UR Beautiful LO

Would you believe I've managed to create a layout?!? It's taken me about two weeks to do, but I've finally finished (and at the last minute as usual!). This layout is for the Once Upon a Sketch August 15th challenge, but it's also one that I've been meaning to do for a while. I really love the lyrics to the Mercy Me song that I used, Beautiful and so the challenge was the perfect nudge for me to get the layout idea out of my head! Hope you like it! :D

Credits: Ten Reasons kit by TReed; Krafty Journal Spots by KPertiet; Words of Beauty by AEdwards;
White Frames by SSchmutz; Fonts - Pristina, Bradley Hand

*hugs*

A Layout to Share

I love using sketches, and I love this new challenge blog (Once Upon A Sketch) that has only recently started up. Their challenges combine gorgeous sketches with great journalling prompts, which I think is great as I'm starting to learn to document the stories rather than just scrapping pretty pictures.

When I saw the sketch for the current challenge, I couldn't resist and knew it would be perfect for my growing tummy photos. Of course, being the procrastinator I am, the LO has taken me all week to do and I uploaded this at the very last moment! LOL (Thanks to Blogger, I unfortunately had to link to my Flickr page rather than this lovely blog post in order to make the deadline!)

Here's the sketch:

And here's my LO:

Credits: My Wonderland Kit by KLewis; Flower stamp from Spring Vine Borders by MWise; Title from Pregnancy Brush by AEdwards; Strip Templates by LWeifenbach; Tab Journals by JBullock; Journalling font - LD Soccer Mom by ScrapNFonts

Click on the picture to get a bigger view. The journalling reads: Here I am in the last 3 months of pregnancy. What a journey it has been! It's been quite interesting watching both my tummy AND you growing, and now it's almost time to meet you!

Apart from taking part in challenges on UKScrappers (which I haven't done now for a loooong time!), this is my very first entry to a Challenge blog. How exciting!

Thanks for looking! :D

*hugs*

Spring Training with Ella Publishing

Not that it's Spring here, so I guess for me it's Autumn Training with Ella Publishing! LOL

This online course started on Monday (it's not too late to sign up and join me!) although with the time differences, I didn't get the first prompt until Tuesday and by the time I procrastinated, it's Wednesday. LOL

Anyhoo, the first exercise was to examine my signature scrapbooking style. Looking back at the layouts I've done (click HERE to go to my Flickr Photostream to see all my layouts), I was supposed to choose three favourites, but that proved too difficult, so I've chosen six!

(Click on each thumbnail to see the larger picture)





From these six layouts, I've come to the following conclusions:

• I like to use bright colours or muted colours, never mixing the two.
  
• My journalling tends to be more emotional than factual and arranged in blocks rather than all over the place. I like to hand-write my journalling or use a hand-writing style font when digi scrapping.
  
• My titles are short and of a horizontal orientation using letters cut on the Craft Robo or fonts made to look like letters/stickers on digi layouts.
  
• I like a symmetrical design, often using a "shelf" for the photos to sit on.
  
• The backgrounds are usually plain - neutral or white, and there's often some white space for the eye to rest.
  
• Embellishments are often minimal and placed at the corners of the design triangle. I like to mix and match products on paper layouts, but use what's already in a kit in digi layouts - go figure!
  
• Scrapping single 4x6 photos is a definite favourite! I don't tend to process my photos much so what you see is often straight out of the camera.
  
• Techniques I like to use are stamping (ink or digi), inking edges, border punches, and faux stitching or subtle line doodling.
  

Do you think that sums up my scrapbooking style? What do you think is your scrapbooking style?

*hugs*

A Lovely Day and the Play Chair

For the first time in about two weeks, I actually had an enjoyable day! I didn't feel as sick and tired today as I have been so we decided to make the most of that and venture out. Okay, so the main purpose of today was to go and get groceries, but sometimes the simplest tasks can lead to other more enjoyable things - like a nice brunch in a Katoomba cafe; a surprising lack of crowds in the supermarket (on a Saturday morning); everything I needed to buy being in stock(!); sunshine on a gorgeous autumn day (which then turned to rain by the afternoon, but at least I saw the sun today!!); a lovely impromptu picnic lunch by Wentworth Falls Lake, finding a HUGE dog park (old unused golf course) that we could take the dogs to and then enjoying a nice, uneventful and peaceful evening. I definitely need to enjoy these moments as I'm sure I won't get much peace AFTER baby arrives! LOL

Anyhoo, here's another LO I did during the week:

Credits: Echo Park Walk In The Park PPs and ticket; Dog Moments rub-on and paw prints from Dog Gone Cute by Mindy Terasawa; Dog sticker, bone charm and staple from Dog Park by Katie Pertiet; Title font: An Accidental Kiss; Journalling font: SS Play; Template by Splendid Fiins. Created in PS CS4.

