ME Layout

I created this Layout back in June. I really enjoyed doing this layout being my first double layout. I thought it would be a real challenge to ensure it flowed, and try to use an even bigger space for the one layout, but turned out easier than I thought.

I spent a great deal of time cutting out and layering the different papers with rub-ons and stamps. To keep the journaling a little more personal, I decided to do mainly hidden journaling, which you can see under the flaps.

A new Address!

Hi Everyone,

Sorry I have not been able to blog much on our travels, but I have some great news and that is that we arrived late last week in Melboune. We have been busy unpacking and today offically I have a scrap room, and larger than the one I had in Perth, so I have no excuses now!

I am looking forward to posting some new work up on the blog real soon, but until then I will post some work that was completed prior to the move.

Hope you enjoy them, and yes I will be blogging often once again, as long as I can keep up with my scrapping!

travel, work and stuff

Well we are still on our way to Melbourne, and we are having a wonderful break. We have seen so much and have at least finished a circle around Australia, even if it is not the complete big one!

Just got some news about my new job at Kaisercraft that I will be starting when I get to Melbourne that I will be starting with a fellow scrapper Alison. Can't wait. Only 20 days to go until we start. Alison is in Marketing and I am in Product Development, so we will be working really closely together.

Well, not to long to go till we arrive now. I miss my dogs and the cat and can't wait to see them, but enjoying the trip an absolute heap!!

Not long till I can get back into some SERIOUS scrapping!

mini houses take 2

I posted this some time ago, but here is another look at it as everyone was asking me how small was it really. Hope this pic gives some more detail!

Packing has begun!

For those that are not yet aware, I am moving back to Melbourne after 2 wonderful years in Perth. We have absolutely loved living here and will be sad to leave. There are many things I will miss about Perth, but mostly the friends we have made while being here and the warmer weather!

OK so the packing has officially started for our move to Melbourne and as you can see I have packed most of the stuff in my scrapping desk.
There won't be many entries from me as we pack and prepare for our move. We will be enjoying a holiday along the way which will be a well earned break! We arrive in Melbourne late September, so you'll have to patient for some new stuff from me until shortly after then (I am sure I will be in MEGA withdrawal after agreeing not to take scrapping stuff with me on our move) so shouldn't take me long to get some new stuff happening!

I do have some things on my camera to share, so there may be the odd entry from me, but they will not be regular, so may be best to subscribe to my blog via the 'get e-mail updates'. This will mean that you get an e-mail from my blog when I update it. I don't get your e-mail address or anything (or know that you have subscribed), but I guess 'blogger' does it somehow.... Very handy to save checking the blog everyday for the possibility of 'something' being updated.

Engagement Album

I made this album the other week using the range of paper by Creative Imaginations 'Narratives' for Tomorrow's Memories to display in the shop. I knew it would go perfectly with my engagement photos which was about 3 years ago. So finally another album done.

I didn't want too many photos in there, so I used the index photos which captured some of our family and friends on the day. I have had this Kaiser scalloped album for a while, and wanted to use it on 'just the right project', and I think I found it. I also used a Hambley screen print I won a couple of months ago in a pack at a TM moonlight.

I pick up things and put them aside for one day when I might like to use them on a project. I love how this all came to together, with the combination of new and old!

I was asked to make up a canvas for Tomorrow's Memories in 'my style' which would go up in the shop to display the design team members. I actually found this really challenging when I started, so left it for a few days. I didn't like what I had done at first, and the beauty of working with canvas is that you can just simply paint over it..... Which I did!!!

When I came back to working on the canvas, it all just came together. You could slightly see the flowers I had started with, but this added a great dimension to it. I really enjoyed doing this one, and used some Twiddleybitz borders as the main feature (oh and some flowers and bling, wouldn't be my 'style' without those!!).

Remember, don't be afraid to pain't over something if at first you are not happy with it, it may form part of a really cool background.

New cards using die cuts

I made these cards using a die cut pack as the base. It was really different for me to work this way, but I really enjoyed the challenge of it. The pack is for sale at Tomorrow's Memories. But you'll have to be quick if you are after one as there is only a couple left. The pack has some left overs which would make a few more cards also!

Scrap It 2008

OH MY GOODNESS WHAT AN AWESOME DAY!!!

