Wednesday, June 27, 2007

Kits and Megan's Sketch

Kits!

I did this layout of Harry for my girlfriend and she has become my "saleswoman" and a couple of her friends have asked for a kit to do a layout the same. I will have some kits (not a huge amount) left over so if anyone is interested then drop me an email. The kits are $29.95 with full colour photo and instructions.



Megan's Sketch



This layout is also of Harry (popular boy today) which I have done using Megan's sketch over at Sketches Oz - check out Megan's and the DT layouts also, there are many variations. This is a fantastic sketch which I'm sure I will use over and over again. Great job Megan!

That's it for today!

Take Care.

Tuesday, June 26, 2007

Coffee and Pool

This is a quiz I found via Hannah's Blog, thanks Hannah, there are a few different ones you can do and even rate your blog - mines G rated! Some people might say there is something not quite right with that rating(particularly those that know me! LOL). So I'm not as addicted to coffee as I thought!

Our pool is now full of water again...................

With all the rain we have had in the last few days we have re-filled it very quickly. The bullnose pavers are sitting on the edge ready to be cemented down and that pile of rocks at the top right is going to make up a small rock waterfall into the pool! Getting there.

Well that's about it for today, I intend to back up my 12gig of photos today and clean up my system........well overdue.

Sunday, June 24, 2007

UNBELIEVABLE!!!!!!!!!!

What an amazing day we all had at the Helping Hand Autism Crop Day!!!

Alli and Michael deserve accolades a plenty. You both did an awesome job organising a fantastic event and raising $5175.75 for the Early Intervention Centre for Autism.

We had the most yummiest coffee and hot chocolates all day served to us by some recognised Barista's from all over Perth. I didn't realise that they are just as passionate about their coffee as we are about our scrapping. I listened in on some of the conversations these guys were having and was blown away that making a coffee was so technical! But you know what is tasted VERY good!



There were raffles throughout the day worth at least $180 each and lucky me won the Fiori Coffee pack with Espresso maker, coffee, hot chocolate, coffee cups, Espresso cups and even some Spicy Chai Tea!

The food was deilicious and plenty of it. 3 great soups and warm bread rolls also featured for lunch. The venue was perfect, plenty of room and the natural light was an added bonus.

You could even park your car undercover and bring in your gear!

I was continually overwhelmed by the generosity of those that were there, from one lady who offered to pay double for her ticket because friends she had invited had let her down to others who had donated their time and special talents.

Kim Young took all the photos on the day and some can be seen here. I admire your talent with a camera Kim! Thanks too for helping me with the dishes and tables at the end of the day (especially the more difficult tables!!!!!!!!).

There was a team of people behind Alli and Michael and I was very proud to be part of that team and here are some of us receiving thank you pressies from Alli.


That's a wrap!

Thursday, June 21, 2007

Crop, Kim Archer LO, Card and CC07

I haven’t posted during this week, I know! I have however been really busy doing bits and pieces and tidying (not cleaning) my house.


First cab off the rank are the table numbers for the Helping Hand Autism Crop on Saturday, I kind of dobbed myself in to do these by coming up with the idea and of course it was then my job to make them. (happily so I might add) The idea of the flowers I stole from the Paper Pesto blog and then added another fabric flower to the middle a punched circle and the table number. We all can’t wait to see them on the tables on Saturday! Renae helped me make some of the flowers as there were 28 to make in total. Right, tick that off my list!

Secondly, I did Kim Archer’s first online Live Workshop yesterday and here’s the layout. Kim is a fantastic teacher and very tentative to her students. The classroom is great and works a treat, there were no hiccups at all making it a very pleasant experience. My layout ended up with 19 photos altogether which was the most I have ever used on a layout before (I think one I did for Judy last year came close though).

The outcome was exactly the way I envisioned it to be but I will say that it is not really me and that’s fine, this is why I do Kim’s classes because her style is so different to mine that I like to try new things! So mission accomplished and I highly recommend you take one of Kim’s online classes.

Thirdly, I am not a card maker (that’s Vicki’s forte) but Gemma is going to a party on Saturday and I thought I would make a card with all the scraps I have I thought that I should at least attempt it. I purchased a Quickutz Revolution last week and I love it!
I have actually used the insides of one of the flourish dies to make the flower and well the rest is pretty simple.



