Misdummer Megascrap with Celine Navarro


Yesterday we had such a fantastic creative day with our guest tutor Celine Navarro from France. Celine taught two really great classes in mixed media showing how to get creative effects with acrylics, paper and canvas.


The first class was '3 layouts in 3 hours' and that's exactly what she delivered. Each layout had a unique mixed media technique and the result was fabulous. After an amazing lunch spread (thanks girls!) in the afternoon we created a canvas wall hanging again using some amazing mixed media techniques. Everyone created their own set of layouts and canvas using all of the ideas which we had learned throughout the day and judging from the creative work which was produced by everyone, I think the event was a great success...

















Thanks to The Scrapbookstore, Linda Kelly, and Inspiring Ideas for the lovely raffle prizes and thanks to everyone for supporting the event and making it such a great day out. We finished up the day by taking Celine for her first pint of Guinness in an Irish pub!
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Midsummer Megascrap Countdown

With less than 2 days to go we are all getting excited about Celine Navarro's visit to Dublin to teach this weekend in Le Cheile, Donnycarney. We have only a handful of places left so if you are thinking about it contact myself or Annamarie asap.



Celine is a well travelled tutor and has trotted the globe bringing her unique teaching style to scrapbookers all over the world. She is so excited about visiting Dublin and has been trying to get over for a long time so she will be happy to land in Dublin tomorrow and hopefully see some of the countryside next week.


Here's a little sneak peak of the first class - 3 Layouts in 3 hours. I've seen the finished projects and I can assure you that people will be going home delighted with their finished projects and their heads full of ideas on Saturday evening...

If you would like to know more about the classes, kit contents, transport to the event or lunch arrangements, please check out www.scrapbooking.ie for more details..

45 Life Lessons

Written By Regina Brett, 90 years old, of The Plain Dealer, Cleveland, Ohio

"To celebrate growing older, I once wrote the 45 lessons life taught me. It is the most-requested column I've ever written."

My odometer rolled over to 90 in August, so here is the column once more:

1. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.

2. When in doubt, just take the next small step.

3. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.

4. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends and parents will. Stay in touch.

5. Pay off your credit cards every month.

6. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.

7. Cry with someone. It's more healing than crying alone.

8. It's OK to get angry with God. He can take it.

9. Save for retirement starting with your first paycheck.

10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.

11. Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present.

12. It's OK to let your children see you cry.

13. Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.

14. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn't be in it.

15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye. But don't worry; God never blinks.

16. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.

17. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.

18. Whatever doesn't kill you really does make you stronger.

19. It's never too late to have a happy childhood. But the second one is up to you and no one else.

20. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don't take no for an answer.

21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don't save it for a special occasion. Today is special.

22. Over prepare, then go with the flow.

23. Be eccentric now. Don't wait for old age to wear purple.

24. The most important sex organ is the brain.

25. No one is in charge of your happiness but you.

26. Frame every so-called disaster with these words 'In five years, will this matter?'

27. Always choose life.

28. Forgive everyone everything.

29. What other people think of you is none of your business.

30. Time heals almost everything. Give time time.

31. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.

32. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.

33. Believe in miracles.

34. God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or didn't do.

35. Don't audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.

36. Growing old beats the alternative -- dying young.

37. Your children get only one childhood.

38. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.

39. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.

40. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else's,we'd grab ours back.

41. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.

42. The best is yet to come.

43. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.

44. Yield.

45. Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift."

Birthday Photoshoot with Cheryl Johnson...

When I was in London recently for Cheryl Johnson's Bootcamp photography course, we had the opportunity to have a little mini photo shoot. I decided to have a go as it was my special birthday recently and I thought it would be a good way to celebrate.. I love how they turned out and I'm delighted to have some new photos to scrap. CJ is a fantastic photographer and tutor - I learn't so much over the weekend. Thankfully she is also pretty ace on Photoshop HAHA!



I did wonder if there was a bull running up behind me here as I was in the field side of the gate - and we really had a giggle about that. I don't think CJ would have let me move if there was one running towards me as the lighting conditions were pretty good and it would be a shame to miss them over the trivial matter of a bull! (snigger!) ;-)


For this one a jogger was running by and I got the giggles as his face was priceless with me draping myself along the wall. If only he had come back the 2nd night when the boudouir shoots were in full swing!!










Cheryl is really looking forward to making it over to Dublin in the near future so if you are interested in booking some personal or family shoots let me know and we can see what can be arranged ;-)

Sports Day

It never fails that the sun shines for the kiddies school sports day and today was no exception. It was glorious and we had to slap on the sunscreen as it was hitting 20 degrees by 10am. The kids took part in 3 races each and we had first and second places to celebrate.







Every year I love to flick back to previous year's sports days to see how much they've grown. Can't believe this is our 6th year of sports days already since montessori school!

And of course it wouldn't be sports day without the mum's race! I was delighted with my 2nd place. 2 hours in yesterday's mini marathon in scorching heat didn't take it out of me as much as 30 seconds in this competitive race today!

Mini Marathon


What a cracking day for the Dublin ladies Mini Marathon -one of the hottest days of the year so far. We had a great afternoon in glorious sunshine - so many women out running, walking, strolling at their own pace for their various charities. Millions of euro raised for charity on one sunny afternoon.


We turned up at St Stephens Green to meet the girls running or walking for Arc Cancer Services...



...then it was a long wait to get started- we didn't pass the start line until 3.20pm when all of the serious contenders (the runners) had passed by..spirits were kept high with entertainment and music...



..of course it was very thoughtful of the Dublin Fire Brigade service to hose us down as we passed by at Donnybrook... ;-)

...the race was full of people like this - guys in dresses with a great sense of humour...

Niamh and Sheila stop for a quick photo at the 9km mark...


And finally we pass the finish line. What a great event!! Hope to do it all again next year..