Catch a moment time really does fly!

#4 Week at Scrappin' Patch Comp

2012-01-30T20:06:00.001+13:00

Create a layout about your country and include the name on your layout. What do you love about your country? What is special or different? Include 2 items specific to NZ; a photograph or a piece of memorabilia. You must use the colours of your flag.

I used a Poppy from Anzac day going back a few years and an old phone card that has New Zealand on the side of the boat. Always knew those cards would come in handy one day, I use to find them on the side of the road.

Land of the Lucky started out as a two page layout with 18x 3 almost 1/4 inch squares in blue, red, white, and black in a grid pattern. I only had scraps of red cardstock, one sheet of blue bazzil and one of white to work with. Basic Grey and Autumn Leaves to the rescue but heck I seriously need a cardstock restock!
Too tired to finish the revamp after 1am I had early riser Dh wake me up to ink, stick down the journaling and upload before 9am monday morning. Panic! Stupid photo manager hates me! I used this photo of Dd and her school mates to show the bi-cultural part of my journaling. I thought it was pretty apt.

#4 OTP Create a Journaling Notebook or Diary: you must use fabric, a button, twine or string and stamping.

I picked up the last 2 $7 Das books at a sale for $3 each. I love that the pages are blank and good quality artist paper. Maybe I'll be tempted to pick up a pencil. Ha!

I used muslin for my fabric both on the tag and the background where it was smooshed (lol) with glue and texture paste and lastly sprayed with Glimmermist. There's dimensional magic on the wings of the awesomely beautiful Graphic45 Steampunk Collection. I've used one half of a zip along the left handside, if you look very closely you can just make out the teeth.

I took my current journal on Dd's school camp last year and collected a few leaves and a flower that was given to me. But I lost some of them between Bushaven and home so I thought to add a few transparency pockets machine stitched to cardstock inside the next book I made. The idea stemmed from Nic Howards' class held at Autumn Escape in 2009, similar to the Card Buffet but with Journals! We decorated the cover and made 'dividers' for inside.

My no.2 Journal.

I stitched onto the cardstock after attaching the squares of fabric and patterned paper. I used a single photo split per square in the centre to give the appearance of them 'floating' 'cos if you haven't noticed there's a transparency piece stitched over the front cover. To hold it altogether is a length of elastic. Another idea from Nic Howards Journal Buffet class. The elastic is held on the back with two eyelets. I liked this idea so much I decided to do it on this. Just flip the elastic off and away you go but it's still attached to the back. Note the stamping? Nic Howards own design bought a while ago from Kiwi Scraps aka Craft House in Wellington. It's so very versatile!

And that's it from me this week :D

Scrappin Patch Competition

2012-01-23T16:46:00.004+13:00

Two new challenges each week over 6 weeks at Scrappin Patch

Currently at #4

These are my first entries starting on the 3rd week. Yes week 3! No chance of winning but I'll be putting more memories into albums and this week called on you to create a set of cards and a box to put them in - so that's cards for my stash too.

Challenge #3 Find inspiration from one of Scrappin' Patch new Design Team members. I chose Erin Blegen and her layout Putting on the Spritz. I can see a patterned background with a heavily distressed 12x12 over the top and in her yummy layers I see tissue paper, crocheted lace,'spritzed' glimmermist and bling bodied butterflies...b.b.b!:D I love bakers twine but sadly can't find mine amongst the mess in my scrapspace!! I throughly enjoyed making the cards - the only new thing is the kraft cardstock for the base.

For my layout I drew my inspiration from

Nina Ostermann. I love her clean and spacious layouts, her use of light coloured papers on white backgrounds, less embellishments and dare I say it her trade mark paint/ink splat!

Gorgeous huh?

And my attempt.....

This kiddo is so cute, the son of a friend who's garden I was working in last year. His Mum says he does this all the time...so I took along my camera one day hoping to capture him When he was suppose to be sleeping.

PALM BEACH!

2012-01-22T10:41:00.001+13:00

Have you seen Websters Pages Palm Beach Collection?

These are beautiful papers and possibly the collection I've been looking for to complete a Downunder advent calendar. You know? As it's summer in the southern hemisphere in December.

Yeah! These just might work.

But I LOVE these babies the mostest!! I actually gasped. Flamingos!! I love Flamingos!! The beachy themed items will be perfect for that calendar but I'm still on the look out for some jandals/flipflops/thongs - depending where you live :D

Getting exclamation mark happy, lol.

Challenge Me Happy Challenge!

2012-01-15T22:03:00.000+13:00

Finally!! I've spent all weekend with this new software......it won't crop where you want it to and after hitting save I spend a half an age trying to find the photo under My Pictures 'cos it's never where I want it.

Anywho, this is my entry for #14 over at Challenge Me Happy, and my first layout for the year. A lift of Trina McClune's beautiful layout. You can see it here titled Time to Spare. It's really lovely and the misting is gorgeous.

Posting these again....

2012-01-15T21:44:00.000+13:00

I just posted these, edited them. Published them...again. Ran out to bring the washing in. Came back to post a layout for Challenge me Happy and it's all gone...........!

Here we again....I hope they stick!

Using Fancy Pants Oct 31st for Scrapbook Outlet.

We don't do Halloween so I wanted to show this collection could be used for other topics. It wasn't hard to do! A selection of these papers were also in our challenge pack while in Rotorua during Scrapbook Dreams retreat. I don't remember seeing any Halloween layouts so it goes to show it's a very versatile collection of cool papers.

I have played under and over the transparency above; for example....tearing the background paper but stapling the transparency. I just loved all the product included in this collection!

For the centre piece that says love potion; I cut it out from the centre of the background paper and adhered it on to chipboard. Inked the edges, 'painted' it with Dimensional Magic and let the ink 'run'.

I covered it in Diamond Dust and when the DM was dry I bent it a little this way and that to get a few cracks.

For the 6x6 mini album I used the spider web transparency as interleaving between the acrylic pages but I also embellished one side. I just loved using the diecuts!

The End ....again :D

I got Messy!

2012-01-15T12:59:00.004+13:00

Looks a bit strange to me 'cos there's no title!

The four corners are a bit different for me too 'cos I don't like even numbers.

I used Tim Holtz Spills and Splatters and a Glitz background stamp with ink, rock candy and diamond dust.

I like how the rock candy made the Glitz stamp kinda 3D. I also used a word stamp on the leaves.

The strip of muslin was originally turquoise so I held it scrunched up in my hand and sprayed it with Glimmermist...and my t-shirt and a photo that was lying on my table at the time! I wear dark clothes normally so it was typical the day I wanted to mist I was wearing a light coloured t-shirt and sprayed myself.

So glad it washed out. Unfortunately not so much for the photo but it'll survive.

Next time I must remember to put the fabric into a small plastic bag and spray inside the bag!

The card behind the journaling was part of a swap - but this was the piece the swap item was presented on. I was very impressed how the ladies went to so much trouble to show case their swap pieces. Yep and I kept all those extra pieces of work...I know they'll come in handy!

The background paper, photo mat, skull, corners, the wee eeeek tab and the alphabet stickers are Authentique. Part of a beautiful collection I won from Aussie Scrap Source last year. LOVE IT!

Made using the Authentique collection again.

I forgot to add the 'swing' that actually makes it a tag!

Doh!

Using Fancy Pants Oct 31st Collection for Scrapbook Outlet.

A very versatile collection of papers! We also used a selection of these papers in a challenge pack while in Rotorua at Scrapbook Dreams weekend retreat. I don't think I saw one Halloween layout the whole weekend. See told ya...versatile :D

Halloween is not something we do so I wanted to show that these papers could be used for other themes/topics even though my daughter is dressed up for Halloween. A Photo shoot in our backyard.

I just loved playing with this pack.

The transparencies are awesome and I loved the diecuts and rubon's on too.

The 'love potion' was cut out from the centre of this background 12x12. I adhered it a piece of chipboard and inked it. Then I covered it in Dimensional Magic, altering the ink. I finished the top off with Diamond Dust. Can't get enough of that stuff!

You haven't seen the last of these photo's either...there's one or two more I'd love to scrap.

Lastly a mini album using the spider web transparency.

Cut into 4 x 6x6 pieces and used as the interleaving pages between acrylic pages

and of course all the other pieces.....

I've since added to the rings on the front cover, a velvet strawberry not seen here.

The End :D

Belated Happy New Year Everyone!

2012-01-02T09:51:00.005+13:00

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYBODY!

I hope you have a terrific 2012 in all the ways that matter most to you.

For those of you that have lost someone close in the year just passed. Someone that was incredibly dear to your heart, I sincerely hope the pain will ease and you continue to fill up with the wonderful memories you created together.
My warmest heartfelt hugs and love to you.

Scrapping!
It's off to a fantastic start on our homes away from home on the web!
Scrappin Patch has an awesome comp starting, they do competitions so well and I reeeally need this to get the ol' mojo going for 2012! Go check it out...it's about to start.

