and her friend Roel visited us this weekend. It was so much fun, we talked a lot and went out for diner to a delicious Greek restaurant! And more good news: Inge and Roel are expecting a baby in March! So that means we are going to be aunt and uncle again!! YEAH! I am sooooo glad that everything is okay and I am really happy for them!!
And more good news: on the blog from my friend Esther there is a RAK called Paying it forward. I love to participate, so here is how it works: I will send a gift (something handmade or something bought) to 3 random people who leave a comment on my blog!! The only thing you have to do in return is "pay it forward" by making the same promise on your blog. So, if you like this idea and a bit of 'happy mail', please leave a comment on my blog!!! I will anounce the lucky winners on Friday 8 sept. Good luck!
This weekend we took care of the 2 kittens (Gijs & Teun - real dutch names) of my collegue and friends! We had to feed them but we also played around with the 2 of them! They are so cute and cuddly! Really cute and still so little and playful! Hopefully Gizmo won't mind... Will he?

# 32 Deck of me and...

2007-08-29T21:30:00.000-07:00
NO malaria!! Thanks guys for all your sweet comments and keeping your fingers crossed! I called my doctor this morning and there was NO malaria visible in my blood. So that is good news!! Still have some pains in my stomach, but hehe, it is not malaria. I am counting my blessings :)
I managed to create another card tonight, # 32 out of the deck of me. This prompt was "quiet". I used a picture of myself. This picture was taken by our friend on the truck in Tanzania... Journaling is in dutch and reads: Quiet to me means daydreaming.. In Africa I can sit on the truck for hours on end, enjoying the scenery and the happy children. While daydreaming about Africa and about the future amidst 18 other people, hihi! -xxx- August 2007

# 30 Deck of me...

2007-08-28T11:25:00.000-07:00
Hi there, and thank you for all your sweet comments! I really appreciate it!
Finally I found some time last week for scrapping another card for the deck of me challenge. I made # 30, count my blessings...

I used a picture of Ralph with Gizmo, when Gizmo was just a week with us. He is so tiny on that picture and looks so sweet!! In that picture he is really looking for a button on the shirt to bite off, what he managed to achieve only a few minutes later
The journaling reads: count my blessings often... Ralph, Gizmo, loving family, friends!! health, good work, travel!! laughter, love, enjoying life, loving guardian angels, hope....
And for the life after our holiday...
Last weekend Ralph and I were feeling ill. We were tired, got a cold, headache, stomach pains, not feeling very well and a fever ;( So I called my doctor yesterday because I didn't trust this fever in combination with our visit to a malaria area ;) and he saw me this morning. I also still have stomach pains and they are now running some test in the lab :) and he sent me to the hospital for a malaria test, just in case... That is no big deal, except that the nurse was very grumpy! First there were no malaria forms ?! and they shouted "malaria!" a lot of times through the waiting area where all the other patients were waiting(not so nice). Then I had to fill out a form and the nurse took some blood out of my finger. But she made a mistake and with a big sigh she threw the blood away ! Then again some pooking in my finger and when I asked a question she just grumped: be quiet, so I can read the manual otherwise I make more mistakes!!! Okay, That gave me all the confidence I needed.... -not- after that she smeared like 10 glasses with blood and took some more blood out of my arm and then I could leave. sigh... I have to call in tomorrow morning for the results, so keep your fingers crossed for me. Or should I call it: count my blessings ;)
But the fever has as already disappeared, so I don't think it will be malaria luckily. Rather some nasty bacteria in the intestines...
Ralph still has a rough cold, but before he will visit a doctor... sigh!
I will keep you posted, see you soon and lots of love!

Back...

2007-08-23T10:00:00.000-07:00
in Holland! After travelling 3 weeks through Tanzania, it feels good to be home. But I always say goodbye to the holiday country with a little pain in my heart...
We made a great journey and enjoyed ourselves! Tanzania is beautiful with a lot of wild animals and very friendly people! In a while I will update my website with the pictures, but first I have to select them (we have a lot of pictures, around the 1000 pics I think ) ;) You can also see our journey over here
And today we are just at home relaxing, unpacking our backpacks and doing the laundry. Tomorrow we will travel to our family, to see them after 3 weeks and to cuddle Gizmo again, and saterday I will see my newborn nephew Mexx who isn't as newborn anymore :) and we will see our friends Rene & Esther again!! So I am looking forward to it! Just before our trip to Afrika, I made a minibook about Buck, the dog of my family-in-law who past away. I think it is a great memeory of a great and beloved dog and you can keep all his pictures in one book. You can see the book here:

See you soon!!