We've been really neglectful of the dogs since I became pregnant and virtually incapacitated most of the time. They haven't had their daily walks and are becoming a bit feral! In order to combat this (although I do know it's not the best solution), we play indoor fetch with them of an evening in addition to small training sessions throughout the day (when I'm not working). We started to sit in a chair to play fetch with them and being dogs, they picked up really quickly that whenever we sat in "the chair", a game of fetch would ensue. Unfortunately this means that we can't even touch the chair without the dogs going ballistic and thinking that they were going to get a game of fetch! Thus the Play Chair was born. LOL

Hope you're having a fantastic weekend!

*hugs*

Oh my, is that another layout?!?!

Shock horror, yes, I quite think it is!!! LOL

Credits: Blue Sonata Kit by Mindy Terasawa; Scallop Template #5 by Crystal Wilkerson
(from Tons of Scallops Template Kit); Title font - Cafe Rojo; Journalling font - Angelina. Made with Photoshop CS4.

Early last week, as I made my way along the Ella Publishing Blog Hop to launch their new eBook, Scrapbooking the Everyday, I noticed several layouts documenting the mundane task of doing the laundry.

I must admit I don't often think about documenting such mundane topics as housework, but I'm a scrapbooker, right? Therefore there is no subject in the world that is off limits to being documented on a scrapbook page!

Once the idea of scrapbooking the laundry took hold, it wouldn't let go. So after I loaded up the washing machine, I grabbed the camera and took a few shots. After several hours of digi element procrastination and Photoshop manipulation, the above layout was produced. I can't say that the journalling came easily and indeed, I'm not that happy with it, but my creative brain is struggling with anything interesting to say about laundry! If I do come up with something better, I'll change it. Or perhaps you have some suggestions? How would the journalling to your laundry layout read?

This was a very interesting exercise for me and it has certainly broadened my mind as to the things I can scrapbook. I suppose I've always known this, but to actually put it into practice is a totally different matter. Regardless of the fact that I'm not particularly keen on remembering how I did the laundry, perhaps future generations will be interested. Isn't that what scrapbooking is all about in the end - preserving memories for future generations?!? And perhaps in the end, that is all that matters. :D

*hugs*

Six (and a bit) Months

Wow. Can you believe it? It's been six months already. Well, a bit over six months as I've now just passed 25 weeks. I finally have a baby bump that makes me look pregnant instead of just overly fat! I've had to bite the bullet and buy some maternity wear as items in my wardrobe are becoming quite tight and uncomfortable. We've also been buying all sorts of items in preparation for the baby, and hopefully I'll fill you in on all this in another post.

It hasn't been the easiest journey to this point in time and I'm not optimistic about the next three months - emphasised by the fact that I'm feeling quite ill and exhausted as I'm typing this post. I'm impatient for things to return to normal even though part of me knows that once bubby arrives, NOTHING is going to be normal or ever the same again. In some ways I grieve that, even though I know I'm embarking on a whole new adventure which is going to take me waaaay out of my comfort zone! For reasons I don't want to share publically, I'm not looking forward to this new phase of life, but God knows what's He's doing even if I don't!

On a more positive note, baby has been VERY active and it makes me wonder if she's as impatient to be out in the world as I am for her to be?!? LOL So far all the signs have been good and I'm to present myself to the hospital next week for "booking in" - whatever that entails! If baby doing somersaults in my tummy isn't enough to enforce the reality of my pregnancy, I'm sure that the hospital visits and ante-natal classes will!

Now, is that a LO I spy?!? Oh my, it certainly is!! :D

Credits: Adorableness kit by Traci Reed; Template from Traditional Templates II by Scrapping with Liz;
Journalling font - Angelina. Made with Photoshop CS4.

This must be my first layout in about three months. I did manage a few digi layouts for the UKS Christmas Crop last year, which I didn't share on the blog, but you'll find them in my Flickr. I do prefer the touchy-feely aspect of physical scrapping, but in the absence of the energy and stamina needed to sit at my craft desk, digi scrapping is very handy indeed.

*hugs*

True Scrap

Some of you may have heard of the awesome scrapbooking event coming up in April called True Scrap - three days of awesome classes and make-and-takes by some of the top names in the scrapbooking industry. If you don't know what I'm talking about, check this out (click on the image for more information):

Looks great, huh? Well, I'm ecstatic to say that yours truly managed to win herself a place in this awesome event! How cool is that?!? I'm definitely looking forward to it.

Now I just have to figure out what time I need to be up as the classes will be based on US Eastern time, which will be about 14 hours behind. That makes it sound more difficult and gruelling than a UKS Cybercrop!! LOL The fact that I've got other things planned for that weekend will make things interesting too. Never mind, I'm sure I'll figure a way around all these hurdles!! :D

Will I see you there in the classes too?!?