I've just received the first newsletter of the year from Scrapbook Dreams. There's some gorgeous work featured and something new happening with the monthly challenges. You'd better go sign up with Shell for the next newsletter if you haven't already.

Challenge Me Happy and NZ's very own Paper Chase have posted their challenges for the month.
Also don't forget to pop into NZ's Scrapchat, we've got a cool swap happening and there'll be more to come.
Lot's to keep us busy....I'd better get back to working out that blasted photo manager :P

Have a truly wonderful 2012 everyone.
And here's to hoping the economy improves.
Love and hugs
L

psst, pardon me for the highlighting...accidently did it to one and couldn't get rid of it so what the heck do it to them all eh? :D

Hello Blog!

2011-12-30T19:06:00.001+13:00

My computer has had a $100+ overhaul and it's now communicating with my wee camera so I am back to play!...once I work out how to crop and resize!! When the comp was fixed my beloved ACDSee was wiped. The only programme I'd paid for and there's no pinga to replace it! So frustrating. Yep, I did the back ups every time I was asked but the CD's are all blank every single one of 'em. Arrgh! Something I obviously didn't do right. Arg (again). But I'll be back to share a few LO's with you just soon as I can.

Before I go, there's a new home on the web for New Zealand scrappers set up by the talented Louise Williams. Hopefully this will become the go to place for everything a Kiwi scrapper might need to know from Competitions, DT calls, general chat etc.

Hope to see you there!
NZSCRAPCHAT

See you Soonish :D

Scrapbook Dreams Retreat

2011-09-12T11:30:00.000+12:00

Not long to go now. Friday to sunday of nothing but scrapping :D My second retreat ever so I'm really looking forward to the 16th Sept. I made my take list last night - now to put it altogether. Apart from the classes that Shell is going to teach; rather than take photographs that need new layouts I went thru my UFO's and will take a few of those instead.
I'm sure I'll be kept busy completing classes and the yummy challenge pack. Love those colours! Orange, teal, black and a coordinating stripe. Like I said - Yummy!
I'll take supplies for other things...just incase. There's an ATC swap at The Crop Room. Challenges at Paper Chase, Scrappin Patch and Birds of a Feather. Ha! Anyone would think I was going away for a month.

Feeling Lucky!

2011-08-06T17:53:00.000+12:00

A few days ago I learnt I won a prize from NZ Paper Chase for a layout I created for July's Sketch Challenge. I only made the layout after reading Sonya's post on NZ Paper Chase Facebook that layouts were urgently needed. I never expected to win!! This week I also won Authentique's Glowing collection from Aussie Scrap Source simply for commenting on their Facebook wall. I am rapt! Did I tell you I'm rapt? I love all of the collections from Authentique; Blissful, Uncommon and Journey being right up there but Glowing has lovely rich and earthy colours. However, I didn't know it was Halloween themed! Lol. I can't wait to see it, play with it and hold it in my hands!

Thanku NZ Paper Chase and Aussie Scrap Source :D

A new face :D

2011-08-03T23:09:00.000+12:00

I finally found a background that I really like! Just a pity I don't have a wider monitor so I can see more of it - I know it's my monitor 'cos I see more of other sites on the larger monitors at the Internet Cafe than I can from my piddly sized monitor at home. Oop's did I say that? It's ok dear monitor I didn't really mean it. True ;D

I was Googling Tim Holtz Configuration boxes earlier this evening because I've one of the Kaiser chipboard thingee's that came out around Christmas a few years ago and still haven't used it. I know what I want it to look like but saying that and what I actually end up with is going to be two different things! So anyway I thought I'd go a Googling for inspiration and I came across the lovely Dragon's Web which led me to Elegia's Background Garden. She really has some gorgeous work on her blog and the instructions are easy to follow so go check it all out.

Leaving you with a pic before I hit the sack....

This wee box and cards were made for Sarah Gough's OTP Challenge at Scrappin' Patch last month. You can see her gorgeous box and 3x3 cards here

And so goodnight, I woke at 2am yesterday in a fit of coughing and then proceeded to peel wallpaper off the hall wall while sucking on a strepsil. I need some ZzzzZzzz's.

Yay for Creativity!

2011-08-01T23:29:00.001+12:00

I can hardly believe I'm posting another layout so soon! I made this for a Challenge on Birds of a Feather but didn't get it finished and loaded by the deadline last midnight...finding the right font and enough letters to make wahine was frustrating....I need to go shopping!

I ended up using number 3 thicker for an e otherwise it would've gone in the UFO crate and that is full enough already!

Another one for July..and last May

2011-07-31T14:26:00.001+12:00

A Sketch Challenge at Scrappin Patch for July using these colours with this sketch. The weirdest thing is that we also used this sketch at The Crop Room for National Scrapbooking Day AND I used the same colour story.

Challenges for the end of July

2011-07-31T14:11:00.002+12:00

I didn't complete as many challenges as I'd hoped for this month but I'm happy with what I did get finished. Girls n Berrys is for NZ Paper Chase. Thanku Sonya for posting that layouts were urgently needed 'cos I liked that I had to use my brain with this sketch. Haha. Where I've got my 'ladder' - in the sketch it was a photo strip but I didn't want to use mine with these photo's so I had to use the old brain to come up with something else. Made from the negatives of chipboard shapes and painted. Each boysenberry is made from two wee cloud punches overlapped just a little, Dimensional Magic, beads and a tiny sprinkling of Diamond Dust - any excuse to use it...love that stuff :D

Hey Jenny E. my most regular visitor...what do you think about the size of this layout? Is it better than the smaller size I normally post - yep even with my blog list up the side, lol... or should I stick with the usual?

I'm still here....

2011-07-23T20:33:00.002+12:00

I made this recently for a challenge on Scrappn' Patch. The layout needed to have a royalty theme, shabby chic and include a crown somewhere. All credit for the ribbon and how I used it goes to Denise who I met during a class at Art of Craft last month.

May, June...July!

2011-07-04T01:01:00.003+12:00

Gabrielle Pollacco has an awesome giveaway happening, you seriously need to go check it out at Such a Pretty Mess and indeed it is. I haven't visited her blog in a while but it's looking lovely with a new background and banner since last I was there.

Thanks Dianne. H, I read about the giveaway on your blog first :D Also congrats on your gorgeous layout at Birds of Feather I hope I can get my A into G and join you this month.

Queens Birthday Weekend

2011-05-31T13:20:00.003+12:00

For my internet buddies over the ditch and beyond, we have an extra day this weekend. I intend to spend it scrapping at Scrappin' Patch completing challenges, via the computer. The last weekend was suppose to be one of scrapping but a bird (we think a pigeon) flew thru a CLOSED window and left a lovely mess of glass and bird do do over my tables. I had to move storage boxes out from under the tables and all the mess I haven't put away in ages on top of them.... in order to move the tables so Dh can reach the window. Twice he's been to town already this week and has forgotten to take the measurements with him!! He'll replace the glass himself 'cos as a kiddo he had to learn....with 7 brothers and all being fans of rugby, his Dad got sick of calling in the glazier!

I'd better go and do some more reorganising in my scrapping room so it's ready for the weekend...oh and clear the coffee table!

C Ya L8r

Reminder List

2011-05-01T20:55:00.004+12:00

Add Art of Craft and Scottie Crafts to your favourites :D

Wow two posts in one night!! LOL

Edited to add: Done and Done and changing Nicki's link to her new blog also done...about time I changed that!

For your information....

2011-05-01T14:52:00.001+12:00

but mainly mine, however what the heck lets share! Lol.

There are a couple of comps going on at the moment and I thought I would post them here instead of that notebook I forget to look inside, the scratch pad on my desk that becomes another layer of many, the shopping list on the bulldog clip hanging by the teacups or the post it I slap on the side of the monitor screen that our cats think I placed there for their amusement.... Why not add them here and that way I'll never lose them and other people can see them too. Good idea? I do hope it's ok to do this though. If you think not please let me know.

Page Maps 5th Anniversary
Becky Fleck is celebrating with a card and layout challenge. Entries are accepted world wide.

Aussie Scrap Source Style Lounge.....scroll down the page some when you hit A.S.Source. The challenges being here to create a layout in the style showcased. This week being the gorgeous Shabby Chic. Feast your eyes on Janines layouts. I especially like ...no Excuse. Just love that colour combo!! You have until Wednesday May 4th! Hurry, hurry, hurry!

Do you have plans for Inter/National Scrapbooking Day? I'm a moderator for the Crop Room and one of our members has set up another group that we will be invited to this weekend where there's a dozen+ various card and layout challenges. Of course I'll also be jumping to all my favourite spots on the web to see what's going on elsewhere. Whatever you do have fun!

Lastly, did you watch THE Wedding last night? I loved it, loved every bit of it, all the pomp and ceremony (never mind some of those hats!!). I was so glad we were able to share in Williams and Catherines day besides which we needed it after all the seriousness and tragedy we live in, in the everyday.