Tanzania (3)

2007-08-19T06:08:00.000-07:00
Here is a short and last update. The last days of our holiday are here...
We visited many national parks like Sadaani and Selous, where we stayed in tented camps. The nature was beautiful and we also saw some animals, but again no rhino.
We travelled by a very small plane to Zanzibar and here we walked through a not so 1001 night alike Stone Town. It was nice, with small alleys and shops (even suicide alley...) and a lot of herbs. The herbs tour was very special.
Now we are at a beach resort- it has seen better days- but we are enjoying ourselves and the beautiful blue sea. Tanzania is a country with a lot of friendly people! But the towns are all very small, the houses are made of wood and are unkept... Development is almost nowhere to be seen. But everywhere we hear jambo jambo from children, that is very nice. This is the real Africa.
Thanks for all your comments and see you soon, back in Holland!

Update from Tanzania 2

2007-08-10T10:45:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone! Here is a short update from afrika:
We are now on day 9 from our trip. It has been a great trip so far, Tanzania is a beautiful country. The people are so friendly and every where you come they are waving and you hear " jambo!"
At the Serengeti we saw a lot of animals, lions, cubs, cheetah, leopard. They were beautiful and very impressive!!
Today we are at the foot of the Kilimanjaro, but the weather isn't that good so we can't see the mountain ;)
We are just relaxing at the hotel today. Yesterday we visited the coffee plantation and saw the whole process of making coffee. A lot of work! But it was good to see it and we even got some really fresh coffee! It was a good excursion. Tomorrow we are traveling to Sadaani, so we are really looking forward to what that brings! See you soon!

Update from Tanzania

2007-08-04T16:00:00.000-07:00
Hi there, a short update from Tanzania in dutch. This is a beautiful country and we are enjoying our holiday!
In de eerste plaats veel groetjes uit Musoma een dorpje vlak over de grens in Tanzania gelegen aan het gigantische victoriameer (ja dat van die baarzen ja). We zijn dinsdag goed geland in Nairobi (Naieeeerobie zoals de Rotterdammers in onze groep het uitspreken). Na ingeladen te zijn in de safaritruck (een vrachtwagfen waar op de l;aadbak stoelen gemonteerd zijn maar wel met een dak) gingen we op weg. 's morgens nog erg koud maar daarna lekker opwarmend in het zonnetje. Richting de thee plantages van Kericho, een dorpje aan de westkant van kenya. Daar bleven we in een hotel waar de reisgids het woord " vergane glorie" op plakte. Dat was ook wat ik dacht toen het toilet overstroomde en ik de bungalow kon gaan dreggen. In het houthokje bij onze bungalows (jawel met deze temperaturen hadden we ook nog een open haard) zat een man de hele nacht, gezien zijn huidskleur had je helemaal niet in de gaten dat hij daar zat. De dag daarna zijn we naar het Victoria meer gereisd waar we vandaag via een boottochtje een leuk dorpje bezocht hebben. Zowel in Kenya als Tanzania zijn de mensen erg enthousiast, overal waar we langskomen staan mensen te zwaaien en kinderen roepen enthousiast " Jambo" (hallo). Erg vriendelijk volk hier, zo vriendelijk hebben we eerlijk gezegd nog nooit meegemaakt. De kinderen in het dorpje willen met je hand in hand lopen en vinden het geweldig als je tegen ze praat.
Morgen begint onze safari en vertrekken we naar de Serengeti om de big five te gaan bekijken (althans dat hopen we allemaal). Helaas zijn hier in Tanzania de reistijden immens. Dat betekent vroeg op (morgen vertrek m 6.00 uur) en lange reisdagen. Wij limburgers klagen natuurlijk over elke vertrektijd die vroeger dan 10.00 uur is.
We houden jullie wel op de hoogte.
Groeten,Judith en Ralph.

# 28 Deck of me...

2007-07-30T17:10:00.000-07:00

I am way behind on the art journal challenge, but here is card # 28: goal for this week, live life to the mexx!! He is just such a cutie!!!
This is the picture to proof that:
My sister used this picture on the card for his birth, it is beautiful!
Tomorrow Ralph and I are leaving with our friends Arnaud & Esther for Tanzania! This trip will last 3 weeks and takes us to some beautiful places. I am really curious what this trip will be like. Looking forward to visiting Afrika again. So I won't be back until 23 august. If you are interested in our trip, take a look over here at our friends blog! And for now: everyone have a great holiday and see you soon! I hope to update my blog from Afrika, but hehe don't count on it :)

For the first year...

2007-07-24T21:00:00.000-07:00
of Mexx, I made an album with the Corinne Delis paper line!! My sister just loves this line and i think it is really cool with all colors for this precious little boy!! He is doing great by the way. The beautiful work of the talented Revlie inspired me!! My sister thinks this is one of the coolest baby-shower-gifts, so that rocks!! Here are some LO's:

I just love all the bright colors! You can see the whole album over here
And last but not least: a special and big thank U to jeanet for nominating me to be a rockin' girl blogger! WOW! That really makes me proud jeanet!! I will nominate some bloggers in my next post, off to scrap some more!! xoxo

Meet MEXX!

