blaacraft

Sweet Birdies!!

2012-01-17T16:39:00.000+10:30

In my blog surfing today I have come across these gorgeous hand-painted birds that I can't wait to print out and display, perhaps in our 'blue' home office room which amongst the lego creations and sports memorabilia, needs a little more of nature....
Here's a glimpse:

You can find them over here at Rebecca Kallem's blog - thanks for sharing Rebecca!

Today is HOT - 39 degrees - & I am looking forward to catching up with Julie & the girls tonight for her birthday - yay!!

In a blink of an eye.......12 things upon 2012

2012-01-16T18:53:00.000+10:30

it has been October (????!!!!) since I last posted, which is aaages.....and I have gone through peaks & troughs of creativity......as does everyone
My 'baby' is now nearly 18 months old and in typical 3rd child fashion, is the cheekiest by far and has tantrums down pat
whilst we haven't gone away as such during the school hols, I feel proud that I have gone out of my comfort zone on more than a few occasions and done some fun things with the kids, like exploring Waterfall Gully, playing (what seems like Endless. Hours.) of frisbee (who knew?!), creating with alcohol inks with kids- they are old and responsible enough now......hehehe, jumping &playing nonsensical games on our trampoline - 18 monther included.......and like any woman who has kids in 2012 multitasking to the max
Half-survived a major change in our business. it's all for the good. but as Winston Churchill has been known to quote, we just....keep going....
witnessed my brother suffer what could only be described as the worst case of 19th century hirsuitism......if you want to know what I mean, befriend him on facebook :-s
thoroughly enjoyed reading the following in my sacred- before- sleep- time- even -if -it- is -12 midnight-before-the-kids-are-asleep!!!!: All That I Am by Anna Funder (thanks for the loan Mum), Everyday Kindness by Stephanie Dowrick - an absolute gem, highly recommended++++, the gorgeous the God of Small Things by Arundhati Roy, again, and also again, Angela's Ashes by Frank McCourt
Have added the following links to my favourites/added to my google reader: Kind Over Matter, for eye candy I checkout Paper Crafters Corner nearly everyday, Crescendoh for pure inspiration, Design Seeds for colour inspiration, Pinterest for........anything...lol......that's enough for now.....
Gone to the dark side again and become hopelessly addicted to the stupid side of facebook....grrrrr
Caught up with my school friends on our annual day-after-Boxing-Day lunch which was sooooo what I needed - love you guys xxxx
Trying to get out of the rut of easy dishes to cook with 4 fussy people in the household - & just cooked garlic prawns for Dean & me & the kids had......something like 2 min noodles......& that WAS OK!!
LOVED staying at home on NYE (sad I know.....but miss 18 monther had just gone to sleep & you couldn't have paid me to wake her up again to go out & witness scary explosions in the sky, and due to point 4 - didn't even think about booking a babysitter
Have decided that in an effort to streamline the need for memory-preserving, I will keep this blog as an online diary of sorts to encompass not only my art/craft stuff but other ponderings & cool links I find in the name of procrastination/inspiration xx And, also due to point 4, I am no longer a dt member for the beloved Scrapmatts - love you guys - or Mystical but Love staying current with what everyone is doing, whether or not I get the chance to leave a comment x

PHEW!!!

2012!!!!!! And now for something completely different.......

2012-01-16T18:16:00.000+10:30

Guest Designer Projects for D-lish Scraps

2011-10-16T18:46:00.000+10:30

I had a great time creating with the gorgeous & versatile embellishments that Amanda sent me! Here are some of my initial projects:

First up, a layout - on my go-to carstock atm - kraft (LOVE) - & LOVED the fact that Amanda gave me embellies in predominantly brown/green/oranges - like these colours - green being my absolute favourite!!

This layout uses the AMAZING washi tape - LOVE it & SOOOO cheap - simply ripped & stuck on the kraft, & I pleated a little in the embellishment cluster bottom left, which alos featured a mix of resin flowers, velvet flowers & coolio buttons plus the great kraft journalling spot. From my own stash, I used some Glitz , WRMK & Hambly stickers, Hambly transparency & a fab Scrapmatts title 'Happy'....oh & a Crate Paper journalling spot........I didn't use any patternened paper! Please go to the links below to find these great products at D-lish scraps:

Retro-Circles buttons; green acrylic leaves; frosted resin flowers; lime green washi tape; kraft mini journal its;

Next up (above) is a little love note for an upcoming date night that I made & covered with one of the gorgeous kraft mini envelopes, that I misted , using a doily as the stencil (I used the Studio Calico white mist). I also used the fabulous rhinestone hearts which were clear/silver but I used red alcohol ink to colour (veratility plus!) a pin & a journal spot......links below:

kraft mini envelope

diamante pin; paper doily; rhinestone heart; kraft mini journal its

A card is next where I used a gorgeous resin rose as a main feature - the colours went beautifully with some of the new MME papers in 6" pads, & I had an old vintage diecut (??Design Originals?) featuring a very nice celebratory drink!. I lightly inked a doily & used one of the gorgeous pins & added some Tim Holtz elastic stuff (I call it garter 'coz I think it looks just like it) . Another pic is further down the post.......

diamante pin; paper doily; peach resin rose

I made a super quick card using some old stickers & the fabulous washi tape as a banner, - I simply looped it over some twine & cut with pinking shears! Done in 5 minutes flat. I also used some washi tape to make the grass - I doubled over a length & then used 1 of my fave Martha Stewart punches - it was easy to punch through too!

And lastly, another layout where I highlighted some of th embellishments using the fantastic retro circle buttons that I threaded with black tapestry thread, & an essential date spot in kraft, of course. Other materials used included some Kaisercraft dressform rubons, Scrapmatts frame, & Websters paper

Retro-Circles buttons; kraft mini journal its

I have at least a couple of other projects in the pipeline which I will share ove the next 2 weeks including a mixed media piece which as been highly influenced by a recent book purchase.....more laters........

October = Guest Designer month at D-Lish Scraps!!!

2011-10-12T13:46:00.000+10:30

Amanda has asked me to be guest designer over at a gorgeous little store, D-lish Scraps, that sells the sweetest, versatile embellishments! I received a gorgeous package of goodies that I have been having loads of fun using & I will post these here soon. My goodies included: washi tape (YUMMM!!!), painted wooden buttons, charms, pins, resin flowers, doilies.......alll yummo.

Go & visit D-Lish Scraps - they have oodles of things to choose from & at REALLY reasonable prices. Yay!

HMITM #179

2011-09-03T16:31:00.000+09:30

this challenge was to use

1 - lined paper

7 - paper clips

9- staples

use primary colours (red, blue, yellow)

....and here is my example!

I used a Tim Holtz spot stamp in primary colours plus a grey, his 'enjoy the journey' stamp, some Paper Inklings papers that also had the primary colours. The lined paper is Crate at the bottom with the grass, and also the paperclips are hiding under the grass, the staples are holding the grass on the page!!!

thanks for looking!

Oh..and a big thankyou for choosing me to be the winner of the HMITM # 178!!

Father's Day with Paper Inklings

2011-09-03T16:25:00.000+09:30

I made a couple of Father's Day easel cards using the "Dad "paper, rubons & chipboard from Paper Inklings, one of which is pictured here:

Scrapmatts september

2011-09-03T16:18:00.000+09:30

Hi all

My turn to showcase the gorgeous Scrapmatts goodies this month. Go here to read my ning blog post:

some previews:

Scrapbookers Anonymous A to Z challenge - "A"

2011-08-31T17:22:00.000+09:30

I decided to join in the 1st A to Z challenge at the last minute over at Scrapbookers Anonymous - & made a page with all things "A":

my "A" things included: -an apple (chipboard); the letter a (chipboard); Amy Butler paper; an antique dictionary page from the a section; a pink paislee embellishment coloured with alcohol inks; Adorn It letter stickers, an acetate butterfly, alphabet paper by KI Memories (black & white) and alphabet coredinations cardstock and paper from Ali Edwards (orangey brown text- from one of her books) - oh and the word 'adorable' from MME

And here is a closie:)

I LOVED this challenge & came up with a lot more a things than originally thought! Thanks for looking :)

Moxie Fab World card challenge

2011-08-25T14:22:00.000+09:30

I love this blog for all the eye candy - just gorgeous cards inspired by gorgeous prompts! Here is my latest card based on the sketch for the Shaped Sketch challenge - & i used 3 of my absolute favourite things at the moment: twinkling H2O's, gorgeous doily stamp from My Minds Eye & fab new chipboard from Scrapmatts!!!

I LOVE these colours together & love how they twinkle in the late afternoon sun!

Inkurable Stampers August Challenge!

2011-08-20T17:28:00.000+09:30

I'm on a bit of a roll!!!!

Thanks to my beautiful baby having a looong sleep, I've been able to whip up this card for the challenge over at Inkurable Stampers - a sketch from Page Maps:

I am in LOVE with turquoise and red at the moment especially with cream or Old Linen - if you like Distress Inks....