Yes, I did think of Diana a lot during the evening, did you? Of her marriage and her funeral. I expecially remembered the anticipation of the wedding and being wowed by her dress all those years ago and I also remember the scrapbooks I had of all the clippings of the Royal Family that I collected for years. I had a centre page spread of Princess Diana and Charles dressed in their wedding finery and another of Princess Ann and Mark Phillips on their big day.

...and when we found out she had died. My boyfriend and I had just walked in the door having been at the local sports club that evening, when my flatmate waved to us from the couch.... and I didn't believe him! No way, I thought he was having us on and turned to walk to my room for a tick...then I remember being rooted to the floor of the lounge with my hand on my mouth. Mother Teresa died soon after and my Dad too so he's in great company don't you think?!

Anywho William and Catherine (perfect name for a queen!) wishing you all the very, very best of everything in your new life together. You deserve it!

PS: Dd was in Auckland and watched American Idol with my sis and her cousins. Dh was 'up' the road watching the Breakers and I had the whole house to myself....and the TV :D

ATC's for The Crop Room

2011-02-21T17:09:00.001+13:00

I bet you think the only thing I do these days are ATC's and if you do you'd be pretty near correct. I misunderstood the 'theme' for this one, the theme being 'digital'. The photo was downloaded from the net and altered - I added a Prima flower to her hat! Lol. Not the altered that was sought after I think. This was the best pic of many that I took from different rooms, different angles, different this and that but because I mod podged it and I'm not a pro photographer I just couldn't get rid of the shine over the whole pic.

Two more ATC's not too far away. Theme's being Love for February of course! Teal and Purple for the other which is proving a tad difficult as there isn't much of either in my stash.

C U L8r

For Sandy

2011-02-21T16:33:00.002+13:00

An 8x8 layout I made for my internet friend Sandy. This layout is way overdue and hopefully going postal very soon along with some others. I had a really hard time coming down from a 12x12 size layout but I enjoyed the process in the end.

Waitangi Day post

2011-02-06T15:15:00.003+13:00

Dd and Dh are at Te Matai school watching a raft race down the Kaituna river, eating hangi and probably getting burnt...while I'm being a wuss and not straying very far from the fan!

Collage ATC's for the Crop Room. My first ever collage type...and once I knew what I was doing and the look I was aiming for it was lot's of fun! The base card is core' dinations Whitewash collection not that you'd notice! I used an ancient packet of Basic Grey Brads, some gel stickers - yes! Shock horror - stickers! A stamp of a kiwi, some pin thingee's I bought from a hardware store that were originally for a steampunk project....which never happened! There's some old Gypsy paper in there and I printed off a free sheet from The Graphics Fairy, finished off with a coat of modge podge. Love The Graphics Fairy!!

I hope you all have a lovely week.

Catch U L8r

Swaps

2011-01-20T09:09:00.013+13:00

My first ever Stickpins and I had no idea what I was getting into. Had fun with these and so easy to get addicted to making them. I have some I made with a Halloween theme somewhere, I'll post them when they turn up or when I find them...whatever happens first eh? ;D

Orange and pink theme ATC's. They were all bagged and ready to post when I took this pic that's why they look shiny when they're not. Sorry about that.

and some extra's.... I normally cut my ATC's from 12x12 sheets so that I end up with 12 cards when I've only ever needed 9 and sometimes less. If I have enough in my stash to complete all 12 I make them all up. Sometimes they'll be a little bit different and sometimes not. But they're cool to have for swapping one on one.

And one more.... the theme was birds. I need to take a pic of the ATC's I received back and share them with you, they are so sweet!

Catch U L8r

PS: Can someone please tell me why my pics turn out so small when I post them here?

Swap fun.

2011-01-11T09:01:00.008+13:00

I was involved in a few swaps during 2010 with the ladies at Crafting PassioNZ. These were for a tag swap that had to include a vintage lady. These gorgeous pink women are silk prints from Peggy who trades as kalikokottage on TradeMe. I had to ween myself from her silk prints but I still keep an eye out for her goodie bags. They truly are goodie!

Lot's of inking, glimmermist, a stamped image, beads, laces and dry embossing. It felt pretty good using some of the older things from my stash like the MM gold photo turns which are ruddy ancient!

...the tags I received back. I'm so sorry I cannot remember who made which except that the centre tag was made by Paula Lynne and the tag with lovely beaded fringe was created by Lynne Samkin

While I like them all this one is probably my favourite....check out all the 'holes'. Love that!

During 2010 I was in quite a few swaps, more swaps at one time than I've ever done before; here with Shar and the girls at Crafting PassioNZ and my friends from waay back at the Crop Room based in the USA. It is where I first learnt what Scrapbooking was, whoa....going back to 2001! Love those ladies!

Catch U L8r!

You're nothing but a pack of cards.

2011-01-06T20:18:00.009+13:00

I was lucky enough to 'hear' some chatter on Facebook about some leftover kits available from Rachel Tucker and Trina McClune's Creative Wonderland held in Wellington in 2010. Anything with these ladies names attached to them...I'm so keen! I was aiming for a layout but I wasn't fussed so when Rachel suggested the Album, need I say more. I'm delighted with it! The instructions were so clear and easy to follow and the kit was overflowing with product - although I did add some wee bits from my stash.

Already sewn together when the kit arrived scrunched into my mailbox; the front with a verse already stamped on the tag and the reason why I chose to use scrap fairy paper - can you read it? Don't get me wrong, I adored everything included in the kit I just didn't want to cut into the pretty 8x8 papers when I had so many scraps to choose from. Yeah, that included the paper doiley that was meant to go behind the tag. I couldn't bring myself to use it so some crochet lace did the job instead. Thanks for that Shar!

Probably my favourite. Can I say it looks whimsy? I love the layering and the use of the muslin and string. I added a prima flower...couldn't help myself! :D
Another page that arrived stitched together. The ribbon was creased and I KNOW a quick swipe with the iron would've fixed it but I was too lazy to get it out, find a plug in another room and flick a switch. I also could of gently rubbed it over a hot light bulb but I don't have a desk light and using the ceiling light was bordering on riccidoodlelious! So I tipped a jar of coordinating ribbons onto the table and went thru it, nope nothing. I grabbed an already made bow - no good! Some lace - no good! Turned to another draw and dumped the fibres on the floor - no good! Would a chipboard bow work? Nope!! Just goes to show, you don't mess around with a kit by a-la-Rachel and Trina. Lol. Yup, I plugged in the iron! Loved the number 6 on the wee card, my birthday!

I'll be sharing more with you over the next few weeks from some swaps I was in last year.

Catch U L8r

Another year

2011-01-06T19:59:00.006+13:00

I'm off to a good start already having completed some simple 6x6 pages for SCKC. A camp for underprivileged kiddo's, these pages are made into books of 20 or so, one for each child. Possibly the only childhood photographs these children will have. It's great to be involved.

2010-08-27T23:40:00.006+12:00

Whoa, I can hardly believe it!! People have been visiting me and 2010 is almost over!! I only popped in 'cos I had an email from Cluster Maps - the revolving globe on the side of the page - and the email provided a link to my blog so I thought I'd sign in for no reason. You guys are dolls for still popping in. I reckon everyone's on some social networking thing these days...like Facebook, My Space and Twitter - how do they find the time to manage blogs as well (and farms?) LOL.

SBO has an awesome competition going at the mo and this is my entry for week 3. There has been a lot of cats thru my life but this one is really different!! She'll walk across our chests and sometimes our heads trying to poke her way under the blankets and snuggle up beside us. If that doesn't work she'll sleep across our necks. We only wake up because we're being choked by fur. I totally enjoyed working with 'white space' and see that big flower in the corner of the cluster? The centre was made by Yolande Fenneman at the Autumn Retreat in Taupo and I was very lucky to be given one. I'd be saving it for something special.

Going to leave you here...I wonder if I'll be back before the year is out? Guess you'll have to wait and see.

Happy New Year Everyone!!

2010-01-01T17:31:00.013+13:00

Whichever part of the world you're in may 2010 be everything you wish for! Maybe you'll be eating Blackeyed Peas at breakfast for a lucky year? Lois of Kansas tells me her hubby insists on it every 1st of January. I think it's a cool tradition handed down by his Mom. I mean hey everyone loves traditions!

My New Year tradition.....I hope the neighbour was holding something when he came over this morning. I wouldn't know since I didn't realise he'd been until he was leaving, lol. A lovely scottish friend from years ago told me the first person thru her door after midnight has to be holding something. A piece of coal, a key...anything! This year I forgot!

Leaving you with these card holders I made using Bo Bunny and My Minds Eye from Scrapbook Outlet. I wish I could remember where I originally saw the holder ....somewhere on my blog hopping travels last year and if I were a better photographer you'd get better pics too! However, they were both made to be given away...one has gone to the other side of town and the other to the far side of the world...bit late for better pics hey?