2007-07-18T18:40:00.000-07:00

Mexx is the son of my sister and brother-in-law and he was born yesterday!!! He is a healthy boy (3885 gram)and my sister is doing great. We visited them yesterday and Mexx is such a cutie! I held him and immediately fell in love with him. I love them and wish them all the luck in the world!! It was great seeing all the family and especially my mother, who became a grandmother! I made a basket full with presents for the next 10 days and got Mexx some mini all stars from our last visit to the states, they are too cute! Here are some more pics:
And I took up the next word on the One little word blog, simplicity. For me this word fell apart in two words, simple city. And that to me is Angkor What in Cambodia. I visited it a few years ago and it was just a beautiful and sacred place, it fits the word simplicity perfectly!! I used an definition on the journaling of simplicity: clearity, beautiful and purity. That is.. Angkor! First time I worked on a transparancy, so let me know what you think!

# 26 Deck of me...

2007-07-13T02:15:00.000-07:00
Finally found the time and inspiration to make another card for the art journal challenge. I altered the title daughters into girls and this is the result:

I says: Girls I love, I love my mum, my sister, I love them!! My stars...
And that couldn't be more true, this card is especially for them.
I am a little bit in hurry, we are leaving in a few minutes to Germany with friends. We'll spend the weekend there and visit a theme park, Europapark. I am really looking forward to it! And hopefully the baby son of my sister will be born this weekend, so we can visit them also!!
Gizmo ran away yesterday, and luckily mu husband catched him and brought him back! Don't want to think that he would be gone...
He just walked into our living room, kitchen, through the garden all the way aroud the house onto the street! Some nice lady stopped by to tell Ralph that our rabbit was out on the street. By that time he ran back into our garden and Ralph could catch him. Pfjoe!!!

3 years ago today ...

2007-07-10T20:30:00.000-07:00
we were looking like this:
we were getting married! Can't believe it is already 3 years ago!! we had such a blast on our wedding day... And today we have celebrated it a little bit smaller... but still good though. On this day Ralph and I are 15 years together, that's a half of my life hehe ;)
Then some other stuff: my LO new nephew (see 2 post ago) is featuring on the OLW blog as a favorite! I couldn't believe it, I am really thrilled and excited. There is so much talent over there. And I was amazed to see how much dutch girls were over there in the faves!
You rock girls :)
And one of my LO's about sisters is featuring on the 2 girls challenge blog A great blog of Aussies Jess & Siany, I love it! Now I am off to pack my scrapbookgoodies, tomorrow night it is collegue-scrap-time at my work. We are scrapping all evening with a few collegues, so that will be fun. Except packing my goodies isn't that funny... I just don't know what to choose :) And thanks all you ladies for commenting on my last post, I really like all the comments and your greets, that means a lot to me!
I leave you with this, our wedding car! 3 years ago we were looking like this :)
One dream, one soul, one mind, one goal, one golden glance of what should be...
It's a kind of magic...

Still

2007-07-07T02:45:00.000-07:00
no baby yet at my sisters house! hihi
Last weekend was pretty cool, we met our families, sisters and friends! On sunday morning we went to Belgium for a delicous brunch with our friends!!
And know it is weekend again. We are having a lazy weekend and also doing a little preparing for our summertrip. In about 3 1/2 weeks we will leave with our friends Arnaud & Esther for Tanzania! I am really looking forward to this amazing holiday and just started reading the guide book.
But first there is a baby to welcome, haha.
I made a LO for my BOM about something about yourself you would like to change. Mine turned out this way:

This LO is inspired by a canvas made by the ubertalented fashionata Gigi Kennedy! Journaling says: Enjoy life more let the sun shine in!
So I am planning on doing so! Relaxing more, starting right now this weekend and taking a long warm bath!! So see you soon and lots of love from me.

NEW nephew...

2007-06-30T09:30:00.000-07:00
Have you been to this? Word #4 is up, and it is so much fun!

The word for this week is NEW. I immediately thought of my NEW nephew, to arrive this week. The due date for my sister is in a couple of days. So there was the idea for this LO. I absolutely love this picture of my sis, with her hand on her belly :)
This morning we are going to our family in the southern part of the country (2 1/2 hour drive). And tomorrow we are seeing our friends for a brunch. I am looking forward to it! Hopefully my nephew will be born soon, I have a lot of cute presents :)

MY Gizmo!