I stamped the rose onto watercolour paper and coloured it using Distress Inks (stamp from Inkadinkado) and I stamped the background paper with a Kaisercraft background stamp (Oriental). Other materials included some die cut paper from Making Memories and an old die cut from Pink Paislee plus twine/string & my fave tool ever - Tim Holtz distresser

Thanks for looking :)

123 Challenge August entry

2011-08-20T16:08:00.000+09:30

The challenge here is to use the word "What", black & multiphotos:

HMITM Challenge #178 - Just Relax!

2011-08-20T15:59:00.000+09:30

Back on the challenge wagon now that the gastro has gone & this time I will actually post the layouts I do & link them to the sites...lol. I often do the challenges but then forget to take a photo & upload within the timeframe - hehe.

Criteria this month were:

- About something that you find relaxing. - yep having a coffee at the local cafe called Doof Doof (food backwards)

- Close your eyes and dig into your stash of scrap patterned papers and randomly pick out at 6 or more pieces of papers and use those on your layout. No peeking! this was scary - but I did it!! - papers include those from American Crafts, GCD Studios, Sassafrass, Collage Press and Echo Park and some old wallpaper I got from a kit waaaay back

- Do the same thing and pick 10 or more random buttons, ribbons or pearls. I used a mix of button, pearls some rose ribbon & sari ribbon scraps

- Use 3 bits and pieces lying around on your desk (not patterned papers). If you have a clean desk, use 3 left-overs from your last project. I used a stamped yellow butterfly, an embossed chipboard stamp piece and an old rubon (used for the centre of the butterfly)

- 1 recycled item - I used graph paper for the journalling strips

Thanks for looking!!

Waaaay too long!!!

2011-08-20T15:35:00.000+09:30

Yep - been MIA!! Since I last blogged, (in no particular order.......) I have:

celebrated Madeleine's 1st birthday 8)!!!
celebrated Dean's birthday
celebrated my birthday
dealt with gastro that has been through the whole household except for Ellie........bleugggrh
lost a bit more than 3.4 kgs (& that was before the gastro!!!!)
created a whole lot of layouts & cards that have neglected to post here, but I will be posting them up here over the coming few days!

Maddy with her icecream cake....oh...& big bro & sis ;)

And this was a layout I made for Mystical Scrapbooks about her birthday........

I won I won I won me some Prima - yay!!!!!!

2011-07-12T12:38:00.000+09:30

This popped up in my google reader this morning - & I did a (rather excited) happy dance:

Our winner for the lovely "win-it-before-you-can-buy-it" prize below is:

Belinda Achatz!
so so so beautiful - one of the most gorgeous Christmas lines ever - if not the most - I love it all!!!
Posted by: Belinda Achatz
July 07, 2011 at 07:29 PM

I can't wait!!!! I have LOVED what Prima have been sharing ready for Summer CHA - all gorgeous stuff.

Tankyou so much Prima :)

Some challenges over at Mystical

2011-07-07T17:17:00.000+09:30

You still have until tomorrow evening to get your challenges in for our Masters cybercrop!!!
Here are the challenges, with my examples:

Colour Challenge:
These years Master's Colour Challenge is for a double layout, but I'm quite happy with a single page layout.....but please free free to do a double if you wish!

The colours are Orange - Grey - Blue, and any shade if ok

Sketch Challenge:

Hidden Journa;ing challenge:
My challenge for this Masters cybercrop is to create a layout with some hidden journalling (& no, that doesn't mean it is so hidden you don't do it....he.he - the more inventive the better!

I created some paper flowers, stitched them down on one side & then placed the journalling behind them!

Don't forget - You have all week (until midnight Friday 8th July) to up-load your layout to the gallery to be in the running for a $10.00 shopping voucher to spend at Mystical Scrapbooks store!
I'll be back later on to show you my examples for the July monthyl challenges :)

MY week of the HAPPY dance!!!!!

2011-07-07T10:24:00.000+09:30

Not only am I guest designing over at HMITM, but this week I found out I won the challenges for the Beyond the Door challenge blog with this layout:

and also the Kraft It Up challenge blog with this layout:

- so I get to go shopping at the fabulous store Handmade by Suzanne who sponsored both blogs this month!!! THankyou Suzanne :) :) :)

Guess who is Guest Designing for How Much Is Too Much??!!!

2011-07-05T12:51:00.006+09:30

Yep....yours truly!!! I was excited and honoured to be given this opportunity by Anna-Karin - thankyou. I get to design for 2 challenges throughout July. If you haven't heard of HMITM, go there now & check it out - twice a month, challenges are put up that encourage you to use your stash - new and old, based on certain criteria. The criteria for my challenge are:

Challenge 175: Stars and Stripes Forever
Here in the U.S.A., we're celebrating our Independence Day. In honor of that, I'd like you to use
** elements that include STARS (embellishments, patterned paper, etc.) and STRIPES (ribbon, patterned paper, etc.)
** a flag or banner accent
** and to play off the date we're celebrating, July 4, 1776, use:
•7 - brads
•4 - four-word title
•1 - photo
•7 - labels
•7 - seven-sentence journaling
•6 - patterned papers

My layout is below:

Living in Australia we do not celebrate Independence Day - but I focused my layout on my eldest daughter overcoming her challenges & being a star and the layout came together easily. I incorporated the challenge criteria as follows: "You Are My Star"

I covered chipboard stars in glittery patterned paper, and added strips of striped patterned paper at the bottom - a mix of Crate Paper, We R Memory Keepers, Scenic Route. My banner accent was hand stamped in a rainbow palette of distress inks using a great stamp I found in my stash (I can't remember where it came from:( ) - but it was a ticket/journalling tag with a star flourish - I have used it whole in black as part of my title. I cut triangles from it for the banner. The brads include glittery ones as part of the banner, and a cluster of Crate Paper ones near the journalling.

I clustered a mix of 6 red-based labels mounted on a black chalkboard label from Pink Paislee to make a whole journal block. upon which I told my story in 7 sentences.. My patterned papers are as described above plus rainbows to back the title (from Sassafrass). Additional elements included the black glitter chipboard alphas from Pink Paislee - plus some of the swirly brackets from the same pack, and some black pearls.

Other layouts with Scrapmatts goodies

2011-07-04T17:58:00.000+09:30

This is me circa 1974 at the beach. I love the Scrapmatts shells - I painted them with Twinkling H2O's.

My Scrapmatts Love for July!! Gypsy Canvas Part 1

2011-07-04T17:51:00.000+09:30

Oh how I LOVE Scrapmatts - I had soooo much fun this month with the generous goodies Sofie provided - take a look- but PLEASE go over to the scrapamtts ning site and goggle over the eye candy there -pure inspiration & talent!!!

I just LOVE the new Australian heritage/federation chippies - if only I could use them on my real (very old & dilapidated) house....lol - we need a door like that - & a front verandah......mmm more layout ideas!!!

I have a mixed bag for you this month! First up, I have been doing more art journalling/playing & mixed media lately so I used some of the new chippies on a reversed 12" canvas to make a 3D shadow-box - of- sorts- that is certainly not Australian federation - but Romany Gypsy!!...lol

I will describe the process on my blog in another post over the next coming days, but I used this magnificent front porch, painted it in tarnished brass crackle paint & inked it so it was 'worn' in some places. I also used crackle paint for the interior arch (upon which the bird sits), one of 'those' spiders from the Australian Federation Screen Doors 01...couldn't quite bring myself to paint a red back on it...lol. I gessoed a butterfly white then used smooch spritz & stickles (as seen in lower left of canvas)

Kraft It Up June Challenge

2011-06-28T18:52:00.000+09:30

This month your challenge is to create a layout on KRAFT/KRAFT PATTERNED PAPER using a "TIME LINE"

You will need to use a minimum of 3 photos (any size) and journaling, telling the story of what your "time line" is about.
I discovered these photos of aLexander when he was MUCH smaller, bt no less enthusiastic about icecream of the most lurid colours, & I couldn't resist telling this little story using kraft (of course), ephemera & a blackboard sticker from the Daily Junque and e Butterfly Garden collections some yellow chalk and some icecream coloured paint....lol. I edited the colours in the photos obviously..lol

Thanks for looking!

Beyond the Door Challenge

2011-06-28T18:37:00.000+09:30

This was created for a new challenge blog, Beyond the Door - I meant to do their first challenge but didn't quite make it;) I have used all products by Paper Inklings and was inspired by the gorgeous lanterns to make some punched patterned paper circles pop off the page. I added some rubons and their gorgeous doilies & a touch of purple dimensional paint - simple & effective!!

It's been a while!!!

2011-06-28T18:25:00.000+09:30

...virtually a whole month since I last blogged...oops!! I have been trying to squeeze in some creative time along with work & an 11 month old who refuses to sleep more than 45 mins in the day - & only once at that...lol...grrrr.& who wakes 3-4 times a night with her cold & teething.
Anyway...on to some of the challenges I have completed for June.....
and first up is the 123 challenge - this month it is COLOUR: BROWN
WORD: CREATE
TECHNIQUE: USING TAPE - DECORATIVE/MASKING

this a non-photo page - a quote from Buddha!! "People CREATE distinctions out of their minds and then believe them to be true" - the story behind why I chose this quote is on the back of the layout.