I used the Bazzil brown monochromatic pack to make the base. For the top holder I used Bo Bunny and the lower is made with My Minds Eye Ooh La La For Her. The metal name plates are SU as are the stamped sentiments.

Below is the open Bo Bunny Card Holder.....since this was going to the States, instead of stamps I made a couple of note cards to put in the postage stamp pocket. Otherwise it fits 6 lumpy cards with envelopes.

Some of the cards that go in the Bo Bunny Holder. All paper used is from Bo Bunny and I used various embellishments from my stash.

Assorted cards for the My Minds Eye Card holder. Note the card of NZ stamps in the wee pocket. Cute eh?

I'll be making more of these for sure, they were fun to make!

Hello myblueluna, I've been enjoying the blogs you're subscribed to.

C U l8r

Sept DT Autumn Leaves

2009-09-17T08:55:00.004+12:00

While I a prefer to work with heavier weight patterned paper Autumn Leaves Poppies range is a wonderful line to work with. The centre daisy's have a raised and glittered surface and they're great for cutting out to use elsewhere on your layout as I did here, or on another layout altogether. I had a few compliments on the teal with the lime green and matching up the colour of the mug. Do you plan your layouts or are they mostly self evolving? The 'wave' was suppose to have been lime but I cut it out the wrong way and just couldn't get it to work with the photograph (Have now just realised I could've flipped the photo!). Teal was the only other colour I had in my stash that was going to work but I also realised I needed to add more of the lime to the mix. And how did I happen to have the Teal cardstock in my stash? I had bought it especially to create a layout for Innovations.....have they really gone to Sth Africa?

I cut out the poppies from one of the pp and adhered it to white Bazzil Cardstock. So different from what I usually do but I really like this one even if my red bow is wonky. Parts of the poppy petals are 'gloss' and very cool. The red tags popped in upside down in the bow read....for your birthday.

GOK Inspired Comp

2009-09-12T08:26:00.005+12:00

Yeah! It's happening over on Scrapbook Outlet. Week one has been and gone (I'm such a slack butt not to have told you sooner!!) but it's not too late to join in the fun. Three challenges are posted each week over the 5 remaining weeks of the competition - do one each week or do them all. Receive a ticket for each completed challenge to go in the draw for a MM PINK SLICE! Awesome! You can earn more tickets, but I'm not telling you how. Hit Scrapbook Outlet, click on Forums, find Competitions for all the deets OR after clicking Forums click View Active Topics.

My example for Challenge #1 Wardrobe - to create a paper pieced fashion accessory. I created 3 handbags and the one on the left (or is it your right?) holds strips of journaling. Am so glad to have finally scrapped this pic of my Mum in the centre circa 1958-60

Spring is in the air

2009-08-17T12:57:00.008+12:00

I am humming Love is in the Air.......when really I'm thinking SOMETHING is in the air over at Scrapbook Outlet! ....not yet but soon.

If you're not a member at SBO it might be a good idea get over and register.

Go check out the vid

(Love is in the Air)

It's really feel good.

It made me laugh.

Raewyn's Sketch

2009-08-17T11:45:00.004+12:00

My take on this months Sketch using Autumn Leave's Cap'n Jack. I mirrored the sketch to better suit the position my pirate was sitting. Had lot's of fun with distressing; ink, glimmermist, versa mark gold ink pad on the corrugated cardboard and Stampin Up's Chocolate Chip. I used Stampin Up's Chocolate Chip again and Tombow pen on the papers. The skull tag tucked up under the Prima Flowers, the alpha chipboard and the 'dressed' tag are all of Cap'n Jacks. I love the name of the brown paper slightly curled to resmemble a scroll - it's called clean britches.

(terrible pic though :P)

In the cluster of red Prima flowers there's a dull gold heart, an old brass button, red brads with tons of bling, tulle and wired beads. I have missed the creative process of making my own embellishments so it was a lot of fun to do this layout.

One for the August Challenges

2009-08-17T10:09:00.008+12:00

A Metal embellishment, fibre and two or more action/sporty pics.

Create a layout and here is mine.

Don't forget the Thursday challenges on SBO will you? For each of the

challenges you complete during the given month, you receive a point towards a random draw at the end of that month.

As Lesley has said already, "You'e got to be in it to win it"

Big Night Out Challenge.

2009-08-17T09:40:00.005+12:00

Sharing a layout I completed during Big Night Out. Use 15 items - no more, no less on your layout. 15 being the number of years since the last telethon in NZ. For those of you that have to count, lol; Ink is free, Title and journaling is 1 each and Basic Grey doillies - even though you think you see 3 it is the same sheet (for want of a better word).

Sometimes I think the courier/green font might be a tad diffiult to read so I would love to know what you think abt it? I guess I could also ask abt the background too? Even though there are some gorgeous backgrounds around, I'm not keen on going fancy. It takes too long to load being on the good old (gag) dial up. LOL.

Hey how abt Navy Blue?

August Monthly Comp

2009-08-05T10:29:00.006+12:00

Hey every Thursday on Scrapbook Outlet a challenge is posted by one of the Design Team. For every challenge you enter during the four weeks, you go into a draw for a wee prize from Andrea, owner of SBO.

Raewyns Challenge for the current set of challenges(upload to August Gallery by the 26th) is to use at least 7 DIFFERENT patterned papers AND embellishments. This is my take on her fun challenge. IRL you can see bling amongst the different papers - clear and pink circles of different sizes and tiny flowers from Heidi Swapp. Pen stitched around the centre design. I had fun with this one, each rectangle is inked and machine stitched indivually to the Bazzil c/s - 32 handknots on the back. As my internet buddy Lois is want to say "What was I thinking?" I told you it was fun.

More Spice than Sugar

Waste Not Want Not

2009-08-02T21:38:00.008+12:00

Want a chance to grab SBO's July Monthly Kit? Head on over to Scrapbook Outlet NZ and join the Forum to be in to win these goodies. You're looking at a selection of Bo Bunny, Moxie and Jillibean Soup products and throw in some Bazzil for good measure. Also included are the cute Autumn Leaves Sweet Greetings Mini Clear Stamps. Four in the pack and I've used mine already :)

Your Task is easy!!

In Lesley's words....

The Challenge is a 'green' challenge and is to make the most of our scrapbooking supplies by using everything! We want you to use the parts of our scrapbooking supplies that arent 'normally' used or meant for use. The outer packaging, the inner packaging, the negative of stickers, etc. These of course can be mixed with actual scrapbooking supplies.

The challenge is to create a layout or OTP or a set of 3 cards using scrapbooking packaging or backings somewhere on your project. Upload your project to the Waste Not, Want Not Challenge folder by midnight Friday 14th August. All valid entries will be put into a draw for a fabulous July kit. Please let us know what 'waste not, want not bits' you have used on your layout.

See you over there!!

July's DT Layouts

2009-08-02T17:50:00.019+12:00

Remember I was going on about Basic Grey's Junebug a tiny while back? Ooh la, la!!! I got to play with it for SBO DT work (what's another name for work that's more like play!!) I have to admit in the beginning I found it an intimidating collection of beautiful papers to work with. So much gorgeous colour! I think I was trying to tame it but realised I needed to go for broke and truly just play. Check out the tartan 'cos strange as it might seem it goes with everything and it's my favourite paper in the collection. Whoever suggested that it be included with these papers sure knew what they were talking about.

I will take another pic of this l.o one day. My camera is on it's way out. I don't want to over tax it by taking a zillion pics of the same thing to find the perfect one.

Two of my neices, one of whom will be 21 this month.

I can hardly believe it!!

Lunch at Molly's Irish pub! I'd been wanting to 'do' lunch on Christmas Day for years - finally. I can't wait to do it again.

My Fun loving brother and two of my nieces.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

This is one of the first LO's I made with Junebug. The circle and 'outer rim' (hmmm, sounds spacey :)) are machine stitched to the Basic Grey background. I had a task figuring out which alpha to use; stuck down white Thickers...nup didn't look right and c a r e f u l l y started to peel them off and argh - am I s'pose to tell you that? I still wasn't happy....perhaps a red font? But somehow the white always looked better so I decided it can stay. Yeah, look at all those e's!!

Merle Sze Yee is my Great Aunt and 1/2 my age. I met her once when she was two or three at a Motel in Te Atatu when my Grandad and his little family were visiting from Singapore, 20 plus years ago. She lives in Canada with her Mum and younger brother now. It would be awesome to meet up with her again.

I hope these pics are ok regarding size. Still working on it when I remember to (insert red faced smiley here). I also have no screen in the back of camera anymore and have to use the little hole in the corner - it's funny how I almost seem to lose my balance when I look thru it.