This morning I babysat Michelle’s little one, Harry and at 11 months he is just the cutest little thing to take photos of. So Mum agreed she would dress him appropriately (she was going to anyway because she knows me soooooo well! LOL) and I have the perfect light in our bedroom at the moment, see!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


Is anyone thinking about going to Crafting Connection in November in Sydney? I’m thinking about it, I have had so many good reports about it from friends that have attended previous ones.

Well if you have lasted this far, thank for visiting and I will report in on Sunday all about the Helping Hand Crop Day with lots of incrimnating photos! Until then, take care.

Monday, June 18, 2007

Urges, Lists, Helping Hand Crop Day

Resist the urge to drop everything. Instead, stay focused on the task at hand…………

This is something I have had major trouble in achieving lately! I have tidied my scrap room and made a new weekly schedule which I will fill in on a Sunday for the week beginning Monday (hopefully) and write everything down as it comes into my head.

I don’t know about you but I tend to get something out of my pantry for example and then see a cake that needs making and then get back to what I was doing and totally forget about the cake!
My solution, make a list write it down and work through it. It frustrates Steve no end, his list is in his head which means that he doesn’t have to account for it to anyone but himself. Although I do remember a “wheelie bin” episode some years back after which I made him sit down and write a list…….as I recall he did feel better.

This weekend has been busy and next weekend is even busier, for me anyway. Friday night I am off to see Human Nature and stay the night at my niece's place. Then Saturday is the Helping Hand Autism Crop Day............this has come around so quickly. Alli is madly getting last minute arrangements in place and I think the day is going to be full of fun. Alli is running some amazing raffles including this wonderful hand made album all ready to just add your photos to the pages......there are some fabulous artists that have contributed to this!

Even if you can't make it to the Crop Day you can still purchase tickets through Alli or leave me a comment or email and I will make some arrangements. Raffle values are between $180 and $250 and they are only $2.00 per ticket. There are heaps of other prizes to be won too!!!!!

OK I'm off to start checking things off my list!

Take care and have a great week.

Wednesday, June 13, 2007

Layout using Photoshop Friday photo

OK so here is the finished layout with the photo I altered using the Photoshop Friday tutorial last week.



Simple but effective!

Birthdays!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!



My baby is 13th today, wow where have the years gone Gemma? Happy Birthday sweetheart, we love you very much and hope all your dreams come true.

Celebrations are going to have to wait as Gemma dances tonight from 4-7pm and Renae is not home tonight either. So we hope to celebrate in a week or so when things are a little less hectic.

Another birthday today, my niece Paula turns 22! Happy Birthday to a gorgeous woman who we love lots. We hope your birthday is everything you hoped for and more.

Gosh this is even scarier as Steve and I met the week before Paula was born, it feels like a lifetime ago.

There was also another birthday on Monday, Rhiannon's Gemma's best friend who also turned 13th! Congratulations sweety and there are only exciting times ahead for you in the coming months and we wish you love and happiness.

Rhi is the young lady in the photo in my last post with her Sister Sami.

Thanks for checking in and have a great day.

Tuesday, June 12, 2007

Art, SC Colour Competition and Pool

Art

Over the last few months I have experimented with the types of mediums and projects that I use on a daily basis. For a while there I was surrounded by other artists who confidently use these different types of mediums very successfully. Therefore I thought I should embrace them and also be competent at using them……you know what…………I’m not!

I’m not comfortable using things like liquid nails (Michael will get a laugh out of this I’m sure LOL), I’m not comfortable just seeing where things take me. I have struggled with this recently and have really had internal arguments as to why I can’t just let go and let things happen. This has been a rocky and sometimes frustrating time for me but a time nonetheless that I think had to happen for me to realise I am who I am and darn proud of it. I have discovered my “style” so to speak and I like my style, other’s may not and that’s ok. I have to enjoy what I do with my “art” and just because I don’t like using liquid nails (just using this as an example) it only makes me different…..not wrong. Not that anyone else has ever said to me that I am wrong, more like I have said it to myself. Enjoyment is the key here, if you enjoy what you are doing and love the end result then that’s what counts.

SC Colour Competition

Here is my entry to the Scrapbook Creations Colour Competition.


Congratulations to the winner and runner’s up. Thank you to Chris Millar too for taking a photo of the Green and Black display at the Expo on the weekend, they all look awesome. The photo on this layout of Lis and myself was taken by Alli using Lis' camera (gotta get the credits in).

Pool

Well I can paint………….see

We finished the first coat on the pool on Sunday and we are about to head down there and put the second and final coat on now. I have paint from head to toe literally, I have blue feet!