I used a napkin that I semi-mod-podged to the cardstock, I used brown die cut paper from Basic Grey, & other browns from Crate Paper & MME - LOVE that Woodgrain paper, & I teamed it with turquoise - I like the combo. I also used some gorgeous Scrapmatts flourshes and wings that I painted with Twinking H2O's. I used some of Tim Holtz' decorative tape for the halo around Buddha and elsewhere, and also some brown & black striped sticky tape atthe bottom of the layout.

Thanks for looking!

Some more creations for Mystical Scrapbooks

2011-06-27T16:46:00.000+09:30

The following layouts were for the challenges at our Mother's Day cybercrop:

For a sketch challenge by Chris

Donna's card challenge - to use lace & flowers

Sarahs' colour challenge: pink green, white

Mystical Cybercrop now on - here is my challenge

2011-06-04T14:37:00.000+09:30

The cybercrop has a glitz& glamour/red carpet theme this month: my challenge is a photo based one - scrap a photo of yourself or someone you know that is dressed up/glamorous - it could be a wedding, it could be a young child dressing up - let your imagination run wild & join us over at Mystical.
Here is my example. The photos are quite old - taken at one of the first parties we went to as a 'couple'...lol

Pencil Lines sketch #240 "I'm so cute...& I am so in love with you"

2011-06-04T14:29:00.000+09:30

I love the sketch this week - challenge # 240:

Can you tell I have a bit of a hot air balloon obsession at the moment???!! The colours of the Echo Park paper were perfect for the photo :)

Scrapmatts Creations!!!

2011-06-04T13:40:00.000+09:30

Here are my creations for Scrapmatts this month - I soooooo wish I coulds be going up to Brissie to the expo so I could meet Sofie, Andrew & the DT gels irl :( - maybe next year

Mystical Scrapbooks DT Kit Creations

2011-06-01T18:08:00.000+09:30

This month I didn't go with any one line of paper or company, rather I received a mix of yummy products from which I have made a couple of layouts & really enjoyed making some cards!

I used a gorgeous, shimmery purple Flourish with a Bling swirl . It looks really striking against the black cardstock irl. I partnered that with some patterned paper including some from Echo Park plus some of the gorgeous new scallop braid

Another completely different style layout, using a pearl flourish from FWAB (Flourish with a Bling ), Crate Paper and a gorgeous doily from Paper Inklings:

And these are the cards:

Firstly I did a set of small gift cards using only 6x12" cardstock, and the fabulous stickers from Echo Park's "For the Record" the scallop braid plus some stamping......which leads me to the next set of cards made from these 2 SUPER stamp sets that are on sale now at Mystical - Basic Grey and Bo Bunny

They are Christmas stamps but Ienjoy playing with stamps to test their versatilty & the projects below are not Christmas themed!!

I used the BG flourish-y ones for background, and the Bo Bunny baubles turned upside down for balloons, and the christmas tree I turned upside down & stamped repeatedly to make a banner .

How Much Is Too Much Challenge #172

2011-05-31T20:17:00.000+09:30

Challenge #172
Show us in a layout something that's a little geeky about you (or a loved one)! Mmmmm well I forgot to do this part...lol!!! (I think our family is pretty geeky anyway.....)

We'll be using prime numbers on our layout.(this is the part I did do !!)
Use:
2 photos
a 3 word title - 5 of us
5 different patterned papers
7 stickers- mainly from October Afternoon inc border sticker
11 metal items- I used some old metal star brads
13 buttons - clustered in the corners

Thanks for looking!

Get ready for the Mystical Cybercrop this weekend!!!!

2011-05-31T20:08:00.000+09:30

what do you think of when you think glamour, & red carpets????

Come and share!!

Scrapbookers Anonymous Challenge

2011-05-24T12:49:00.001+09:30

was to use stamps to make at least one piece of patterned paper for your layout and 3 stamped embellishments.
Edited: I have just found out I was a winner for this challenge & thus have the priveledge of placing an addict of the month blinkie on my blog - Yay!!!! & apparently some goodies will arrive in the mail....double yay!!!!

Recently I purchased these fabulous hot air balloon stamps (I am having a serious crush on anything hot-air-balloon-themed at the moment!!!)

An A4 layout using some Sassafrass & Crate Paper, the stamped background paper I used distress inks, then used black Stazon to stamp the balloons onto Crate paper and additional embellishments were Basic Grey mini stamps - the sheep (well, ewe actually...lol) & the sentiment "ewe are loved"

We could also make a card with the scraps - so I used some more stamped images that I then coloured with watercolours & mounted on some Echo Park paper, for my daughter's friend's birthday.

I added a touch of crystal stickles to the balloons to make them sparkly & girly ;)

Stuck Sketches entry

2011-05-20T17:13:00.000+09:30

My entry for the 1st challenge of the month over at Stuck sketches. I did a mirror image & used the fab Daily Junque range by House of 3/Pink Paislee:

123 Challenge Entry

2011-05-20T17:08:00.000+09:30

This month the challenge is to use: the word "FUN", the colour RED and stitched title!

So here is mine - an A4 Kraft layout:

I used some old paper stash, & BG stickers, & stamped the panda :) I also used a cooly Scrapmatt title ;)

HMITM #171 - Build a Bike challenge

2011-05-17T10:52:00.000+09:30

Another great challenge over at How Much Is Too Much: requirements were:

-Your favorite color(s): green and red

-2 circles for wheels: a circle of thread/ribbon & chipboard circle (wheel of the bike), plus spotty cardstock

-2 pictures: my brother & I as kids ;)

-3 or more metal embellishments: 2 metal clips plus a metal flower near the title

-ribbon for handlebar streamers: ruffled at bottom opf page

-a flag or pennant: rubon of the Australian flag at top near title

-something shiny for the reflectors: shiny alpha stickers plus shiny brad aand flower

-And an image of a bike somewhere on your page: in photo & the chipboard bike (penny farthing)

Woohoo - How Awesome is too Awesome

2011-05-12T10:11:00.000+09:30

I was the How Awesome is Too Awesome winner for challenge #170 over at How Much Is Too Much challenge blog!! for this layout which I posted about here:

and.........................I was the overall challenge winner for April's Resilience kit at Scrapbooking from the Inside Out - woohoo - can't wait for this month's kit "Friendship"!!!

More Paper Inklings goodies arrived!!!!!!

2011-05-06T12:49:00.000+09:30

and this is what I have done....so far. I received awonderful box of papers, chippie & rubons focussing on the Family collection - LOVE the colours of these papers, PLUS some awesome shaped doilies which I am having a LOT of fun with!!!
I hope to post some more soon :)

Kraft It Up Challenge - no patterned paper!

2011-05-06T12:35:00.000+09:30

I loved playing with this challenge:

and some closies:

I used Scrapmatts chipboard to mask the white mist & a Tattered Angels stencil to maks with copper mist.

other materials included Tim Holtz roses, Glitz sticker and foam alpha stamps with white paint

also some old music paper and a white patterned sticky tape.

Mystical Design Team Kit Creations - & a challenge!

2011-05-06T12:24:00.000+09:30

Here are a few layouts that I created using a mix of October Afternoon papers provided in my kit this month:

I am cybercropping tonight - are you???

2011-05-06T12:15:00.000+09:30

Join us for our Mother's Day cybercrop - full of great chatting, scrapping & some great challenges too!

How Much Is Too Much Challenge #170

2011-05-06T12:10:00.000+09:30

We had to use 8 patterned papers, 8 brads, 8 rubons, an 8 word title, & 8 stickers. This was a bit challenging for me! But here it is:

8 patterned papers - used in the dragonflies at the bottom and journalling cluster

8 brads = centre of dragonflies and the dot of the 'i'

8 rubons = title, trim & flowers at bottom of photo & around photo & journalling cluster plus at top of page & near title

,an 8 word title = The very thought of you makes me smile

& 8 stickers = layered in a cluster around photo, the tab at top of photo & bottom scallop.

Looking forward to the next challenge - great way to get rid of my old stash!!!!

Another couple of challenges for Mystical Scrapbooks

2011-04-20T18:31:00.000+09:30

Here are my takes on the other DT's challenges for April:
Sarah had a requirement to use scallops, a flourish/bracket shape and flowers:

the colour has gone awry on this photo - sorry!

flowers

chipboard flourish from Scrapmatts & 1/2 scallops from the patterned paper.

And for Chris' challenge was to use a sketch & my take on it is here:

TFL!

April Monthly Challenge at Mystical

2011-04-15T17:55:00.000+09:30

My challenge for the month of April at Mystical is to make your own embellishment!! I made 2 layouts for this challenge as examples:

I decided to make a large flower using some scraps of Echo Park paper I had. I handcut the large petals and circles, sprayed them with a little water to dampen then scrunched them up tight to crumple, unscrunched them then painted them with glimmer glam to make them sparkle in a shimmery subtle way.