2007-06-21T20:35:00.000-07:00
Hi there! And yet another week has gone by... Time flies!I created another LO for the OLW challenge about the word my.This is my take: Gizmo was the first that came to mind! But not Gizmo as in a gadget, but my cuddly rabbit named Gizmo! In the title I used his name that is in the picture. He has a sort of doghouse in the garden and just loves to lie in it, under his name! That looks really funny.
Esther and I didn't make it far in the challenge of Wendy, only round 1 :( Just concluded we didn't have enough friends to vote hihi and we now have plenty of time for other scrapbook related stuff! Like cleaning my scrapbookroom... Can hardly walk with all the stuff, it is even hard for Gizmo to find a path :)
I recently rediscovered this place: Scrap In Style. This is a really fun stylish site to hang out! With some really cool SISters :)
So if you have some time, go check it out. Lots of love from me!

for the love of Buck...

2007-06-17T11:00:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone. How are you?
This last week was a sad week here. Buck, the dog of Ralph's parents, has past away... He had a stroke this week and didn't recover as well. So we all are very sad. Buck has been part of the family for 14 1/2 years, and he was just the sweetest black labrador I ever met! He made us laugh a lot of times...
*When he was waiting and watching all the cheese in the cheese shop (He loved cheese!)
*When he chased after a cat, but the cat didn't go away, he immediately stopped running and turned around!
*When he was younger he ran away from home and Ralph's parents had to pick him up at the police station. Buck in jail! He had a really big nose because he had an accident with a car. But we were glad he was back.
* He was a really sweet dog, who loved to cuddle and lie around the house.
We are gonne miss him!!

I am still scrapping here... I worked on my BOM and presents for my sister. I am really behind on the card journal challenge, but will catch up later this week.
Here is what I created so far for my BOM:

The picture is a little bit dark, but journaling reads:
me at 22 months
born 6 weeks early, no one believed my dad!
My dad used to call me Kojak, because my hair wasn't growing untill I was over 1 year old :) He always said that he would polish my head instead of combing my hair :)

I have to go now, have a nice sunday!

Book of me...

2007-06-10T22:00:00.000-07:00
I scrapped a lot today. I took up a challenge to work on a BOM. Today I finished my album cover and the first page about how Ralph and I met. Here they are:

Last weekend was great. Friday I went shopping with a friend and collegue of mine. The weather was really warm and sunny and we bought a lot!! Also some special presents for the baby of my sister... hihi, can't show it yet :)
Yesterday we went to see our friends (they live a 2 1/2 hour drive away), their youngest son turned 2. It was a great afternoon, we laughed, played, talked and had dinner together. I also saw my mum after a 6 weeks holiday, so that was really cool! We talked a lot and I was really happy to see her and her boy friend. And we visited the parents and sister of Ralph, that was also great, they are redecorating their living room again... And today we stayed at home! Ralph is a teacher and had to correct the exams :( and I scrapped mainly this afternoon! I took Gizmo with me to the garden and he really liked it!! I scrapped outside and when I looked up I saw this adorable picture:

He just looked at the letters, I think he was checking out if I spelled his name correct :)

And I promised you some picture of the beautiful gift my friend Esther made for us about our new home. Here it goes:

See u soon, and last but not least I wanted to share this: looks like the garden gnomes had a WILD weekend ?!

STOP right there...

2007-06-06T21:30:00.000-07:00

STOP right there, thank u very much! I become more assertive and I learn to speak up. That certainly feels good!!
This is my take on the OLW challenge, using the word STOP. Please let me know what you think of it...
Just came home from a visit to the beautician, and now I am feeling very relaxed! I am gonna enjoy this feeling a little bit more on the couch :0 with Gizmo ;)
Have a nice evening and I am also taking up a new challenge making a B.O.M. "book of me", I am starting tomorrow! Have a nice evening everyone!

Godmother...

2007-06-04T11:54:00.001-07:00

Hi! Here is my take on the challenge of Wendy Reed, the challenge is to use a minimum of 3 chipboards... I really like the way it turned out. It is a picture of my pregnant sister, taken a few weeks ago. She is due on july the 5th. I loved this picture so much, I had to scrap it!! I think it is a gorgeous pic... Can't wait to see my little nephew in real life. This weekend was busy but full with all the people I care about:) Our friends and family came over to celebrate my birthday and view our new home. A good friend of mine, Esther, made a beautiful gift. It is a scrapwork, and you can see the 3 houses were we lived in through the years. It is a really beautiful gift! Tomorrow I will upload a picture of it (the light is not so good at the time). I got a lot of scrapgoodies (yippie!), towels, flowers and bathing products. Really nice, so we had a great weekend in our new home. Now I am off to work on a LO for the OLW challenge, using the word STOP. I have already an idea in my head, so see you soon!