Steve picked up the new bullnose limestone for the edge yesterday and we are putting a water feature in the top right corner of the pool using some of the large rocks we have on the property. We have also picked out a shade sail which will be suspended from the house to the large tree at the back of the pool. So we are getting closer. Steve has done an amazing job on this!
I have a layout on the go so I will hopefully finish today and post tomorrow.
Take Care.

Saturday, June 9, 2007

Photoshop Friday, Purging, Burning off & Pantry

I subscribe to Jessica Sprague's Photoshop Fridays and this week the tutorial was to turn your photo into a dreamy hand coloured photo....so today I played........

BEFORE.......................................AFTER.....

I love the results of this!
I've printed off the new photo and hopefully get a layout done in the next few days.


The last few days we have spent "purging" all the "stuff" you collect but don't really use. Tomorrow there is a Swap Meet up the valley a bit so the cars and trailer are all loaded and hopefully some more money into the holiday kitty for next year!

Steve also burned off a little and it's still smouldering outside. Having been through a bushfire here and coming very close we are cautious about burning off on a regular basis particularly around the house.



I cleaned out my pantry yesterday and I'm off to a Tupperware Party tonight to buy some more so I can sort some more.....does that make sense......here it is nice and tidy......yes my pantry is the size of a small bedroom!!!!!!!




That's it for this weekend......be back early next week.

Take Care!

Tuesday, June 5, 2007

Sick again

Well I haven't posted for a few days because we have all been sick again! Renae has a wrotten cold and can hardly breathe and Gemma had gastro on Sunday. Me, I woke up with a sore throat and a bit of a runny nose on Saturday but today I feel fine. So we stayed home all weekend and watched DVD's and vegged out. Kind of nice really. We were supposed to go to see Pirates of the Carribean 3 but that will have to wait until next weekend now.

Steve rang last night and we changed his ticket to come home today instead of tomorrow. Karratha has been windy since he stepped of the plane and all the fishing charters had been cancelled poor thing, all that new fishing gear and it hasn't even been used. So I picked him up from the airport this morning and he is already in the pool sanding back in preparation for the coating to go on. There's no stopping that man. The girls have missed him and are very much looking forward to seeing him this afternoon.

Not much scrapping to show for the last few days.

Oh, I purchased a Paper Pesto kit this month (they have sold out of the mini kit, but still have some Deluxe ones left) and it arrived today.........Wow what a gorgeous selection of products and definitely value for money, go check them out. I can't wait to use some of the yummy papers and embellishments.

Have you checked out Kim Archer's new website? Well worth a visit.

That's it for today! Enjoy your week.

Saturday, June 2, 2007

Yesterday's Layout



I did this layout yesterday of Michelle's little girls Sami, the girls had a Pupil Free day (gotta love 'em....not) so we all had a quiet day and vegged out a bit. I got all the washing done as the weather was fine and no one was burning off.

Thank you for all the lovely comments on the Soft Wraps....still alot of work to do but one step at a time.

Girls' night at my place tonight YAY!

Thanks for popping in to visit.

Friday, June 1, 2007

Soft Wraps Unveiled!!!!!!!!!!!!

I have had this project on the “drawing” board for some time and I have finally decided to launch the idea and get some feedback! Just a little nervous.

The product range will grow over time as new projects are developed and released.
But you have to start somewhere…..don’t you?




This hand made Soft Wrap Mini Album measures approx. 7 in x 7 in and is available in several different fabric combinations that would suit both male and female alike (see below). With the 3 hinged rings you can add as many pages or 6x6 inserts as you like. It secures in the front with a co-ordinating ribbon. They can be embellished with felt, buttons and embroidery according to a theme and would make a wonderful Baby album, Wedding Album, Birthday Book, etc etc etc the options are endless.

They don’t only need to be a Mini Album, if you punch holes in zip lock bags they can also be used for taking your supplies to crops and being soft covered and expandable they will hold copious amounts!!!!!!


Other Soft Wrap items I have on the way include a paint brush/knitting needle roll and pencil case for the obvious (pencils/pens) or for some of those awkward tools like files and punches.
I hope to have Soft Wraps set up on a separate blog in the coming weeks but until then if you are interested in purchasing a Soft Wrap Mini Album please email me and we can make the necessary arrangements.

Thanks for looking and if you have any queries or special orders, please email me.
I did this layout last night and it was inspired by those everyday moments I'm getting into but also the new Scrap the Teenz blog, some new layouts have now been posted so go check it out!