What a big surprise

I am learning that the wool can be pulled over my eyes way to easily.  I have just had the second biggest surprise happen to me.  The first was years ago when my husband and pen-pal surprised me with the visit of my pen-pal and his wife.  Brad had kept this quiet for months and I had NO idea.  I knew then that Brad could be really sneaky.

Well I have just had the second biggest surprise.  As many of you know I have got into running and Zumba.  What you might not be aware of is I have also discovered I enjoy cycling as well.  But I have been having to use my youngest daughter's bike.  All my family have a bike but me as I did not think it was something I would enjoy.  They would all go mountain biking and I would have no problem staying home and crafting.  But recently I thought biking around the neighbourhood would be fun so started off going with Grace.  So Grace would go on her bike and I would ride Melissa's.  I would also use Melissa's helmet and Grace's gloves (Grace would then use Brad's gloves).  Then Melissa started school holidays and I thought it would be fun for the three of us to go for a ride, but there inlay a problem, they had a bike but I didn't (I could not fit Brad's bike but also he has special pedals).

For Christmas my wonderful family was able to get me a lovely red helmet and some lovely green gloves so at least I would not have to keep borrowing theirs.  Then this afternoon as I was cleaning the craft room my Mum popped by.  I still did not suspect anything.  I should mention she also rang yesterday to talk to Brad but I did not pick that anything was 'up'.  When Mum and come round this afternoon, Brad had 'popped' out, still I had no idea.  I invited Mum in and offered a drink.  So we started chatting and I showed her my new helmet and told her that I planned to go for a ride to try out my helmet using Melissa's bike tomorrow morning.  She asked about us all going for a ride in the morning and I said how that would not work.  But she kept saying, "but what if you could"  Finally I twigged something was up as Brad had come home by now.

Sure enough I popped outside and there was my new bike.  Similar to Melissa's but red like my helmet - AWESOME!  I was and still am soooo excited (Can you tell by the look on my face in the photo below - such an awful photo but it does show the excitement LOL!)  So hopefully it will stop raining soon so I can take it for a test ride.

Do I have the most awesome Mum of what!

My new red  Black Thunder bike

So to my wonderful Mum and sneaky assistant Brad, thank you, thank you , thank you, I really love it.  I have not had my own bike since my blue 10 speed back in high school.  My new bike is way better.

Hmmm now I might just have to really think about doing a duathlon in 2013.  Whoop whoop I am going to be really fit in 2013 that is for sure.

Ok gotta go try out my new bike :)

Treat Tree

I was catching up with one of my scrapbooking student's Mum the other day at my youngest daughters end of year prize giving at school.  She was telling me about what she was doing last week for some children in her neighbourhood.

Mrs G has a lovely tree that is planted outside her house near the street.  she decided she wanted to do something special for the children that go to the school that is pretty much right outside her gate.  Each day she would go out to her tree and hang little treats for the children.  Each day she tried to make it a bit different.  What a lovely idea this is.  She hung lollipops, and candy canes.  It did not take long for the children to realise these were left for them.

What was also really special was that one of the children left a lovely card for Mrs G as a thank you for all the treats of last week.  Personally I think it is really cool and a great way to share the Christmas spirit at this time of year.

Better Scrapbooking Christmas Workshop

Reindeer Noses How To ...

I have been requested to share how I put together my reindeer noses topper so here you go.  The plastic bags are some I had lying around but they measured 5" across the top edge.

You will need a square piece of cardstock mine was a 5" square, you will want to measure your plastic bag across the opening and use that measurement to make your square.

A piece of 1 7/8 strip of coloured cardstock - green
1 2" circle - a different shade of green
1 reindeer punch - brown

Score and fold your square cardstock in half, this is the base you will be building for your reindeer nose topper.

Take your green 17/8" strip of green cardstock and slot it through the back of a flourish note punch (or use a fancy template to create your fancy edge) and punch.

Ink your green strip and your folded topper, I used pinecone brown.  Adhere your green strip so your fancy edge is down the left-hand side.  Don't worry if it does not go all the way across the topper it is going to be covered by the circle shortly.

Adhere your reindeer punch shape to the front of your 2" circle using foam tape for some dimension.

Adhere your 2" circle to the right hand edge of your topper.  You may like to add a red bling to your reindeer's nose.

Add your title and or sentiment to your topper.  To attach to your bag of chocolate just use your stapler.

Enjoy and I hope you have as much fun making yours as I did with mine.

The chocolates that I used were Maltesers and Jaffas - YUM!
Remember you can have a treat whilst making these ... though just one or two (handfuls LOL!