I simply swiped ink over the chipboard then used distress stickles to give it a subtle bling. THe peach flower/chipboard square has been heat-embossed using Opals embossing powder, & then stamped whilst still warm.

Some of my layouts for the Mystical Cybercrop

2011-04-15T17:46:00.000+09:30

A little late I know......but here are my takes on some of the challenges that were part of the "Inspired byNature" Cybercrop:

Mine was an Inspiration Challenge - to be inspired by this photo. My example was below:

Sarah had a blind challenge and my layout was this:

and Donna had a random challenge - to use layers, ribbon and an animal embellishment:

Show Us Your Stuff Challenge 1 April

2011-04-11T17:52:00.000+09:30

Here is my 1st challenge for April for this challenge blog, where you need to include a handmade or hand-dyed feature to you layout/card/OTP etc
I decided to think 'wool' and created a little knitted sample, to replicate my baby's cardigan, & made some felt balls to use as the flower centres of my handcut flowers - papers are from Emma's Shoppe by Crate Paper:

I really enjoyed making these embellies - now that winter is on its way, I think I'll be making a few more of these felt balls - so easy & sooo fun!
Thanks for looking :)

Kraft It Up Challenge April

2011-04-11T17:18:00.000+09:30

Seeing that April is challenge month for me....he he, here is my entry for the Kraft It Up blog challenge for April which was:
1 piece of Kraft cardstock
2 photos smaller than 6x4
3 different Alphas
4 different patterned papers (yes you can use the reverse side of one sheet as long as the pattern is different)
5 different embellishments: I used a rubon (beetle) form 7 Gypsies, black pearls, Tim Holtz tissue tape, ribbon, chipboard flower (Scrapmatts)!

And here it is:

and closeups:

Thanks for looking!!

Inkurable Stamper challenge

2011-04-10T20:28:00.000+09:30

I made an ATC for the challenge over at Inkurable Stampers - the first time I have done one of their challenges - all in the name of putting my stamps to work!!!
The criteria for April is:
* You must use the number 3 somewhere on your project.
* You must use 3 stamps - and only 3 stamps. No more, no less!
* You must use 3 colours - and black and white DO count as colours. So - if you use black and white, you're only allowed one other colour. :)

My ATC is a reflection of stuff going through my head at the moment - Only 3, meaning 3 children(?) or more....?
* You must use the number 3 somewhere on your project. I used an old 3 stamp (manufacturer unnown),
* You must use 3 stamps - and only 3 stamps. No more, no less! The 3 stamp as above, a Prima frame stamp (Only frame), & a gorgeous little 3-egg nest stamp by "Odd Bird Planet:
* You must use 3 colours: black, cream & green - I coloured in the eggs with Glimmer Mist in "Forest Green" which was a great match for the Tim Holtz cardstock background

123 Challenge!

2011-04-05T19:03:00.000+09:30

To continue with my challenge frenzy....lol, I loved the sound of the 123 challenge this month which was:

the word "REALLY"
the colour: Lime Green
fabric

So here it is....."Being REALLY brave" - the fabric I used was my long lost stash of muslin - LOVE this stuff!!! I simply used lime green paint, muslin, a rosette, flourish stickers, flag stickers, green leaf & some kraft butterfly punchies!

Thanks for looking!

How Much is Too Much Challenge #168

2011-04-05T18:55:00.001+09:30

I love the idea of this challenge but it was a bit tricky! . This week's challenge was to "scrap about YOURSELF, specifically, journal about your name--do you like it, hate it, have nicknames, etc.? Anything about your name is fair game! Write down the letters in your name, and use items on your page that begin with each of those letters (could be the generic name of the thing or a brand). For the date, use: 3 - three-word title 28 - items (at least)"

B - Balloon (I made my own hot air balloon stamp using Easy-Carve Rubber by Renoir & was quite pleased with the result!!) oh - -& buttons

E - Embossing - I used Core-dinations embossed cardstock & highlighted the "B"'s by sanding them & circling with white pen

L- label stickers, the letters "B" highlighted on cardstock & the loops of patterned paper

I - inking of the doilies

N- number - used a Crate Paper brad

D - doilies

A - alcohol ink - I love the splattered look on glossy paper whch I then stamped using solvent ink using my balloon stamp

My 3 word title: "What's Your Name?"

28 items at least: : cardstock,white pen, white mist, 10 buttons, 3 brads, 1piece of ribbon, 3 stamps, 2 colours of alcohol ink, 2 doilies, 1 red ink, journalling block, 4 label stickers, alpha stickers, patterned paper, glimmer glaze (black) to blot out some of the photo background = 34 items!

Thanks for looking!!

Cybercrop beginning this Friday night!

2011-04-03T12:12:00.000+09:30

come & join us for some fun challenges & games & chat!!

Salt Air Fun with Cosmo Cricket at Mystical Scrapbooks

2011-04-01T18:00:00.000+10:30

This month I got to play with the gorgeous new range from Cosmo Cricket "Salt Air". Whilst I did make some things that were beach/sea related, i found that the colours were very versatile & could suit a number of different themes:

I also used the super versatile alpha stickers from Cosmo Cricket.

This is an 8 1/2 x 11 " layout in landscape - tilted sideways. I also used some of the alpha stickers from Echo Park:

And lastly, with Easter coming up, I decided to make a card, & the pastel colours of some of the patterns lent themselves to some cute eggs which I cut. I used a Martha Stewart grass punch for the....well....grass :lol: & butterfly. Believe it or not, all the elements are from Salt Air & the alphas are Adorn It!

Scrapmatts Blog Hop 9th - 12th March 2011

2011-03-08T21:39:00.001+10:30

Scrapmatts is having a blog hop..YEAH!!
Heaps of Prizes and giveaways, just leave comments on the blogs and the ning site - click on the link above - to have a chance to win. The more comments the more chances.

You will need to be a member of Scrapmatts NING to qualify to win prizes of Scrapmatts chipboard.

So, all you have to do is join NING, travel through the Design Team's Blogs, leave comments as you go and then end up back at scrapmatts ning and leave a comment there to have a chance to win.

The blog hop will start at Kerryn Lawson's Blog click to start.

If you have come here from Kerryn's blog welcome!

Where to go next??

Hop along to Kylie Symon's blog!!

Scrapmatts Creations for March!!

2011-03-08T21:30:00.001+10:30

I had loads of fun with Scrapmatts products this month!! I created quite a few layouts using the new products: doves, gorgeous intricate leaves & branches, & some ATC's. Have a look:

My kit from Mystical Scrapbooks

2011-03-07T22:38:00.001+10:30

Here are the layouts I created for Mystical Scrapbooks for MArch using my fabulous kit, consisting of Echo Park's "Little Boy range of papers/stickers, some briulliant Crafty Notions colour spray in gorgeous green/gold shimmer called "Scarab Beetle" (love the name!!!) & some good ol' jute!

This layout below uses some of the gorgeous Olivia range from Basic Grey & was an example of my challenge for March

Back with more stuff tomorrow showing some gorgeous Scrapmatts products!

Mystical Scrapbooks DT Kit Reveal

2011-03-01T10:01:00.000+10:30

Well....here goes.........

I got to use "Little Boy' range from Echo Park Paper Company - which I loved:

and I even made a card that would be suitable for a girl using boy-themed papers - gotta love versatility ;)

Mystical Scrapbooks Cybercrop starting this Friday

2011-03-01T09:55:00.000+10:30

come one come all ....join in the fun......

Scrapmatts Sneaky Peaks!!

2011-02-28T17:10:00.000+10:30

I told you I would....so here they are.....cannot wait 'til the 3rd when they will be fully revealed over at the ning site (click the link above to go look)

Some Sneaky Peaks for March at Mystical Scrapbooks

2011-02-28T17:04:00.000+10:30

My role begins tomorrow as a member of the design team over at Mystical Scrapbooks - & I am very excited! This weekend we have our March cybercrop (beginning Friday) and there will be challenges & chat a-plenty so please come over & say hello to me & all the friendly people there:)
To entice you further.....here are some sneaky peeks.....

If you want more you will just have to go here!
Coming up.....some more sneakys for Scrapmatts!!

Fun with Crackle Accents!

2011-02-28T16:56:00.000+10:30

February for me has been a very 'feminine' month...lol....when I look back at a lot of the stuff I have done, there are delicate colours, lots of florals and fairies! The kit at SFTIO is about vulnerability & is very pretty.....alas I have nearly run out of time to scrap with it, but I have managed this layout, using a mix of SFTIO items plus some Scrapmatts chipboard. The journalling is hidden behind the photo & is for my daughter. Closeups below:

I love the mini bottle of crackle accents that was included in the kit - & used it to crackle or 'glaze' the vessels/urns - 1 being chipboard covered in paper, the other being a rubon on acetate. Will be definitely using this stuff often!