I met Yolande Fenneman

2009-07-14T15:59:00.004+12:00

It's not often I get to a Scrapbook store but the last week I've been to Book'em not once but twice! YAAY. Lol, only 'cos Dh is home for the month (two more weeks to go, gaw'd!) and under the excuse of DT work we can pull anything right? ;) I'll tell you now that's probably it for the rest of the year going by previous years...anyway, anyway.....I met Yolande Fenneman!

Whenever I'm at Book'em I love to look at the walls and admire Yolandes work especially since she's no longer at SBO. So for her to be in the store at the same time as mere me...should I introduce myself? Er, did I really want to do that? Would I be able to lipread her or make a fool of myself instead?

And then she served me and of course I introduced myself and of course she didn't remember a Fruitybird on SBO from a few years back. But I'm thrilled to have met her, have always loved her work. Dang I didn't have a camera or something for her to autograph. Of course DH didn't get it when I had this huge grin on my face when I got back to the car :P

Oh and here's the silly part. I learned today that Kaiser is pronounced Ki- as in Kite- sir. Not Kayser. Well I'd never heard it said before had I never mind Dh told me it's King in English and Kaiser in German. Aaah! Lightbulbs flicking off everywhere in my head. Would it help if I told you he's a crossword fanatic?

And a show off?

Gonna leave you with this. An entry for Scrapbooking by Design for their Winter Warmer comp. I got in a bit late so this is only my 2nd entry out of 5. The 5th and last week is going down now which, unfortunately I don't think I'll be getting completed.

Notice the butterfly on my Mum's head?

We needed to create a distressed and grungy layout. Use glimmer mist, ink or paint(which I like to call paink, lol) and a stamped image. I stamped the butterflies onto kraft scraps and glimmer zapped them with Sea Glass and Creme de Chocolat. There's textured mesh peeking thru an inked tear. Stitched down wire and beads 'following' the butterflies. The lace cardstock I think is the tulip one; I flipped it over, then zapped it with Green Forest. Thank goodness for Tattered Angels Glimmermist!

CUL8r

My sincere apologies but I don't know what's happening when trying to link SBO, SB by Design or Tattered Angels to this post. Hopefully I'll be able to fix it.

Anybody out there?

2009-07-07T14:06:00.017+12:00

Just sharing a few layouts I completed over the last month.

My daughter in 2000 a few weeks old with my Mum. The inspiration for this layout was the VERY cool Collage Press Knave of Hearts and Vicky Gibson, who set a challenge where you must use the word LIFE as your title. I might use this paper again - with a pic of my Grandad. Lol. Yup, I kid you not :D

Another purple card...was just playing around with some journal spots that have been feeling a tad neglected. Maybe I should've left them feeling that way?

I LOVE BASIC GREY!!!

2009-06-07T09:50:00.004+12:00

Have you seen the newest Basic Grey collections? It's just gorgeous,happy,effervescent and oh so cool. I throughly enjoyed working with Lime Rickey for SBO. June Bug and Lemonade look like a whole lot of fun too. The Doileys and Designer Cardstock packs are so yummo!

Scroll down to the end where there are some beautiful flowers made with the Wisteria Collection then go and check out Kate's latest Design Team work at Scrapbook Outlet. Just beeauutiful!! I need to get myself some of this gorgeous collection. I wasn't sure about it at first because it was just too lovely, almost heritagey (I know that's not a word) for me to feel compelled to use it. But seeing what Kate Mills has done with it...!!

June 2009 Just the Basics

I'm not sure if I'm allowed to share the link I received in my inbox but I'm pretty sure it's ok to spread the word this way :) I'm sure someone will let me know if it's not ok, right?

It's official.

2009-06-01T20:34:00.006+12:00

I can spill the beans!!

Scrapbook Outlets 2009 Design Team

has been announced

Lesley Cooper

Kate Mills

Ruth Ross

Raewyn Aldrige

and

Moi, moi, moi.

Flip!

It's so incredibly exciting and so incredibly scary all at the same time but what a ride it's going to be!

A special one off challenge from us all to you.

Use each element below in a layout.

5 Elements.

Lesley: ink or paint

Raewyn: something circular (patterned paper, photo's, chipboard, brads or buttons)

Kate: fabric

Lainie: use tearing BUT it can't be an edge

Ruth: stamping on flowers

You have all of June to complete it.

Plenty of time.

You can subscribe to SBO's Newsletters

Go and check out the latest - the Design Team Issue, It's chocka block with gorgeous, inspirational and funky work by past and present D.T, by the D.T at Autumn Escape, a tutorial by Neen, fab work by Trina plus more.

Those cards I said....

2009-05-29T19:49:00.004+12:00

These cards are for Sandy and they've been a looong time coming. Sandy is also a SU Demo and I've left places where maybe she would like to stamp a sentiment. I really hope you like these Sandy.

Do you see the flourish stamp? It's from Basic Grey and because it's the clear acrylic I was able to bend it a little for variety. I was inspired by Nic Howard's Card Buffet to create these.

These two were for a mini swap. I used an "I went shopping challenge" of Lesley's at Scrapbook Outlet Forum, for my inspiration to create them. I used Nesties for them both which you can find at Scrapbook Outlets online store. I love Nestabilities!! The sheet music was cut from an oooold book I found at a market for a few dollars, the centres of the flowers are heart brads pierced thru torn and scrunched scrap bazzil and the leaves were handcut from bazzil and folded for a little 3D. So I have two more cards to share but I'm having trouble finding them in my recently re organised scrapspace.

Happy Mother's Day!

2009-05-10T12:22:00.006+12:00

I hope you're all having a lovely day today. We've certainly got the beautiful weather to go with it - a bit windy but the washing's getting dry. Lol, yes - dirty laundry, washed, hung on the clothes line and I did it myself - on Mothers Day too, well Dd pushed the buttons on the machine ;) It wasn't so much dirty as just plain wet towels, after mopping the kitchen floor....left the taps on again!!

I had to sneak back to bed for my poached egg on vogels toast, side of avocado and freshly ground pepper. YUM. Breakfast favourites! Forever and ever when the word avocado pops into my head, or indeed my mouth I am remembered of Nic Howards cool Things That Make Me Go Grrr layout or the sign on a cardboard box at the local RSA "Free Avodacados". I'll never forget it!

I've been blog hopping this morning, visiting some of my favourites when I spied a cutie layout by Jamie Waters titled Bright Eyes...and then I started humming.....before you know it Dh, Dd and I are sitting here watching Bright Eyes on You Tube. Sniff.

I'm currently putting some cards together...abt time too I hear you say. Maybe later this eve or tomorrow sometime.

Leaving you with an old favourite...a layout of some of my favourite things.

2009-04-24T12:39:00.000+12:00

One More

2009-04-22T12:40:00.008+12:00

We were challenged at Scrapbook Outlet to use packaging on our layout. Can you figure where I've used it?

I love this one...

2009-04-22T12:23:00.005+12:00

For 'So You Think You Can Scrap' comp at Scrapbooking by Design last year. It was a lot of fun.

Some Favourites

2009-04-22T12:01:00.005+12:00

My Mum (sitting) and Aunty Fay who married my Dad's brother. Sorry about the flash glare...

Scrapbook Outlet

2009-04-22T11:25:00.008+12:00

Another revamped pic... Ema's favourite outside Te Puke Mitre 10, 2002.

2009-04-22T11:03:00.003+12:00

The photograph was originally scrapped in 2003 and I'm scrapping it again. I know what you're going to say, well a fair few of you. You wouldn't scrap your first pages again 'cos you get to see how far along you've come. Well sorry duckies, having been slipping recent layouts into their albums, I've come across a few pages that I think I would have a whole lot of fun redoing. Saying that, I'm not sure if like this one very much and might do it again if this paper's still available.

Trade Me

2009-04-17T13:24:00.004+12:00

Arrrgh! I am so frustrated!!! I've been selling off the last of my TLC stock on Trade Me. Why do people not place feedback (I know it's optional but if I do for you can't you do for me?)? AND why cant they read the payment instructions?! I don't know who you are if you don't leave the #reference, your TM name or otherwise - especially when I'm not expecting the amount that shows up. CRIPES!! Unfortunately I'm not Harry Potter's sister....Ok, I've calmed down....deep breath....

I guess I'll make it official.......

2009-04-14T19:04:00.010+12:00

If you'd asked me 3 days ago I couldn't have defined Challenge Junkie for you. I guess at best - someone who likes to complete challenges? Lol.

A Sketch Challenge from Trina McClune

Three things beginning with the letter A

Acrylic for Paint

Ahoy for the title

Altered photo

Completed for a Crop at

Heaven Sent

The last two years of layouts have been slipped into ziplock bags, hole torn page protectors and 12x12 packaging left over from product. T h e n, they were put into a plastic crate beside my scrapping table or the lonely empty-Cropper-Hopper-paper-holder-thingy behind me.

So You Think You Can Scrap

Comp going down at Scrapbooking Design last year.

Easter weekend I decided those layouts had to go into their albums! Pronto! And guess - bar a very, very few- were completed because I was inspired by a challenge! That makes me a challenge junkie does it not?

