Easter and Layouts

Sorry I haven't been around for a while but I really needed to focus on some other "computer" things lately like my new website which is under construction, I'll let you know when it's ready for launch! Exciting stuff. I'm scratching the old grey matter though when it comes to creating drop down menus but it's slowly coming back to me!!!!

We spent a very low key Easter at home - I think it's the first Easter we have been at home for about 10 years! Good Friday was jetskiing on the Canning River and BBQ tea with friends, lots of fun. We even managed to get the "old" boys in the donuts, very funny! I even went for a spin (now my bum fits in one LOL) - never laughed so much in a long time - or screamed - Steve was driving and Gemma was spotting! A certain piece of my anatomy already mentioned above was very sore the next day - very uncomfortable. Would I do it again? - you bet!

The rest of the weekend was spent at home relaxing and enjoying some down time - Steve managed a few chores and I got lots of cooking and knitting done. Steve's socks are done - just need to learn how to block them and the vest is coming along nicely, I've nearly finished the back.

Here are the layouts I promised I'd be back with in my last post.

First 2 I completed at the Wave Rock Retreat (just needed to add some finishing touches to them when I got home)....


The next 2 I did at Tomorrow's Memories Moonlight Scrap the other week.

A little bit crooked but they are straight IRL.

OK I have 5 Softwrap covers to make today so I had better get my recovering bum off this computer.

Bye for now.

P.S. A question if I may.....Do you like blogs with.....

A. Lots of words?

B. Mainly images?

C. A bit of both?

Just something I was thinking about over the weekend whilst reading Blogging Tips

P.P.S. I have fallen victim to Twitter too, you can see my updates on my side bar! I'm still not on Facebook though.....there is only so much a girl can keep up to date.

Three!

On Saturday I attended a 12 hour crop (I think I lasted about 10 hours) at Tomorrow's Memories - it was a lot of fun and the theme of the crop was "Australia Day" - I'll leave the rest to your imagination! Anyway the girls did a terrific job as always in hosting the day with lots of prizes, specials and FUN!

I was on a mission and managed to get 1 layout completely done and 2 others 90% finished. So this morning I finished them all off and thought I might share.....

I'm sorry if they are a little wonky but the evaporative air-con here is playing havoc with my layouts - they are straight I promise!

The girls started school yesterday - Renae Year 12 and Gemma Year 10 - and for the first time since we moved out to Bullsbrook they have a door to door bus. No more driving for me!!!!!!! You see they are at school in Ellenbrook which is about a 25 min drive each way - 2 hours in the car a day. But no more - the government finally came to the party with School Buses which run right past our front door. Yesterday, I didn't go anywhere and just enjoyed the peace and quiet at home. Very nice indeed.

Tomorrow's Memories have asked me to be their guest designer so I have been working on 2 layouts - 1 down and 1 to go - this afternoon's project. Hopefully I will be back sometime soon with some sneak peaks.

Also the lovely Karen from Scrappin' Outback is well into plans for the next Wave Rock Retreat to be held in Hyden on 27th - 29th of March 2009. If you are interested then please contact her - these weekends are awesome and such good value.

Well that's about it for now - Take care and if you have been sewltering in the heat then try and stay cool.

Some creativity!

I have managed to do a layout today and thought I would share as it is soooo long since I posted anything creative.

It's a pretty simple one using: Kraft Cardstock, Black Bazzill cut with my scallop blade, 7 Gypsies Gaffer Tape (YUM!), KI Elsie - Jack & Abby Apron Dot fabric paper (this is self adhesive!), Thickers Felt letters and American Craft MiniMarks Rub-ons.

Last week I got my Zutter - Bind-It-All so I thought I would try it out today and I made this little notebook as a gift.....

I have used the same KI Elsie - Jack & Abby Apron Dot fabric paper as the layout above and because it's self adhesive it makes it really easy to do the covers and I just cut a smaller square to cover the inside covers. I had to use a thinner cardboard as it only just fitted inside the Bind-It-All.

Don't forget the competition over at my website - http://www.sharonmanning.com.au/

We are also starting up a Circle Journal! If you are interested, then check out the Messageboard and sign up.

I photographed my Brother-In-Law's dogs yesterday and here are a couple of good ones.....

They are so well trained that getting them to sit still was easy!

Well that's about it - I hope to get some more time in my scrap room this week so you may just see some more from me before Friday.

Have a good week!

Layouts, Wedding, Costume

This past week has been a bit busy to say the least. I managed to sort out my Photoshop issues - but not sure how because it just started working again on it's own - maybe it just needed a rest!

So here are some layouts to share that I completed at Hyden.....

On Sunday I was fortunate enough to photograph a wedding. A friend of a friend was getting married and agreed I could come along as a 2nd photographer so that I could gain some experience photographing Weddings! I was very conscious of stepping on the photographers toes so I stayed in the background and shot from behind which wasn't ideal but hey I got to learn heaps and feel much more confident now that perhaps I could do a wedding myself!

Anyway here is one of my favourites....I'm sure the bride won't mind me posting just one.

The other main thing I have been working on is a Dance Costume for Gemma for her solo competitions during the school holidays......lots of yummy purple velvet and silver beading and sequining. Here's a sneak look at the bottom of her sleeve, now I have some more to do on the front of the costume and it should be finished.

There are not enough hours in the day at the moment and everyone in this house is looking forward to the school holidays and some sleep-ins. I know I am.

Stay safe everyone!

Summer = Beach

This is todays effort - I have returned to my original style of scrapping I think with this layout and I can honestly say that it's the most comfortable I have been with my scrapping for quite a while! Liking the photo too helps.
Thanks for looking!

Another week gone!

Wow I can't believe it's the 4th March today - 2 months of this year gone already! Week 5 of school and Easter is just around the corner.

Being a long weekend here I have managed to catch up on things around the house so this left me some time to scrap. Here are 3 layouts all done yesterday....

Gotta love the We Are Memory Keepers White Out range of papers (MaDscraps stock them) - these kind of papers really end up doing all the work for you. The journaling on this one reads "You are so different in so many ways, yet you are difinitely sisters. You say the same things, ask the same questions and have the same smile!"

It felt great to actually get some scrapping done for me.....I have a pile of photos to get through sitting here on my desk....maybe I should take a leaf out of Alli's book!

I have scheduled the next Scrappy Sunday for the 20th April and already we are fully booked!! The response has been amazing....thanks girls! I can start a waitlist if you like, so if you are keen to come along let me know and if there are any cancellations then you can have a spot. I think Steve is going to have to build me a workshop!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The sneak peeks for all the classes Hyden Retreat have gone up on Karen's blog so go take a look see because there are some awesome classes lined up!

I hope to get some more creating done this week so hopefully I will be back with more show and tell!

Have a great week everyone.

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!