Starry, starry night......

2011-02-16T22:21:00.000+10:30

Here is my 3rd layout for Paper Inklings - & I had a lot of fun with it!! I used the Southern Cross chipboard from the "Australia" line, that I heat-embossed with Opals embossing powder, & the "The Two of Us" title, & a little chippie heart that I embossed with 'razzleberry' moonglow embossing powder. I then cut up the cityscape from one of the papers in the "Concrete Jungle" line & mounted some on foam tape for dimension. I also used a cityscape rubon, placed on acetate. The effect that I think made the whole thing was the night sky stars to complement the Southern Cross, made by flicking Glimmer Glaze with an old stiff brush across the black cardstock. I love the effect. I also covered the stars in distress stickles & crackle medium for some extra subtle sparkle. The photo has been printed on matte cardstock.......the story is about when we got engaged....& that's all folks ;)
Closeups below.

Paper Inklings Layout 2 -I Love that Awesome Smile

2011-02-14T19:52:00.000+10:30

This was another layout in which I used the "Concrete Jungle" line from Paper Inklings - this time I used it more...in the way it was intended shall I say???lol ;)

I love the idea of the hole in the wire fence - + did a bit more ripping to distress it more. I added a bird rubon & splattered the layout with red + yellow colour mist.

I found this little heart in my stash, threaded some wire through & dangled it from the wire in the paper

I journalled haphazardly between the patterned paper, including some of the pieces I cut out of the arrowed paper.

The chipboard title was, well, awesome..lol + I used distress embossing powder to complement the grungy/messy look. I also used rubons on acetate that had been coloured with sposhes of alcohol ink to make a stained glass-type effect

Paper Inklings Layout 1 - Cuddly Koala

2011-02-14T18:39:00.000+10:30

Morning all! Oh...& for those of you who celebrate - Happy Valentine's Day ;)
I have had a wonderful time playing with my gorgeous box of goodies from Paper Inklings and have created 2 layouts so far - both completely different. The first one was using the new "Concrete Jungle" range +some chipboard from the Australia line - but I made a baby girl page from it!! I love challenging myself to use products for ways other than what was intended:

I used some tulle that I lightly inked in black for a very subtle effect. I used a silver mist for the 'frilly' loveheart chipboard + painted the mini loveheart pink then topped with stickles for some sparkle. I used one of the rubons from the Australia line "You are......" and placed it on a transparency, then mounted it within the chipboard.

2 Weeks ago I spent the weekend doing a MAJOR rearrangement of my scrapping stash (exhausting...I don't think I had done anything like it since before I got pregnant with Maddie!!)....& I found my stash of coloured flock!! So what better opportunity to use it than to make Paper Inkling's koala a cuddly fuzzy one?? Thus a hot pink flocked koala...lol..sitting in the loveheart tree, with nary a eucalyptus leaf to be seen lol. The blades of grass were made using my Martha Stewart "Grass" border punch - love this thing x
The photo above shows the texture on the white cardstock that I dry-brushed with hot pink paint after embossing with the fab Tim Holtz/Sizzix embossing folder - bricks - to matchy matchy the background Paper Inklings cardstock!

Another closeup showing a silvered heart, rub on and patterned paper strips all from the really super cool Paper Inklings "Concrete Jungle" range.

And in other exciting news, Paper Inkings now has a BLOG which will have all the latest + greatest creations from the design team and latest news from the company - go here, pay us a visit + become a follower!!

Coming right up, another layout, completely different from that above, again using the Concrete Jungle range from Paper Inklings!

WAW

2011-02-10T19:06:00.000+10:30

{What a Week}......& I for one will be glad to see the end of it.....the things that have pulled me through have been - in no particular order -
1. the arrival of my box FULL of Paper Inklings goodies for me to play with (yay!!!!! Thanks Kris & Co)
2. the lovely girls over at SFTIO awarding me some goodies from CHA for a couple of challenges I completed over there :) :)
3. my super cool communicator hubby - love you Dean xxx
4. my beautiful resilient children xxxx
Onwards & Upwards....or as Julia PM woud say (groan) ....moving forward......

Oh NO!!!!!....not so bad after all

2011-02-10T12:07:00.001+10:30

~~I have lost most of my settings for the blog~~: they magically re-appeared somehow with the Expelliarmus Correctus Bloggus curse & ~~will be working on re-instating all my cool links & blinkies over the next couple of days.~~ this will do for now
Note To Self: keep a backup of the template!!!!!!!!!!!!

Exciting News!!!!

2011-02-07T18:44:00.000+10:30

I am not going to beat around the bush - & no, I am NOT pregnant...lol....but the last week has made me super happy on several fronts. Most importantly, for readers of this blog, I am extremely happy to announce that I have been selected to be on 2 more design teams!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The first, is for Paper Inklings, an Australian wholesale company that designs unique products for scrapbooking and papercraft, described on their website as providing " the Australian scrapbooking community with products in themes that are relevant to our lifestyle. We are striving to “fill-the-gap” with products that just aren’t available from overseas companies, but are products that every Australian scrapbooker needs. An example of this would be our “Mum” paper, instead of “Mom”!; and our Hot Hot Christmas instead of snowmen!"

I, for one love this concept - as much as I LOVE most products made for the industry, they are mostly American-based & I do get tired of having to put up with 'incorrect' spelling, lol, and seasons that are the 'wrong' way round, & lines that are just not as relevant for us , such as Halloween, 4th July etc.
I cannot wait to receive my first dt pack of patterned paper, chipboard & rubons.....ideas are already running amok in my brain!! Go & check out their recent products here....yum :)

The second team I have been selected to design for is an Australian based online scrapbooking shop, called Mystical Scrapbooks. It has lots of lovely supplies, including the new line from Echo Park, "Little Boy" which I can't wait to play with. It also has a forum with a very friendly community & I am looking forward to getting to know everyone there! This Friday they are having their cybercrop for February, "Love is In the Air" - go here for more info - hope to see you there!!

And, do you know, that I feel extremely-super-dooper-lucky to be designing for & representing these 2 companies & the beloved Scrapmatts because......they are all AUSTRALIAN-based = go Aussie!!!

Woohoo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Love is in the Air....at Scrapmatts!

2011-02-03T12:31:00.000+10:30

Everywhere I look Around
Love is in the Air
Every Sight & Every Sound.........sorry....now you will have that song in your head all day, but I thought it would be a nice romantic way to kick off my February post on, you guessed it, lurve, romance & all that stuff....oh & a bit of school ;)
Here are my projects...in no particular order.....
Valentines/Heart Card – 6” card

Love To Do list – 8.5x11” (A4) layout

This layout came about as I was perusing my bookshelf & happened upon a book called “The Lover’s Little Instruction Book” – which I forgot I had, & it was a gift from my mother-in-law…lol. Anyway, it had some interesting content, some of which was a “To do List for everyday” which I have used here. It was also a chance to use some of my older stash, including the patterned paper & days of the week notelets.

Love was Blooming – 12” layout

Call it coincidence, but as I was thinking of the projects for this month, I found this old polaroid photo taken by my friend of my husband & I on the actual night we met – at said friend’s 21st party! Yes – she interrupted us while we were chatting each other up…lol! So I scanned these into the computer & reprinted them & voila – a layout about our instant attraction , just in time for Valentine’s Day. I used some of Tim Holtz’s seasonal papers & distressed & stitched them & printed the photos on matt white cardstock for a muted effect….oh….& I had run out of photo paper ;)

I am not normally a Valentine's/love-heart sort of person, but I really enjoyed using the new Scrapmatts lurve products - their versatility lends them to be used for many different themes including: love (of course), wedding/engagement, family, gardening (topiaries/love trees), Spring, friendship....what else can YOU come up with??
Divas Love French Perfume ATC/card topper – 6”card

Here is another way to use these versatile ATC shapes: they can be used for many more things than ATC’s! I find them great for journaling blocks or title blocks, or here I have used a combination of shapes as part of a card topper
and finally...........for many of us we have seen our children/grandchildren return to begin another school year. I made this layout prior to my kids starting but used last years' 'official' school photos on a layout about the upcoming year.

Back to School 12” layout

I had great fun this month!! If you visit the gallery, you may find more information on how I treated the Scrapmatts products, & their corresponding code so it can make your shopping over at the Scrapmatts shop easier!!

CHA Scraplift Challenge at SFTIO

2011-02-02T10:58:00.000+10:30

"I was not far from Paris, in Sologne"

Journalling: I found this photo - it made me remember a totally different me. It caused me to reflect on who I was then: 19 years old; no kids of my own yet responsible-as-an-au-pair/nanny - for a 4&6 year old; homesick; insecure; immature; not confident....I really worried what people thought ...I was pretty vulnerable...a foreighner far from home. I am certainly not saying that I am the opposite of these things now, but with age comes perspective & an ability to reflect on your experiences. I am certainly more confident about myself & am not worried (so much) about my looks. I am a responsible mother of 3 - who would have thought!?!?