This crate was full, no more could be put in without causing damage to the layouts already inside or the layouts going in. It feels great slipping them into 'real' page protectors.

Ahem, I noticed quite a few without journaling or dates (YIKES!!!) and lots of Heidi Swapp letters swimming around inside plastic bags and the like. Rrrgh! Mission to fully complete all layouts and not one more new one started until said mission is accomplished. Ha!

2009-04-14T09:45:00.006+12:00

Affordable Art

2009-04-14T08:54:00.005+12:00

I have a Viva from earlier this month and in it is an article called Affordable Art. I was trying to remember why I kept it.....!! well do you remember the Russian dolls that fit into each other? Yeah? Iko Iko in Auckland have a 'nude' set of 5 you can purchase for $32.90 (no I won't be). They can be painted or you could alter them. I think they are so cool. However, if you got as scrap arty as we are want to do they prolly wouldn't fit inside each other anymore, as if it matters. You could have a lot of fun with these babies!

a pic of a set of Russian dolls found on the net

In the same article, Gorgi have flying wood pigeons, $55 for a set of 3 although I'm not sure they would lend themselves to the same enrichment as the dolls.

It's Carols birthday....

2009-04-12T11:02:00.004+12:00

There's some yummo eye candy going on over at Carols and it's a great blog too. Thanks Jenny E for sharing her link with us.

Belated Happy Birthday Wishes Carol

Happy Mail

2009-04-11T08:12:00.012+12:00

Wanna see what I got from a very special internet buddy? I'll admit I was expecting the nesties - (embarrassed smiley here)They were chosen under duress with both arms twisted up my back - truly! But she's so naughty, there's enough going on in her life right now and she's still thinking abt others! Always does and her sister's exactly the same. Thanku Arlene!!

Stampin Up rub-on's, Top Note diecuts - and some in leather too, some very cute, cute cupcake stamped and coloured images. I can see some neat cards made with these. Oooh, actually - thinking abt cards I must make 8 this weekend for Sandy, Lesley and Niella. Hang in there.

Sale Sale Sale

2009-04-08T20:39:00.004+12:00

Lol. I've been frequenting my favourite forums this evening and Scrappin Patch is having a birthday!! They've been in their new Big store for a year today and so to celebrate ..... from Thursday 9 April until Tuesday 14 April everything in store is 30% off (excludes diecut machines and applies to all instock items only).

And if I purchase any goodies because I mentioned the birthday sale here I get a freebie - the operative word here being IF. Anywho, head on over and have a lookee. I'm headed that way myself :)

I won third!!

2009-04-08T13:07:00.003+12:00

Whooo, happy dancing. Congratulations Raewyn who won 1st and Annelie who won second. I am in great company. Do you know Raewyn completed 29 layouts over the 10 days! 29 to my 10. And you gotta check out Annelie's work. I've loved her creations for ages.

I am truly stoked to have won a MM gift pack worth $100 NZ! I'll take a pic to share with youse all when it arrives.

Taupo

2009-04-07T16:27:00.007+12:00

...home of the Autumn Escape.

The last challenge was called on Sunday night but I was too buggered to do anything. Next morning though I felt an urge, lol. Could I do the last one before the 10am deadline and before work to boot?

Scraplift a pic of one of Scrapbook Outlets Design Team members - decisions, decisions!! In the end I chose Neen's Roma layout.....and it took me all of 35mins to put together!! Whoaa - I gotta lift more often!!! Admittedly I started at 6am and had to get my kiddo ready for school as well as getting myself out the door at 8:30 so I had no time to dither and believe me I would've played more had I not been going to work.

Sorry abt the photographs for this one and Harajuku. Sending them from Google looks better.

Japan

2009-04-07T16:14:00.005+12:00

Harajuku - the name of a band and a whole other culture in Japan. Our challenge was to 'do' CUTE. I googled Harajuku and found the definition - a fatal attraction to cuteness - and used it in my title - but somehow between taking a crappy pic at night for the Race and this 'fresh' pic this morning I've lost some of my title and there's no more of the pink paper in my stash. I'll have to figure on something else eh!

Fancy Pants Summer Soiree and check out the gorgeous felt yellow flower - co of Random Bits. Love it.

Two

2009-04-06T23:19:00.004+12:00

Another one for the 'Other' album (yup, I'm thinking of Nicole Kidman in her 'Other' movie ;)). Two layouts in the album got you a ticket for the Amazing race....'cept I didn't know that until last night so I'm glad I had two that didn't fit anywhere. This one started off as China but the embellies didn't work with it.

The Other One

2009-04-06T23:02:00.002+12:00

Andrea had a second album set up during the Amazing Race - where you could load the layouts you made during the race but didn't fit any of the challenges. I love this paper - Fancy Pants Summer Soiree. I turned the paper on it's side and added lot's of tiny shiny 3d flowers so it looked like the take off from a rocket if you know what I mean? Ema hit the water last and came second. Go Rocket Girl!

Mosgiel

2009-04-05T21:26:00.003+12:00

On the home stretch...there's a Scrap Camp in Mosgiel in the Sth Island this weekend and Andrea's been talking to the Campers :) The ladies shared their favourite things to create with. Our challenge was to choose five items and use them on a layout of our own. Here I've taken Buttons, Birds, Ink, Ribbon and Stitching.....you'll need to look close for the stitching - around the outter edge below. A bit hard to believe I used such a soft colour background but I'm happy with the results.

China

2009-04-05T20:59:00.004+12:00

Although most scrapbooking product is designed in the US it's most often made in China so....our challenge for this layout was to craft a handmade embellishment - and use it!

Lots of punchie hearts, individually inked with a Tombow pen. Adhered in layers to look like Pansies. Painted with Dimensional Magic - and then 'cracked' when dry. I can't remember where I 'borrowed' this idea since it's an old one but I'm thinking most likely Arlene, so thanku Arlene. Oh and hey, making these flowers for this layout wasn't planned, it just came abt which is kinda funny/weird 'cos Dot has a beautiful garden.

France

2009-04-05T18:02:00.003+12:00

Layering as in clothing.... apply it to your layout.

Hmmm...

2009-04-03T07:42:00.001+13:00

This is not making sense. I've edited the last two posts - and resized the pics. In edit posts it shows that but not when I click view blog???

Denmark the home of Hans Christian Anderson....and lego land

2009-04-02T18:42:00.004+13:00

A Winter Layout..something very different for me. I had fun with this.

#2 Papau New Guinea

2009-04-02T18:36:00.003+13:00

Use a colour from the PNG flag - black, red, yellow and white... If I knew how to graffiti this would be a whole lot different - I gave up looking for examples on the net. Lol. Yolande.F shared an awesome layout with us a few years back. All the background was graffiti - it was fantastic and I've never forgotten it.

Gisbourne?

2009-04-01T07:56:00.004+13:00

I have to say I don't know what that Gisbourne's doing in my Live Traffic Feed! What's with that? I've never even been there. But it's so cool to see my Crop Room friends visiting me (waving to you). I promise to have some layouts up soon.

Last night I was going to say....

2009-04-01T07:34:00.005+13:00

Help!!

I've lost my MOJO!!!

I did all the things you do; I surfed the net and I looked thru mags. I scraplifted or attempted to - my favourite and not so favourite scrappers. I tried to scrap lift myself!! I cleaned up my scrapzone to start with a clean palette so to speak and finally at 1 am a layout was produced! YAY. But so far it only fits the second layout challenge which I may have already done.. I'm not sure abt the first attempt. If I were a graffiti artist I would want to do it soooo differently. They may both end up in the '2nd' Album - the album Andrea set up for all the layouts you do until Monday that don't relate to the Amazing Race.

# 1 Australia - Aussie Scrap Source
# 2 Papau New Guinea - Colours of the flag
# 3 China - Handmade embellishment
# 4 France - Something Layered
# 5 Denmark - A Winter Layout - ugh. That's a tuffie!

#3 China

2009-03-30T09:21:00.003+13:00

Andrea: "The race is on to China ... Many of the world's leading Scrapbook Manufacturers design their own embellishments however they are then made in China so tonight we want to see you using embellishments in your layout BUT it must be a home made embellishment. Blog hopping lately I've seen some awesome home made embellishments out there so can't wait to see what you come up with."

Hopefully I'll have something up over the next few days. I don't want to get behind. #2 Papau New Guinea is right in front of me just waiting for the journaling.

I need a clock for New Mexico - Regina!!

Day #2 at Scrapbook Outlet

2009-03-29T14:48:00.003+13:00

We are at Papau New Guinea today and our mission is to create a layout using a colour from the Flag. Still working on it......:) Dd has a friend here this weekend and keeping me on my toes. But don't forget to pop on over to SBO's gallery if you're wanting a visual feast. I love Chooky's layout and talk abt simple being more. It's perfect.