*hugs*

TILT - Things I Love Thursday

Welcome to the second installment of TILT - Things I Love Thursday.

I went out to lunch with Gus this week and to my delight, I discovered that my local Deli is now stocking Byron Bay Coffee Company's Chocolate Covered Coffee Beans! Woo hoo! These are the most delicious chocolate covered coffee beans I've ever tasted. AND they come in dark chocolate - heaven!!

So today, I'm thankful for the simple pleasures in life - like finding my local deli selling one of my favourite treats. :D

(Click for larger view)

Elements used: Jen Martakis DSD 2009 Digi template from 2Peas; Farrah's Designer Scraps Give A Little papers (recoloured), flower and sequins. This is my first digi layout completely done in Photoshop - whoo hoo!!

*hugs*

Bubble Tea!!!

Here's a layout I did for the Sketch & Scrap Social Group on UKS. It was following this sketch:

And here's my layout (as always, click for larger views - you'll be taken to my Flickr account as I've finally got the links to work properly!):

Some close-up photos:

Gus and I love getting bubble teas, from either Gumballs or Easyway, although we're missing both terribly as there are none of these stores out west and DEFINITELY nothing like them in the Mountains!! I might have to learn to make my own. LOL

I had lots of fun with this layout and it makes me happy because it's so bright and colourful (and fun!).

Materials used: Sassafras Lass Sunshine Lollipop papers and stickers; buttons and flower ribbon from general stash; really cute and adorable bubble tea "stickers" were made from a graphic designed by "Mepokeyou" on DeviantArt (copyright remains with Mepokeyou); pink Staedtler pen; fonts were manipulated in Illustrator; printed out from the computer and punched out with a circle punch or hand cut and I used Boring Lesson ("Bubble") and You Wish You Were A Shirley ("Tea").

Thanks for stopping by!

*hugs*

TILT - Things I Love Thursday

A recent blog post by Shimelle contained a link to a scrapbooker by the name of Joy Madison. I quite like her scrapbooking style and I'm really taken with her heartfelt and very honest blog posts.

Last Thursday she restarted her weekly posts, TILT - Things I Love Thursday. She invited others to participate too and I've put my hand up. It sounds like a wonderful thing to do and I might even incorporate some things I'm grateful for as well as things I love. TILT is going to be great therapy for me as I really do need to be reminded of the things I love and am grateful for rather than continually dwelling on the things I hate or things that annoy/frustrate me.

If you want to participate too - pop on over to Joy's blog, let her know and she'll add you to the list!

So, for my first TILT post*, here is what I love:

(Click for larger view)

Of course, it's my hubby - Gus!!

I've known Gus now for 11 years and we've been married for 9 of those 11 years. He is a gentle, caring man who loves me unconditionally - which makes it easier for him to put up with my ever changing moods! He has taught me to be optimistic rather than pessimistic; to think logically and practically instead of emotionally (although I definitely need heaps more practice with this one!); to see things from a different point of view; and reminds me to remain grounded when life gets too overwhelming.

Today I love my awesome hubby.

(PS. That's not to say that I don't love him every other day!! I do! LOL)

*hugs*



* Just for clarification, none of these TILT posts will be in any preferential order. They'll be in order of whatever I can think up on the day! LOL

Rumble Layout

I did a layout last week that I want to share with you all. It was done for the UKS Sketches SG.

This was the sketch (from the Scrap-a-gogo Create & Co blog):

And this is my version of it:

More close-up photos:

Supplies used: Basic Grey Max & Whiskers, DCWV cardstock, Autumn Leaves "Pete's Dog" Clear Stamps, HeroArts "I Love My Dog" Clear Stamps, title printed and cut out (font used was Graphic Attitude), green DMC embroidery thread, white & black pens, silver brad.

I'm not completely happy with it as I think it looks very boring, but I'm very short on ideas for dog embellishments and how to make this layout look any better. Leave me a comment and let me know what you think. :D

*hugs*

Oh my! Stash Delivery Ecstasy

It's stocktake sale time in Aus and I've been having a ball going through all my favourite scrapping stores and buying up big. I know that my recent teeny pay rise probably wouldn't even cover half of ONE order, but I am so helpless when I see "__% off" emails/signs. LOL

So, here are the first three orders that have arrived over the past week.

The first one was absolutely huge!! Here are the papers:

Here is the rest of the order:

The second order was a bit smaller and was just paper with a Sakura pen as well:

This shop I bought from have a freebie every week for lucky person and yours truly received the freebie this time, yay!! And what a fantastic freebie - a huge lot of chipboard shapes from Scrapware. Chipboard heaven!! LOL

Finally, I received a huge order of ribbons that are all absolutely divine!