For this layout I lifted the layout done by Patti, seen here

I began by using a similar design - I also rounded the corners of my photo, & cut out elements of patterned paper. I liked the word 'reflect' in bold writing & used that in my journalling, & although I didn't reflect on my childhood as such like Patti, it was a reflection on a period of my life when I was much younger..

Challenge 4 at SFTIO - The Analyser

2011-01-31T20:57:00.000+10:30

"The Analyser"

Journalling:

Could it be the father-who-was-a-science-teacher's influence? Or my Uni studies in Speech Pathology? Or did I study/be influenced by....because I am an analyser? Either way I tend to analyse - & ofter over-analyse to my detriment. I also like big-picture thinking.......mmmm...maybe I'm overanalysing what I am ?!?!?!

Design twist included a Periodic Table of the Elements from the www that I misted, & I die-cut the puzzle pieces for the border. I made a chipboard ATC blank into a clipboard of sorts.

Non-kit items are: brown ink, chipboard ATC, puzzle dies (Cuttlebug), Glimmer Mist

Thanks for looking! (Apologies for the poor photo - it is dusk over here atm & if I didn't take it now I would have run out of time...)

{A Short Guide To } Limited Vision? - challenge 3 at SFTIO

2011-01-30T16:28:00.000+10:30

{A Short Guide To} Limited Vision ?

Journalling: My depression was diagnosed post-natally in 2006. Paradoxically it limited my vision but also forced me to examine my world more deeply. It takes the form of overwhelm, cluttered, limiting thoughts, inability to prioritise thoughts & tasks - & this, of course, causes my anxiety to increase. But, it reminds me to reflect, take time to breather, re-set my inner compass, choose how I will behave & respond. It is my personal looking glass that has actually made me stronger. It is my reinforced lense through which I see my life & gain persepctive.
I had no idea how this layout would end up, but I actually quite like it - I used the mask on the reverse of the Kaisercraft paper, & had lots of fun playing with fdifferent elements, including the vellum, that I used to make the photo of me out of focus - the monocle making my eye the clearer.

I had great fun with some new stamps I got from 7 Gypsies & just stamped away in pumpkin stazon ink on the top left side - I thought a lot were appropriate to my page - & inked over them with white to soften/blur them.

Non-kit items were: string, Stazon ink, 7 Gypsies stamps, distress stickles on the vellum butterflies & resist butterfly.

Reflection challenges & thoughts....

2011-01-29T16:36:00.000+10:30

I have done 2 of the challenges over at SFTIO based on the gorgeous kit this month - "Reflection" - go see the gallery if you want a looksee. Before the challenges went up, I scrapped this quote which I think is increasingly timely in the world today, by Rumi
" People of the world don't look at themselves and so they blame one another"

I used my sewing machine on this one!!!, some doily paper from a previous SFTIO kit, & had to cover up a botch job I did with the mask....lol - looked like a mess....not even an 'arty' mess....

The colours aren't really representative, sorry for the poor picture.
I cannot WAIT for next month's kit, "Vulnerability" - it looks gorgeous from the sneaky peeks up on the website here......come over & join me - -you don't have to have the kit to be a part of the lovely forum, or to take part in the challenges....what does vulnerability mean to you?????????

Last weekend before school begins again....

2011-01-29T15:45:00.000+10:30

as I was getting my usual Maxi Skinny Flat White Coffee from Wild Bean in my complete Saturday morning dags/greasy hair I ran into an old biology teacher of mine ....well, she is not old...I mean old as in former ;) & she remembered my name!!! That was 20+ yrs ago peoples!! It was lovely to chat - she keeps in touch with quite a few of my ~~old~~ former teachers so it was nice to get a bit of goss, as I hadn't made it to my 20 yr school reunion, having just given birth to Madeleine.
Anyways...that brings me to the fact that school hols are very nearly over & whilst i will LOVE the relative peace during the day, it has been great to spend time with the kids - they are at a really enjoyable age & we have good little conversations together, & I love seeing them interact with our little 6 month old member of the fam, who was taken here looking cheeky as ever on Christmas morning:

And this is a very common scene below, being smothered by big sister & big brother. At least she is now asserting herself & telling them where to go - they just need to tune in.....as I remind them it will only be a matter of time before she is following them around & getting into all their stuff & they will be telling her where to go....

So......what else has been happening in January?
Well, we helped my Mum celebrate her 70th birthday on the 21st - it has been quite an amazing few months for her - she was ordained as an Anglican priest just before Christmas last year....& is now taking a well-earned break interstate
We have been swimming & spending time with friends
We have been rollerskating (!!) 3 times in 1 week (!!) up at Blackwood (not me just my kids)
I have been beginning the BIG declutter at home so we can start the year off semi-organised. Our house is still CHAOS tho.....Can't Have ANyone Over Syndrome (thanks FLylady ;) Another reason to look forward to the kids back at school next week.

And amongst all that, I have been scrapping a bit, but not nearly as much as i want to.....a few projects here & there but will keep them until next week when it is my turn to blog again over at Scrapmatts. I feel the urge to do a major re-shuffle/de-stash of all my stuff - it always gets my mojo going.

Some more work with Scrapmatts chipboard

2011-01-12T12:27:00.000+10:30

I have just posted these on the inspiration-packed Scrapmatts Ning site - go visit here! I will endeavour to load up some closeups also but camera has got gremlins :(

The Cutest Muffin Top I've ever seen....but believe me, it is even more pronounced now - chubba bubba!!

I covered ATC10-012 Dress Form in patterned paper & mounted some of the title on it, & inked the CB1021 Flowers 01with black ink & added pearls.

Sweet Baby M - Scrapmatts CB6055 Prams 01 used to 'nest' the title. I loved the soft colours of these Basic Grey Curio papers.

Madeleine - 1 day old

I inked the ATC10-007 Arch 04 with a mix of Distress Inks, then covered it with some old manuscript. I used a piece of Tim Holtz paper, & added the treble clef (CB6015 Treble Clefs 02), smothered it in distress stickled & topped it with a butterfly.

Divas love the colour pink -a 4x4" canvas covered in pearl paint, pale pink tulle, painted CB6044 Layered Design 01. I used an Art Chix image I 'found' when rummaging through my stash - don't u love that ?!, & applied more distress stickles - love that stuff!!

Photogenic - A double page (8 1/2x11") spread.I used patterned paper, ruffled ribbon, actually got out my sewing machine (!!!), hand pleated papers, rubons etc, & of course gorggeous CB1003 Flourishes 04,& CB1015 Butterflies 15 that were painted then dabbled with stickles. The ATC10-022 Film Strip 06 was used as a title frame - crackle painted & inked.

January 2011 & 10.10.10

2011-01-12T11:39:00.000+10:30

As always, January is just flying by........we have been enjoying many lazy days (well most of us while Daddy works:( ) & thankfully the Christmas pressies still haven't lost their appeal, although I feel the need for a screen-free day coming up. My thoughts go out to all affected in some way by the devastation not only in Queensland but NSW & now I hear in some parts of Vic & SA!! Each morning I wake up to the latest & although I don't know Brisbane very well, I was amazed to see someof the footage of the river..

I have been crafting off & on, amidst trips to the pool, catching up with friends, entertaining a nearly 6 month old (!!) & her siblings. I haven't posted anything for a while as I am having lots of probs with my camera & may just have to borrow Ellie's ;) Christmas present. The above layout is about 10.10.10 - when Madeleine just fell asleep in Daddy's arms in the rocking chair in situ. THe photo seemed perfect for this Websters Pages paper, but I used a mix of things including old Scenic Route chipboard, Oct Afternoon rubons & a bingo number!

January at Scrapmatts

2011-01-03T12:49:00.000+10:30

What a better way to begin creating in 2011 than with Scrapmatts goodies, & today is my day to upload some work I have been doing. Unfortunately, I have been dealing with internet connection problems & my camera has died :( so have had to use my phone for the photos & have not yet got closeups...blah blah. Anyway, head on over to Scrapmatts for inspiration & go shopping for gorgeous chipboard!!

Scrapmatts products: CB6058 Nativity Frame 01 (black) - glimmer glazed for a bit of sparkle

I used gold paint over scrunched tissue paper/corrugated cardboard, sprayed with purple mist and used an old Christmas postage stamp for the angel. Purple sari silk ribbon was applied to the edges.

Scrapmatts Products: MC1026 Micro Chips 18

just a bit of a play using Tim Holtz-y techniques

I found this photo of my eldest daughter& couldn't help but think she may have been competition for Rudolph et al ;)

Scrapmatts products: CB5050 Reindeers 07 - inked then glimmer glazed

CB6029 Christmas Trees 01 - painted with twinkling H2o's, then glimmer misted

Scrpamatts products: CB5040 Hot Air Balloons 02 - raw with 'chandelier' glimmer glaze applied for sparkle

CB 1003 Flourishes 04 - I simply coloured the raw pieces with watercolour pencils then applied water to them & the surrounding cardstock

CB6044 Layered Design 01 - lower layer painted, upper layer inked

ATC 10 - 010 - covered in patterned paper & used for title & journalling blocks

Instead of resolutions this year I am going with 1 word - "Choose"

Scrapmatts products:

ATC 10-013 - embossed, inked edges

I just LOVE these ATC shapes - & even better, they go through my embossing machine quite easily!! I also used fabric ribbon from Websters for the background & the 'belt' around the figure.

so will be back with more soon I hope!!