Well it has been more than just an awesome day, the lead up to Scrap it was wonderful as well. I originally registered to go because it was such a good cause, and although I never get much scrapping done at these things, thought I would go anyway and enjoy everyone's company. Gee I didn't think that you could have SO much fun raising money for a wonderful cause!

I spent last week really busy getting stuff done for Tomorrow's Memories (hence the lack of posting last week). I ran my first class yesterday which was a make-and-take using Creative Cafe. This stuff is so much fun. We did a little happy hour make and take layout which went for around 30mins and everyone left with a layout done.

I then spent the afternoon doing Tracey's Cristmas Village class. This was so much fun, and I was really looking forward to doing it.

I did some more scrapping saturday night (surprise surprise) and then packed my bags for Sunday.

I arrived at just after 7am (after my lovely husband dropped me off) and went in to have breakfast with Sonya, Leah, their hubbies and Nadine. So with food in our bellies, the girls went back to thier room to finish getting ready and get their bags. I went in to give the TM girls a hand with setting up the shop and then went an weighed in my bags...... there was a prize for the heaviest as well as the lightest. Mine weighed in at 42kgs, I thought I was a sure thing until the lady after me weighed in her TWO totes and bags and came in at 66KGS!!! Glad I wasn't having to carry all that.

We then all headed in. On our seats were these really cool goodie bags full of papers, embellishments, magazines, discount vouchers etc etc. A nice start to the day

Our group had dressed for the occassion and proceeded to put our capes, masks and aprons on. Before long we had one our first prize: BEST DRESSED GROUP
I will post a photo of all of us as soon as I get hold on one, but here is our prize...

There was so much stuff in there, each of those is a pack of co-ordinated papers and embellishments. CAN'T COMPLAIN ABOUT THAT!

There were many auctions, raffles and spot prizes, and the next excitement for me came when I won the raffle to do the TM make-and-take run by Tracey, with Sonya has her helper. This was so way cool. I ran late to it because I was frantically trying to get my page map layout done to enter in the competition, and didn't get much of it done there, but came home to finish it. Here is a photo of the 3 cards we made to go in the little bag that Tracey had decorated for us already, as well as the goodies we received as a little presi and raffle prizes we won while she was running it. It was the BEST make-and-take. I just love this bag of cards that can be given as a present to someone, or kept by me to give.

Well day was going FANTASTIC at this stage, won two prizes, having a great time, and because I was put under pressure with the 10 minutes to go to get page map layouts in for the competition, I even had a layout done. I don't usually get all that much done at scrap events as I like to spread my stuff out when I am scrapping.

Well just when I thought my day couldn't get much better, Kristy Evans from Scrapbooking memories asked if they could publish my family canvas they saw in the shop when they visited TM the day prior. I have not yet had this honour, and I am just SO thrilled!!

So at this stage day has been WAY more generous than I could have imagined, and there was still more to come.

Everyone got an opportunity to vote for the layouts and cards that entered the page map competitions, and voting was now closed. My next excitement was when they called my name out as I had won Runner-up for the layout competition. I couldn't believe it was was SO thrilled and still am. There were so many lovely layouts so I feel honoured to have won this prize....

Thanks to all the lovely ladies that voted for my layout. I am still stoked even as I write this many hours later! I must explain what a page map is. It is a sketch detailing how you set out the layout and you interpret it in your way. I used this lovely twidley bits free standing frame which I altered to work with my page. Here is the layout I did.OK well now I am feeling like I am in a bubble and that everything is just surreal, can't believe how many prizes I have won at this stage. Then the last raffle of the day occurred and well I thought I just put some more money is (it is just such a good cause) and it was for a camera which I didn't really need because I only bought a new one about a month and a half ago. It was then drawn and which number did that call............... 160! MY REGISTRATION NUMBER. I could belive it once again. I had now won a camera and camera case as well.

Well that just topped it off. Had such a wonderful time (not just because of the prises) as the company was FANTASTIC. There was over $35,000 raised for Alzheimer's Disease Resarch, which was just fantastic. Everyone busily scrapped the whole day. Thanks Sonya, Leah, Mel, Lyn and Nadine for making me feel SO welcome even though I have not known all of you for that long. I had a great time.

Gotta love new papers!

I got these new papers a couple of weeks ago and I absolutely LOVE them. I made this card for my friend who this year did the unbelievable thing of doing the Rottnest Channel Swim. It is a 20km swim off the shore of WA out to Rottnest Island. It is such a feat!! Well done Carroll.