"So, are we going to be seeing any of that gorgeous stash on any layouts anytime soon?!?" I hear you ask. Short answer? No.

Not until I'm done stroking. LOL

*hugs*

New Life Layout

Well, this week it's the Urban Faeries Team who are hosting the Weekly Challenge over on UKS. That's my team if you haven't already guessed. LOL

We had five elements to the challenge:

1. Make your own background or patterned paper
2. Embossing
3. Stamping
4. Use summer colours
5. Use lace

So here's my example layout:

Close-up shot:

Journalling close-up:

I made my own patterned paper by dabbing ink through an Impressibilities stencil onto orange paper. With the yellow cardstock, I used a Fiskars Embossing Border Punch to create the lacey border. The stamped elements were the little birdies and the journalling circle. The lace is pretty self-explanatory. LOL Finally, I did use Summery colours. Sort of. I couldn't help that by "going-with-the-flow", my summery colours tended towards late-Autumn-early-Spring colours! LOL

Right, well here are the materials used (are you ready?!): Bazzill White CS; Grant Archival orange paper; DCWV yellow & aqua CS; Spellbinders Flowers Impressibilities; Fiskars Eyelet Lace Embossing Border Punch; MS Arched Lattice Corner & Border punch set; Kaisercraft gems; Prima E-Line Celebrations Bright flowers; Green Tara mini flowers; The Paper Co Whimsical Birds clear stamps & Kaisercraft Journal clear stamps; Distress Ink Peeled Paint; Memento Dye Inks rose Bud & New Sprout; Green Sakura pen; Blue & Orange Whispers Markers; Staedtler pink pen; ribbon and lace unknown; Font for title is Storybook Regular, cut on CraftRobo. Lastly, I used a Pagemap Sketch from the first Pagemaps book.

I had fun doing this layout, although stressing at the same time because I was winging it along the way with regards to all the elements. LOL As I tend to scrap mostly in muted Autumn tones, I had to dig through practically every box in my craftroom just to find brightly coloured stash! Note to self: throw more bright coloured stash into shopping cart when stash shopping.

Oh, and what happened to the second week of Jessica Sprague's Cardmaking course and the rest of Shimelle's course?!?! Um . . . coming up in the near future!

Or perhaps not so near . . .

Stay tuned!

*hugs*

Shimelle's Love Your Pictures Love Your Pages

I signed up for my first formal Shimelle course last month - Love Your Pictures Love Your Pages and it started today.

Well, it technically started yesterday (5 July 2010), but with all the time differences (Aus, UK, US), I didn't start until late last night and not really properly until today! Considering it was close to midnight last night by the time I saw the challenges, I wasn't going to stay up any longer to post them here!

Anyway, Shimelle had posted two challenges to do before the official prompts. Challenge 1 was to find a photo that makes me smile. This was hard because there are a lot of photos that make me smile! But here is one of my favourites:

Wherever we go, if there's a ball to be found, Falcon will find it - even if the ball is almost bigger than him. And yes, he will want to play fetch with it. LOL

Challenge 2 was to take a picture within the next five minutes (of having read the challenge). So I took this one of Falcon sleeping in MY chair!! Incidentally, we had ordered two new leather recliners and they arrived last Friday. Since then the dogs have spent more time in the recliners than I have. LOL

I really love this photo. Without trying, it turned out perfect with the leading lines, the thirds and the nice depth of field towards the back. The lighting was just right too as I bounced the flash off the ceiling, but left enough shadow to make it look quite moody. Maybe I'll even turn it into B&W and see how it turns out? We'll see.

Stay tuned for more Shimelle and Photography goodness (I'm already two prompts behind!!! *rolleyes*)! :D

*hugs*

My New Hat Layout

Well, as promised earlier on in the week (although a little late I know!), here is the layout.

I pretty much used all Kaisercraft products and the paper range is Prairie Lane. I spent FOREVER cutting out all the flower/snowflaky things and my hands and arms are still trying to recover!

The journalling reads: "Winterfest 2010: After hours of enduring the freezing cold, I finally had enough and brought a hat to at least keep my head warm!!" And yes, I realised afterwards that I should have used "bought" instead of "brought", but I couldn't do anything to fix it! They should make brown liquid paper. LOL

Here are some close ups of the flowers:

Thanks for stopping by!

*hugs*

Prima Goodness!

Remember how one of my layouts won the UKS CC recently?  Well, my gorgeous prize of Prima flowers finally arrived today, and they are simply stunning!

Thanks heaps to Lou of Creative Craft World for the gorgeous flowers, and for sending them all the way to Australia!

They cheered me up heaps today too as I've got a cold and feeling pretty yuck!

Now, what to do with them? ;)

*hugs*