PHEW!!!! 2011 is here!!

2011-01-03T12:32:00.000+10:30

unlike so many of my friends & those I know, 2010 was a year of more positive memories, not least because of the arrival of this precious one who is now 5 months!!!!!

and the continuing joy all 3 of my children bring me (I still have to pinch myself I have 3!!!!)

Sketchabilities sketch #36 - Harry Potter Games

2010-12-07T12:10:00.000+10:30

My kids LOVE HarryPotter & I love that Creative Imaginations have come out with a HP line ;) I used some of a wonderful fleur de lys laser cut fence from Scrapmatts - CB4041 Wrought Iron Fences 05.
Closeups:

Kites, Butterflies Baby & Humidity!!

2010-12-07T11:02:00.000+10:30

i left the gorgeous butterfly raw, just painted it with glimmer glaze & pearls

(from CB5014 Assorted Shapes 01) - gorgeous Scrapmatts goodies

I used papers/stickers from Basic Grey "Olivia"

Ihad fun with the cute kites

CB5036 Kites 01 - gorgeous Scrapmatts goodies

i painted them, misted them then covered them in glimmer glaze. i then stamped on them & finished them off with a pearl.

used the same stamp i impressed into the embossing on the title .

i feel like we are in a sauna atm - hate the humidity - thank goodness for refrigerated air con!!!!

2010-12-04T19:57:00.000+10:30

We went & saw Harry Potter & the Deathly Hallows on Alexander's birthday & thus Harry fever has again hit our household!! I made the kids these bookmarks with some leftovers from some papers I had . The layout using the Creative Imaginations Harry Potter line is coming soon!!

Scrapmatts CB5052 Floral Spray 02

I cut a portion of it - seemed perfect to go with this lovely "Brook" paper by Crate Paper.

Scrapmatts butterfly from CB5014 Assorted Shapes 01

More Scrapmatts Fun!

2010-12-01T09:47:00.000+10:30

Scrapmatts CB5045 Birds 04

I kept some birds raw with stickled wings on top of the crackle paint panel, and then cut up the other 3, crackle painted them & perched them in a triangle.

TFL!

Below I enjoyed a bit of playing with dress patterns, mod podge, glimmer mist some scraps & of course, scrapmatts.

I used the shoes & handbag from the CB5014 Assorted Shapes01 pack, and made the catwalk/platform from the punch-out part of the CB5045 Birds04 pack.

Pink Paislee Goodness!!

2010-11-30T21:19:00.000+10:30

I just love some of the goodies Pink Paisleehave come out with recently. I have been having a play...images are as follows:

glimmer-misted resist papers from the Parisian Anthology papers & artisan elements

8x8 canvas using resist papers and canvas Christmas tag & artisan elements

a mix of old & new product: Parisian Anthology, Vintage Moon & Fetching papers, letter stickers, artisan elements

I also used sari silks at the bottom of the page

I embossed the chipboard butterfly with Opals embossing powder

The Fence was Fleur de Lys

2010-11-29T19:20:00.001+10:30

A layout I have posted in the Scrapmatts ning gallery - go here for fabulous inspiration from around the world. I love what everyone is doing!

Scrapmatts Materials: CB 4041 Wrought Iron Fences 05

The theme for my wedding was the fleur de lys symbol, which happened to be on the front gates of my parent's house, where I had some pre-wedding photos.

I couldn't resist continuing the fence with this gorgeous lasercut!

Other materials include fleur de lys punch, perforator (to "fake the stitching...lol), letter stickers, Teresa Collins tag.

TFL!

Mixed Media: Live in Peace

2010-11-26T11:25:00.000+10:30

This week has been to quote something I read this week, "Heck on Wheels"!!!!! Yet, I still made the time to have a bit of play with my new Scrapmatts goodies that arrived - they are seriously gorgeous!! I love the combinations of dark red, cream and brown, so decided to create this canvas, likely to be displayed on a mantelpiece at Christmas time.

Scrapmatts materials: CB 5051 Reindeers 08 (in red)

I decided to create an 8x8 mixed media canvas to decorate our place at Christmas. I used pearl dimensional paint through a stencil for the background, also Pink Paislee resist paper & artisan elements, some sari silk ribbon, twine and I used some Glimmer Glam to make the reindeer shine even more. TFL!

Well......my wheels are about to fall off so will be back soon with more.......

Happy Birthday to YOU

2010-11-23T09:55:00.000+10:30

my beautiful Alexander who is 6 today. He is even 'ooger' than before - when he was a baby, he was called 'ooge' (as in huge) as he was a chubba bubba - I can't believe it has been 6 years!!

Today you:

woke up at 7 am after crashing asleep at 6.40pm last night (12+ hours is unheard of gor you!!!)
had milo cereal for breakfast
opened your presents excitedly, even though you knew pretty much what you were getting: DSi, Wii games, a cricket helmet, an AFL Crows mug/keyring & 2 handmade cards by your girls (me & Ellie)
were sooooo disappointed that your bestest teacher, Hayley, was away sick from school today and you had Mary...who is very nice but just not the same iykwim ;)
were made class manager to dry up those tears you had when you got to school (I love your resilience xxxx)
did your show & tell with confidence and pride this morning
will have your 2nd school based swimming lesson at Norwood
will have a lunch order
get to see the new Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows after school with Mum, Dad and Eleanor whilst Maddie will spend quality time with Nanna
have a cake with candles after the movie
hopefully go to bed happy and tired ready to begin tomorrow !!

Woohoo for Scrapmatts!! I'm on their design team :) :) :)

2010-11-22T09:29:00.000+10:30

I can finally reveal on this beautiful (but hot!!) spring Monday morning that I am now on the Design Team for Scrapmatts - a fantastic Australian made & owned company that manufactures gorgeous laser cut chipboard, amongst other things & I cannot WAIT to get my first package of goodies to play with!!

Some of my favourites include delicate dress forms, beautiful butterflies & dragonflies, fences & lampposts, & the sweetest little Christmas themed pieces - holly, reindeer and so on.

Come over & join us at the fabuous Scrapmatts Ning site where you will find friendly faces & lots of inspiration for using their fantstic products. Go here! Now!! http://scrapmatts.ning.com/

Thankyou so much Sofie & Andrew for the opportunity to showcase your fabulous products! And to the other girls - I really look forward to working with you & getting to know you xx

12 Years!!

2010-11-16T20:23:00.000+10:30

Hard to believe that we were here 12 years ago, at Mt Lofty House getting married and celebrating with our reception in the Piccadilly restaurant.

I did a quick layout to celebrate! Right now I LOVE: kraft cardstock; glimmer mist; Hambly overlays & fancy punches (ah..if only the budget would allow more....), embossing......oh & Dean ....lol: this layout includes all of these things:

Stuck Sketches

2010-11-16T20:07:00.000+10:30

I liked the look of the sketch posted at the stuck?! sketches challenge blog - so here is my entry ;) An OLD photo - passport photo of Dad, my brother & I circa 1981. Dad looked so scary!!! I don't know how we ever entered another country!! I love this balloon paper from Graphic 45 "Steampunk Debutante" collection (I have a thing about hot air balloons atm - not to go in one, but from a design perspective...lol). I also used 1/2 a glittery overlay from K & Co, some gorgeous harlequin embossed cardstock that was inked & sprayed with Winter Pine Glimmer Mist (one of my fave colours atm), and a scrap of sari silk as photo corner.I used my "secret perforator" to imitate stitching border aroudn the embossed cardstock. I used alcohol ink to change the colour of the blingy word by Kaisercraft from hot pink to red....& then stuck other bits of found ephemera down!
Thanks for looking :)

Gratitude, Refreshment & even a Picnik ;)

2010-11-12T13:07:00.001+10:30

Last night I went with my mother to hear Stephanie Dowrick speak at the Effective Living Centre here in Adelaide, & was delighted that she remembered me from a retreat I did with her in Bundanoon a few years ago, when I was pregnant with Alexander. She was talking about her latest book, "Seeking the Sacred". I came away feeling refreshed, inspired & very optimistic - a lovely way to begin a Friday! Do go over to her website & spend some time pondering at what she has to say - even better, join the Universal Heart Network :)
Thankyou so much Stephaniex

I was referred to Picnik by the gals at SFTIO - where have I been hiding all this time??? This photo-editing site is totally fun & fab & have enjoyed spending (way too much) time playing with my photos!!