Little Children

Pic is back!!

I created this little children the other night and I thought I would share them. They are 2 inches high are are a chain of children. I think they are SO cute!! Yes, still loving miniture!

Sorry for not posting much this past week, shall have more to share soon hopefully!!

Happy Birthday Bro!!

Today it is my brother Jason's Birthday. I have sent this card to him. Hope he receives it in the mail today. Male cards are always a challenge, one that I am no doubt up for.

Have a great birthday J!

A new baby girl!

My girlfriend in Melbourne has had a beautiful baby girl!! It was really exciting news. Here is the card I have made for her. Hope she likes it! Just gotta send it with the presi...

New cards

I picked up some paper today from Tomorrow's memories (that I had put aside to buy), amongst other things. There were SO MANY new papers in store, so I had to hold back (SOMEHOW!!) and not even look.... well at least until tomorrow!

Anyway, I new some of the paper I bought would make some really pretty cards, so I couldn't wait to get home and have a play... Here are 6 cards I came up with. I really enjoyed doing this tonight, just sitting in front of the TV.

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My aim was to get some Design Team Cards done for the shop to sell, but now that I have made them, I am finding it hard to part with them all.... Oh well, I will be dropping them off tomorrow.

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Hope someone enjoys them as much as I did making them.

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Family Canvas

Here is a sneak peak of the 'Family' canvas that I will be teaching at Tomorrow's Memories in the next class schedule.

As you can see the canvas is quite dimensional and is made with quite neutral colours sure to match in with anyone's home. There are many techniques I will be sharing in this class including working with UTE, turning paper flowers into porcelain looking flowers as well as distressing and metallic rub-on for a aged battered look. The canvas is 12 x 12 in size so sure to be something special to showcase that perfect family photo!

----------------Sorry, pic removed for publication-----------------

Dress Form Swap

I am currently working on my dress forms for the swap at Tomorrow's Memories (amongst everything else!!) and as there were small and large dress forms in the packet (which are by Collections), I have decided to use the smaller ones to proto-type my final creation. (the larger ones are needed for the swap).

At the moonlight on Friday night, I made proto-type 1 (which may end up being 'the one' who knows) It is a bit of an 'evening' theme dress. The upper skirt is made with bonsai wire which I have twisted to keep get a 3-D effect. I cant wait to give up 10 of my 11 to receive 10 different ones back!

Father's Day / Male Cards

Being my first month on the Design team at Tomorrow's Memories, I have been asked to do a couple of classes in their next Class Schedule. I am really excited to have been given this opportunity. It is a real change from putting all my energy into doing one card and layout each month for the competitions - to creating 4 cards and a canvas for my classes. I am absolutely loving the challenge of it and I am looking forward them.


Today I finished the Cards for my class of which I promised a sneak peak.... so here goes. Each of them are Acetate cards so thought needs to be given to hiding evidence of glue and double sided tape!

This card includes some distressing and embossing with pearls and UTE powder. We will also be doing some layering with paper for a more dimensional effect.

On this card we will be using the cuttlebug to add texture to the paper and eyelets for some embellishment without all the 'frills'

On this card we will be doing some stamping and embossing with pearls, and embossing on aluminum sheet. There is also a really beautiful poem contained in the card

On this card we will be exploring some more embossing techniques and how versatile stamping and embossing can be. We will also be doing some embossing with UTE powder which adds a great deal more dimension as well as colour.

Recent cards

Sorry I have not posted much new stuff over the past week or so, I have been really busy getting work done, as well as designing pieces for my upcoming classes at Tomorrow's Memories. I will be doing two classes, one is a canvas and the other is a selection of Male cards (one specifically for father's day). I will post some sneak peaks of these soon, but if you will want to see the whole of the piece, you will need to pop into Tomorrow's memories where they will be on display.

Anyway, thought I would share with you some of my not so recent cards.

For this card, I used my knife to cut out parts of what was a really detailed paper, it gave a really nice effect. The back of it looked a bit like lace before I stuck it down!

For this card I used glossy accents to bring out the flowers a little more.

In this card I used paper I had previously cut out daisy flowers with the sizzix as a stencil and sponged over it in white and pink paint to create this background effect in the centre of the card. I didn't actually use any patterned paper at all, so it was a great idea for when you can't find paper to match what you are wanting... CREATE IT YOURSELF! Again, I used glossy accents on the flowers to give that more porcelain effect.