Scrapbooking By Design

2009-03-29T13:52:00.005+13:00

A sketch challenge I completed into the wee hours early this morning. Love the sketch and I'll be sure to use it again. Head on over to the Art Room and check out the SBS Bonanza Sketch entries. Gorgeous.

Scrapbooking By Design

2009-03-29T13:46:00.004+13:00

Scrapbook Studio was the first scrapbooking store I'd ever been in some years back, but I was calling it Scrapbook Heaven :) I remember I spent over $90 on one of those early visits and boy oh boy I cringe to think abt it now. $90 on paper and cardstock and that was it!!!

My sis lived less then 5mins by car down the road so whenever I was visiting from Te Puke I made sure there was time for the store. Lol, yup left Ngahere my little niece and Dd Ema fighting in the car once and my sis said I had to cut the 'just popping in' really short. Another time Ngahere's older teen sister and I walked from their home - and it sure wasn't 5mins by wai wai express.

Anywho this is a layout I completed in answer to a Challenge from Scrapbook By Design: Use purple and teal on your layout, bling, flowers, handstitching and stamping. I think I got a bit carried away with the doodling! Too much white up the side. But I do like it and the expression on Ema's face.......Hey sweetie I'm sorry but as long as I can hold a camera it's not going to end.

2nd Challenge but the first Layout.....

2009-03-28T19:16:00.004+13:00

Uh huh...dang, I could've swapped the L's around - it looks like bail instead of ball. Tough love. Lol.

Cosmo Cricket background paper, green paper (woodgrain paper is the reverse), Cosmo blackboard alpha's and numbers, Scenic Route arrows, Queen and Co brads, Pink Paislee press on owl, Jenni Bowlin 'Home' card cut from the packaging, Heidi Swapp Moss paint and Hero Arts ink.

Howdee Do Dee

2009-03-28T09:31:00.004+13:00

#2 Challenge is just that. If you know your papers maybe it's not so much of a challenge after all but the only one I know for sure is Basic Grey. If the brand name's not on the back - (bit hard if you're going thru scraps) or the strip across the bottom's been removed. Ahh, but that's the fun of it! Eeek. Lol.

Hey Ingeborg on Heaven Sent has a crop going this weekend. I'd like to get over there and check out the challenges and maybe complete a few. That would be cool, can I say busy?

Australia Fair

2009-03-27T19:25:00.003+13:00

Details as posted by Andrea on SBO.
I didn't complete the first challenge - Mega Congrats Jenny.E

First stop is Canberra Australia to say hello to the girls at Aussie Scrap Source. First challenge is to find and list at least 30 of the brands that these guys distribute. Second challenge is to scrap a layout incorporating only products/ lines sold by these guys (there is a huge variety here)

Raffle Ticket awarded to the first person to list 30 correct lines.
Raffle Ticket awarded to the first person to load their layout
Raffle Ticket awarded to each person who completes and loads a layout into the gallery

:)

Ready, Set.....

2009-03-27T18:52:00.006+13:00

8mins count down to go until Andrea at Scrapbook Outlet NZ pulls the trigger on the starter gun to The Amazing Race..have you joined SBO yet? Better get going.....

I know I haven't been here in forever but I'm going to make it up to you over the next week. I'm such a dill brain or this dang blog just doesn't like me - I've tried to publish a post already here today and it didn't stick so here we again....wish me luck! Oh and I'll get rid of that Christmas thingy - I never knew it had even stuck last Christmas.

To my awesome Internet buddies from the States and over the ditch, I hope you'll visit me from to time over the next 10 days. I'm going to need all the cheering I can get. Lol. If this was the real deal it'd be over for me at the start line.

CUL8r

Wanna go shopping? Challenge

2008-10-30T21:43:00.000+13:00

I went 'shopping' a little while back and made the side opening card for a challenge of Lesley's over on Scrapbook Outlet. I 'bought' from a list of items; Vellum, Lace Cardstock and Tree...I needed to come up with a layout using these three items but since I've been in a scrapping slump I asked if I could make a card. I started off trying to do something funky and with a different tree but think Funky isn't my thing, lol. I'm tickled pink with how this turned out though. I won a RAK from Lesley too, whooo. For the second one I used mono glue on everything....and then I remembered the vellum too late :S It was also used for Susan's Monochromatic challenge at The Crop Room which I think I cheated on just a tiny weeny bit...the bling is kinda icy blue and matches the kinda icy blue in the Basic Grey patterned paper.

On the Job

2008-10-30T20:37:00.002+13:00

This is one of the jobs Anne and I are currently on. It's not really a gardening job, more like a clean up/makeover. But it's the stuff we like to do. Hard yakka and a real good feeling when it's done. We're removing Wandering Jew and taking it to the refuse station. Unloading the trailer is a job in itself and we did it twice this day.

Below is the result after almost 5hrs. We needed to complete a couple of other odd jobs around the gardens, moving pups (as in plants not puppy dogs ;)) and going over previously weeded garden. The pile of dead matter is from a big old ponga tree to the left of the photo, almost out of view.

Where did they go.....

2008-10-29T15:27:00.006+13:00

...all the pics I uploaded today? Even the picassa icon's gone! and does anyone know why this pop's up on my page?

The server watersfive.typepad.com at Protected requires a username and password.
Warning: This server is requesting that your username and password be sent in an insecure manner (basic authentication without a secure connection).

Owlies

2008-10-29T12:16:00.000+13:00

I was over at Niella's and Bree's last night and seeing all the owls I remembered these and had to post 'em. I was at Te Puke craft market held at the town hall with a stall of my own and these tea cosy's were for sale at another table. I thought they were so cute and had to take a pic inlight of all the Owlie items around at the mo. I'll have to check the pic in zoom but I think they're $12 plus post if you're interested.

Gotta go, better get. My day off work today, heaps to do that's not getting done.

Scrapbooking Friends Fall Crop

2008-10-27T00:01:00.000+13:00

Possibly my favourites.
A scrap lift challenge completed over the last 10 days at Scrapbooking Friends Fall Crop.
Deadline dates tomorrow and I've hardly done a thing!

Figures huh!
SF hold four seasonal Crops over the year with donated prizes, lots of games and loads and loads of fun!
There's a heap of layout challenges too but since I can't scrap right now I'm entering card challenges instead.

2008-10-26T23:45:00.000+13:00

Use Scallops anywhere on your layout. I didn't have my nesties when I made this so the scallop circle is hand cut. Practically a lift from For Keeps Creative Paper. Issue 69 2008.
I LOVE these three papers. I can't imagine how old the beige and rosebuds pp are, a gift from Regina (thanku!!) a long time ago....saving it for that perfect photo that never took place. Dimensional Magic is used on the Basic Grey Giraffes.

I wish I could take better pics. I've given up taking photo's in different rooms to get the best light. These are done in my scrapspace infront of a window.

Card Lotto

2008-10-26T23:20:00.000+13:00

These are for Patty aka Memory Collector.

Have you heard of Card Lotto?
Sign up and if your name's drawn you win 4 handmade cards from everyone else that signed.
Recently that equates to 40 cards!!
I used 7Gypsies to make these. Bazzil Cardstock, a HS chipboard heart (thanks Lara), bling brads, heart brads and patterned paper.

So are you getting sick of these cards yet? Think of it as my way of making up for being away so long...at least you know I did something :P

2008-10-26T23:10:00.000+13:00

Arlenes: Christmas Card without red or green.
Queen & Co's felt and Heidi Swapps tiny flower jewels.....can you see them?
Used the Swiss Spot embossing folder on Basic Grey patterned paper.

2008-10-26T23:02:00.000+13:00

Kims: use stickers and alter 'em, use on a Valentines card.
Lots of Kindy Glitz on the stickers...the only stickers I rckon I own.

2008-10-26T22:51:00.000+13:00

Lois's Christmas Card Challenge, use a sketch.
Bazzil, Basic Grey Scraps, a Prima flower and a bling flower courtesy of one of SBO's monthly kits

2008-10-26T22:19:00.000+13:00

Use at least two different punches on a card.
Lifted this straight out of Aussie Paper Crafts. Issue #61 2007. A freebie mag, in the back of another.

Bazzil, Kindy Glitzed 'petals' and the stamp is one of several from a Simple Stamps set; A Confession, sold at www.crafthouse.co.nz

World Card Day

2008-10-26T22:04:00.000+13:00

Remember World Card Day? At The Crop Room we turned it into World Card Week with challenges and prizes. This chllng had to feature a butterfly anyway you liked.
Bazzil, Basic Grey, scallop circle cut and embossed with a nestie and the butterfly is a years old diecut.

A turn at Cards.

2008-10-26T15:42:00.000+13:00

I've never been much of a cardmaker. Unless you sell them for a living, broke and can't afford ready made there's always Paper Plus? No? Too right! So I've been making cards and absolutely suprisingly, amazingly, knock me over with a feather - enjoying the process!! Me! Yeah! I'm using up bits of my stash that I've had for ages and in a lot of cases - years!