Have a lovely refreshing spring-rainy type Friday :)

Prima November Product pick

2010-11-11T17:29:00.000+10:30

Look at all this yummy stuff - makes me want to be in autumn, not spring (particularly with this Adelaide heat ;) - this is the November product pick from Prima

Kraft It Up Entry

2010-11-09T11:30:00.000+10:30

This month at the Kraft It Up challenge blog is all about decorative edges, so I decided to do this.....I love the Restoration papers against kraft...I just love the resoration papers fullstop.!

2010-11-09T10:56:00.000+10:30

I was playing around with the sweetest papers for baby girls by Basic Grey "Olivia" & came up with these: I couldn't help but notice the little lovehearts that Madeleine had as part of her ears when she was a newborn - & they are still there but just a bit bigger & less heartshaped..lol

Yes - this jumper was knitted by my mum circa 1975 for my baby brother & so it has had good use & is in remarkably good shape so-to-speak. Alas Maddie is too big for it now....

The gorgeous papers by Crate Paper- I just love the colour combos & they seemed perfect for this photo of Ellie & her good friend at the zoo.

Now I am off to improve my photo skills on this glorious spring day, because I have FINALLY found my battery charger!!!!!! Yay!
Enjoy your day xxx

Woot woot!!

2010-11-09T10:46:00.000+10:30

I was very excited to learn last week that I won the first challenge for October over at SFTIO, for my altered muffin tin...lol, and then I won the overall prize for entering all the challenges!!!!
This is the first time I have ever won anything scrap-related & look what I am getting in the mail soon (I hope) - a pack of goodies from Echo Park Paper Co!

November is all about Aceeptance at SFTIO - & I am looking forward to getting my November kit also - take a peek here:

it looks gorgeous!!! And there are some absolutely beautiful, moving layouts in the gallery by the design team :) Go have a look here !

Some more work done with the October "Purpose" kit

2010-11-03T11:28:00.000+10:30

An 8x8 layout with journalling taken from my journal earlier in the week.....I loved cutting up & re-composing those gorgeous Graphic45 papers

This was for a challenge over at SFTIO about making a decision - for us the most significant one was to have 3 kids not just 2!!

My layout for the final challenge on purpose, about getting back on track with your goals/direction. I was inspired by Loretta Grayson's gorgeous layouts of a few years back.

A quick 6x12 layout to use up some scraps

A totally stream-of-consciousness layout where I had an uncanny sense of deja-vu whilst designing it.

Arty/messy/glittery/glimmery - love those blue/teal roses just as I love 'blue/purple' roses in real life.

the reason why I love November lilies and why I love the fleur de lys symbol is explained here....

Thanks for looking!!

Scrolling through my photos, what do I see?

2010-11-03T11:16:00.000+10:30

lots of layouts not seen here, done by me!!
Thanks to reading kids books for the cheesy rhyme ;)
So without further ado, here are some layouts I have enjoyed re-discovering & thus will post:

good old '70's colours here with me & my baby brother. I loved the combination of using stickers, sticker leftovers, paint, string, transparency, & japanese text

went to town with the rip & distress!! I love this line by Kaisercraft - it was just perfect for all my photos of the French forest.

I still love the colours of "Poppy" by SEI & decided to use it for a baby page

Likewise I love this Scenic Route paper - & I just had the perfect spring photo. I stamped a Basic Grey bumblebee stamp onto Kraft.

10 Things that make me happy right now :)

2010-10-25T18:22:00.001+10:30

1. This gorgeous Peach who has got SOOOO much to say today

2. scented textas
3. the smell of spring
4. I am no longer a Quiz Night Virgin....roll on next year ;)
5. semi-precious stones & Riley Burnett jewellery
6. blue moon roses - very old & very fragrant
7. steampunk - see here for what I am talking about......
8. this beautiful woman's blog
9. the smell of baking
10. the prospect of attending a forum with Stephanie Dowrick in November.

Back in 1993

2010-10-23T09:41:00.000+10:30

Have done my 3rd challenge for SFTIO which was about tenacity, & needed something to hold onto the page. I chose to use sketch 108 from pencil lines for my design.

yummy crate paper flowers

I made a semicircle mini folder to house another photo & journalling. this closes by attaching a magnet to both cardstock & the semicircle, which i embellished with a brad, gear and velvet ribbon.

the journalling is in the kraft envelope.

Reset the Compass

2010-10-21T22:26:00.000+10:30

I have done a layout for challenge # 2 on "intention": called "Reset the Compass" based on some writing by Stephanie Dowrick. I ended up writing 3 pages as my 'journalling'!!! - which I may type when I get around to it.......
For more pics go here :

That's it from me for tonight - have been to the school's art show then off to Montezuma's for Mexican food and am needing to retire to my cot. 'Nite.

First challenge complete!

2010-10-20T10:56:00.000+10:30

For the October theme of "Purpose" I decided to 'bake' some all-purpose muffin cards using some of my kit stuff. This was really fun......

Rather than slices of pie, I decided to bake some 'all-purpose muffin cards' in a muffin tray. Each 'muffin' represents a purpose I identified as either undercooked, overcooked, just right or needing a bit more spice perhaps (I'll let you guess which ones they are......)

They are made of cardstock cut into circle shapes & I used one of the cog masks to ink the outside in places. I cut out various images from the patterned papers that I thought would suit my theme, hence, the bike-riding for excercise, cents for earning money , the man & woman for our relationship etc. Each card is very simple, just embellished a bit with the stickles & some word/letter stickers on the inside to go with the journalling.

In the interests of saving space, I have also bound them up loosely into a mini-album of sorts, freeing up my muffin pan to bake some more of the edible kind

ETA: the areas that I chose to write about were:

mindfulness/me-time
relationship/partnering
parenting
social networks/friendship
paid work
practice/excercise

Purpose

2010-10-19T13:02:00.000+10:30

Woohoo - this arrived in my po box this morning all the way from America & I am so excited!!! Full of lovely things for me to play with - including gorgeous Graphic 45 papers & Crate papers . See a pic below

The theme for this month is "Purpose" & I already have ideas streaming through my brain......I have only recently joined the SFTIO community & they are a very friendly bunch - come over & join us!!!
On a more frustrating note - I have um...misplaced ....my camera charger:(((( & can't find it anywhere so am resorting to taking piccies with my iphone...Here are a few from said phone of recent happenings....

Daddy & Maddy at Maddys 1st Grand Final - not bad at approx 10 weeks!!

kids enjoying the game...well Ellie was playing her DS ;)

a little overwhelmed by the noise.....but actually really enjoying it!!

this was the view right from the top of the Great Southern Stand at the MCG.........I think my ears are still ringing from the dulcet tones of Cooooollllllliiinnnnnnngwooooood ;)

and would you believe it......Miss M slept right through it all when she needed to !

I hope to post some stuff soon using my SFTIO kit just as soon as I get some creative time....now back to work!

Her Peachness

2010-10-10T08:49:00.000+10:30

Today is the last day of the school holidays before Term 4, which will go as quick as crazy I'm sure!! Despite a severe case of the itchies & scratchies, this weather is making me want to stay outside all the time....so I have resolved to use it to my advantage and take photos of more layouts that I have never taken & upload them to flickr.....now if only I could get the slideshow linked properly to my blog...mmmph.

I am looking forward to the kids going back to school....a little less craziness......a little less mess...(yeah right ;).....a little less dishwashing....a little more peaceful time with this little peach :) who looks so much like her Daddy and is cracking us all up with her emerging personality :)

The reason I have not blogged for ages

2010-10-06T08:59:00.000+10:30

is because of her....................................

Our sweet little peach, Madeleine Emily, born on 22nd July2010. She is now nearly 11 weeks old and is scrumdiddlyumptious....and happens to be asleep now which is why I am updating this!

We have just returned from a brief road-trip to Melbourne for the Grand Final ( where we squeezed a family of 5 into 2 seats with a LOT of difficulty until we found a spare seat in the row in front.....) We stopped off at Halls Gap in the Grampians on the way back - which was so lovely in sunny spring weather. I now have a stack of photos sitting on my bench just waiting to be played with, the results of which I hope to have posted here soon!

The Colour Room !!!

2010-04-18T13:07:00.000+09:30

To the right of this post, you will see a very pretty blinkie of the newest place of inspiration around that has so much goodness and talent within its cyber-walls that it has quickly made it to my favourite places to visit!!
I was too slow to make use of their first Colour Palette, but the infamous Adelaide earthquake inspired me to make a layout using the 2nd palette - a gorgeous combinations of browns, cream and blue.

I cut apart the Kraft cardstock and then distressed the edges to mimic a graph and placed vintage graph paper on the background. I used a combination of crackle paints and blue ink for the edges of the layout. I also played around with my alcohol inks to create a background upon which I placed a transfer of the news report/map sourced from the internet. The colours used included espresso, stonewash and latte. Some older Basic Grey alpha stickers and an assortment of older 7 Gypsies rubons made their way onto the page, and even my good ol' decorative scissors!!!!! LOL Very grungy, but then earthquakes aren't really 'pretty' or 'nice' are they?? ;)

Go here now to look at lots of beautiful stuff!!