Mini Travel album

It is a great idea to make a little album for someone who is going on a trip. You just decorate with paper and decorate the cover, then leave it to them to put their photos in. I did this little one for my mother in-law as she is leaving on her trip soon.

As she is starting to get into Scrapbooking I left the pages inside blank for her do herself in her own favourite colours, and she can do it as she travels as she has taken supplies with her. It will be nice for her to have an album as soon as she gets back with photos to share with everyone.

Mini house charm

Get miniture with houses. I love seeing how small i can make things....

I made this little charm for my mother in-law who is off on a trip and wanted some little trinkets to put in her van to remind her of everyone. The frame has been embossed to get this battered metal look, it is a great effect if you don't melt the embossing powder too much. The frame part (not including the top embellishment) is only about 2 inches high, and the houses, well they are just TINY!!.

New cards

I have been busy making some cards and working on some layouts that are not ready to share yet. Here is a card I finished last night to send to my friend's little girl for her birthday. Hope she likes it!!

Mini Collections Frame

A couple of weeks ago I got this collections pack to make a mini frame, it didnt come with instructions, but I did have a picture to work from. It is now finished, so I thought I would share. You can get some nice dimension out of the collections flowers and butterflies if you bend them around a little. This frame is only 6x6 so it is a nice piece to hang on a small wall or place on a piece of furniture.

Thank-you cards

I have decided to make a few more acetate 'Thank-you' cards, if I have them there, I am more likely to give them. I will keep adding to this blog entry with some more as I do them.





You can often change a little of a design or the materials used to get a different looking card. I liked the design of the card I made with the challenge pack, and so decided to make another using acetate as the base of the card. I really like the effect it has with the metallic paper behind it.

Some new cards

This card was made using June's Card Challenge pack. One Thank-you card READY TO GO!



This is the card I recently gave my Mum for her birthday.

Some new houses

This weekend I got to teach my mum how to make some 2D houses. She really enjoyed it and said that she learnt SO much in the little time we got to spend scrapping together during my visit. I think that she did a fantastic job (Mum's is the one on the left), and I left her with some supplies to make more. We made them into magnets, and they are now proudly displayed on her fridge. Can't wait to see a Village when I visit next!



Here are some of the Collections 3D houses. I have made these for Tomorrow's Memories and are now displayed in the store. I really enjoy making them as it is fun trying to come up with something different for each house. Hopefully the village is finished soon!

Prize May Card Challenge

This month I am VERY lucky to be the winner of the May Birthday Month Card Challenge. I won this awesome prize of an M&M tote and the next card challenge pack. The girls once again have been VERY generous with the prize and there were SO many really creative and different cards this month. Although I put a great deal of time and effort into mine, I was still really chuffed to won, as all of the cards were done to such an exceptionally high standard.



The tote also came full of all these goodies...... I LOVE EMBELLISHMENTS!!!

Thanks

When I started making cards, I did so for the reason that I wanted to give more thank-you cards. I have been pretty slack at doing this over the years and not given anywhere near as many as I would have liked to. So to make sure I start taking more time to say thank-you, I am going to give a minimum of 1 thank-you card EVERY month.

The first of my thank-you cards for a while will go to my parents for always giving my husband and I a place to stay and a car to drive around when we are in Melboune, even if it is at short notice.

Thanks Mum and Dad!

April entry - Layout

This layout is of one of my dogs Kujo that I did for the April Scrap Challenge. It was funny working with this paper because it was quite busy (EVEN FOR ME!) and to get dimension in it (which I love) I raised some of the dots. I really enjoyed doing this challenge as it was paper I would not have ordinarily picked, but absolutely loved in the end.

Challenges are a great way to make you step out of your comfort zone which I love. They really make you try to do something different or work with colours or paper you otherwise may never have chosen. Sonya does a wonderful job a putting together the challenge packs each month, and always chooses some interesting papers and embellishments!

Weekend Away

This weekend being a long weekend in WA we headed away with some friends to Nannup. We had a great time and enjoyed watching our friends compete in a speedboat competition on the river. Nannup is really pretty and it was such a relaxing weekend. While we were there the girls and I went for a drive to Bridgtown to check out a little Christmas shop that was recommended to me by the lovely Tracey.

I was so excited upon entering as they had SO many SNOWMEN which I have a bit of a collection going of..... Here is the latest addition to my collection.



Isn't he cute!!