I won, a while back a RAK of Halloween goodies from Donna Meuli - all the makings for a Halloween banner made by Making Memories + cute brads, diecuts etc.... I definitely wasn't going to be making up no banner! But I was thrilled to win this pack of goodies 'cos I'm going to lift Donna's idea of a layout about the Scooby Doo collection in her home. Dd is nutty over Scooby and has all the um...stuff. I also made a Halloween card, just for fun. I'll work on the layout when I'm out of the funk.

The goodies including a pic of the

banner and the card I made.

Crud, this is bit messy looking :P

Gidday!

2008-10-26T13:40:00.007+13:00

Yeah, I know - I read it often on other blogs....Where have I been?..... I know I haven't been posting but....Must keep up the blog..... I promise to......Lifes been hectic....and so on. Well I got Track Sided, big time and I know it should be side tracked but my ex MIL use to watch Track Side years ago and it's always stuck....so anywho.... School Hols came and went and that's a whole other story. I was delighted to be back at work. I'm a tad better organised, go to bed earlier and feel better for it, there's also a purpose to getting up in the morning besides getting the kiddo off to the school bus.

I've also hit a funk!! I'm no longer interested in Scrapping. Shock, horror!! I thought it would've been a short term thing, I'll get over it right? But the more I tried to create a layout the more frustrated I became, the more precious product I felt I'd wasted. None of the layouts I created when the funk first hit tickled me, so for now I've given it up. I'm sure it'll come back one day but not just yet...I'm having fun making cards :)

I've been Tagged

2008-09-28T01:52:00.000+12:00

Charith at Life's hard...Get a Helmet tagged me. I adore her Changito cards.

So, I need to share 7 facts abt myself. Some wierd and some not....

The Facts are.....
1. I'm the older of four siblings.
2. Bromeliads, Clivias and White Kakabeak are my favourite plants.
3. I've been scrapping approx 7 - 8 years.
4. I've flown the shortest overseas route - Australia, Perth to Rottnest Island.
5. Outrageous Fortune is my favourite TV progamme. I grew up in Henderson - one suburb over, so it's pretty close to home hey! Cracks me up! Van and Munter are a hoot!
6. I love Mocha Coffee - instant, lol.
7. It's 2:18am as I type this.

I'm not sure if there's anything wierd in there - maybe the plane trip?

Changing Templates

2008-09-20T07:08:00.000+12:00

Yep, got another one again. Gee whizz. A new member at The Crop Room told us where we could find the instructions on how to change our template to have three column's instead of the two. I can work it alright until the third instruction - what I get is "this window is trying to close" Lol. Back to the board but don't hold your breath. If you're a smarty and manage to get three column's please let me know what I'm doing wrong.

I've not been keeping up with the Olympics Comp at The Sketch Book. Have been real busy with work. Honestly I don't know how you ladies do it. Lara! I'm out of the house four days a week, yet I still have one full day at home - usually spent doing the house work after the other two are off at work and school. I know I won't get much done during school hols either. My sis is s'pose to be coming down from Auck with two of her kiddo's - Dd has been sleeping in the dining room since Feb (blushing smiley here) 'cos her room was undergoing a transformation...not. So her bdrm's got to be finished or we'll all be bunking in the lounge - nothing wrong with that though I guess huh? But add to the mix Dh having three weeks off work from the 6th Oct. Rrrgh.

Good news is that the ladies I crop with and I are getting together for our own little Scrap Pink. We have a breast cancer survivor amongst us! Last weekend of the school hols, scrapping for 12 hours and maybe a visit from a Stampin Up Demo in there somewhere. My sis might be there for that and I know she'll love it. It'll be her first crop she's ever been to. Whoo hoo.

Speaking of Cancer doesn't it just totally SUCK!

Man can send men to the moon but Man cannot find a cure for Cancer!! Ok so they have to find the cause first but so what I HATE CANCER!!!

Arlene, I'm thinking of you. You are an incredibly brave lady. There's so much sh*t you've gone through already and yet you and your sis still stand so strong. I know what they say - "God only sends what you can handle" But this is plain crazy. Love you my internet buddy.

L8r

#2 Gymnastics

2008-09-07T18:16:00.000+12:00

Flourishes and Ribbon!

This is Krista's (an internet buddy hailing from the USA) younger daughter Jordon, taken by Krista. I love this pic, it's so friggen cool/different. If I had any talent drawing I'd having dancing crocodiles with this pic. I enjoyed this challenge and even though I was a bit worried abt the ribbon element it wasn't too hard since the Basic Grey Rubon was only 1 of 2 I had in my stash.

Re Do

2008-08-26T20:26:00.000+12:00

Re done the following morning and I like it much better! I had meant to use the Queen & Co the first time around but it was hiding underneath other stuff and I forgot. There's a rub on along the bottom - on a transparency- can hardly be seen in the pic and it's hard to read even IRL but I know it's there hey! I also sussed out the Polly Pocket stamp Dd used on her face and I like it so much better - not medal material but it's a winner for me!

#1 Cycling

2008-08-26T20:06:00.000+12:00

Use spot/dot/circle patterned paper and circle embellishments.

Was fun but I shouldn't have been such a smarty pants and left it to the last day. This is also the first time I've used the printer on a layout for myself - since 2005. A pen is so much easier but I had too much journaling I wanted to put in on this layout.

I haven't figured out how to get more than one pic in a post using Picasso.....yet.

The Olympics of Scrapbooking.

2008-08-26T19:37:00.000+12:00

Megan Renfree has a comp going on over at Sketch Book- yep, the Olympics in Scrapbooking :) We chose a country to represent for the entire running of the comp. My country is Belize and our first layout, a warm up, had to be made using ONLY the colours of our flag and the topic was abt ourselves. Hey Tuit lookee, Changito came to visit :) Can you tell I took the pic myself? LOL

Big thanks to Lara and Niella for telling me to get with Picassa even though it's taken a while to get it together this evening :S

More Favourites

2008-08-18T22:14:00.000+12:00

Some oldies using packaging somewhere on your layout - a challenge from Lara @ Scrapbook Outlet NZ. We had a choice of other things to use, like fabric, the colour yellow but I mainly remember having to use the packaging.

The photograph of Dh's nephews is partly matted with the backing from a pkt of Making Memories Passport Line. Part of the title is on a strip of red fabric. The Scenic route tags are blank 'cos Dh needs to check the spelling and I don't know what's up with my Dymo labeller. Can't thread the damn thing.

I love this pic of Dd reading quietly to herself one summer afternoon. It's also one of my favourite layouts. The journaling box/spot/space was originally a printed embellishment from Making Memories I think, but I stuffed up on the journaling. However, this layout had to have a postcard!!! Nothing else was going to do so I made one with a scrap of pale pink Bazzil (using the untextured side), a sticker stamp from an old Life's a Journey line and the barcode from a pkt of Basic Grey wedding rubons. Oh yeah, and the packaging is the white 'embellishment' at the top of the layout. I had fun with this one, lots of ink, paint and bling and BG's yummy Boxer line c/o a SBO monthly kit. I learnt to do the ink thing while doing Louise Williams Challenge for So You Think You Can Scrap over at Scrapbook Studio.

I used the packaging again and punched holes along the bottom with my very cool buddy the Crop-o-dile. Shear ribbon's been threaded thru the holes with some OLD yellow MM stuff.

CU L8r

Earth to you :)

2008-08-15T22:01:00.000+12:00

It seems I haven't scrapped in ages. Dd's room is being 'fixed' and all her stuff is in my scrap space and the lounge. So I thought I'd leave a few of my favourites completed earlier this year. These three were done over Queens birthday weekend.

All product used from SBO's April monthly kit. Lot's of Jenny B papers and alpha stickers. Do you see the cool felt, oval flower with handstitching in the first layout? Niella Han made it and it has the most cutest owl button in the centre. Love it!

Look at all the yummy teal!!

Stick around anywho, I've just signed up for the Olympics over on the Sketch Book! Eek, what have I let myself in for!

CU L8r

#7 Save the last one for me

2008-07-17T12:59:00.000+12:00

Scrap your own style! I've come to the conclusion I don't have a style as such. I scrap the mood I'm in! I was in this mood when I scrapped Boobies. My ever crazy Daughter! The Journaling reads.

I was cooking dinner.

You were keeping busy around the fruit bowl.

Missy what are you doing?

Slowly you turned around. Mandarins stuffed in your skivvy.

Laughing out Loud you said "Look Boobies!"

You can be so, so funny!

In the beginning of SYTUCS Meek gave us a list of questions to ask ourselves abt our scrapping style. Truth to tell some of my answers were pinga related,if the moolah didn't need to be taken into account my answers would prolly be different! I've enjoyed the ride, have learnt lot's and 'met' some lovely people along the way. Special thanks to Meek for being Meek. I loved the way you introduced each challenge and put the show on.