A Butterfly and a Box for Cards

Here in Australia we are now nearly at the end of our first month of Autumn, meaning colder weather etc....NOT HERE, it's ridiculous, we are still getting 30 degree days...I'm over the hot weather....Bring on Winter. Ok with that of my chest, had a great (busy) weekend. Easter is thankfully a week away, and I'm so looking forward to the mini holiday...just have to get through the next four days.

My best friends daughter celebrated her 6th Birthday today, so in true Aussie style, BBQ, Pool fun and great company (with alot of laughs)...Oh and the food was deliciously endless. Each year I have made Alana a Little Mini Album, so this years was in the shape of a Butterfly, with photos that I took of her two weeks ago.

"Happy Birthday Gorgeous Girl" 

I have used Basic Greys "Nook and Pantry" range, Tim Holtz Distress Stickles, Prima Crystal Swirls and Flowers, as well as a range of different ribbons and laces.

Inside Pages of the Mini Album.




















With teaching twice a week my stash of scraps is increasing at a rapid pace. Recently I have gotten myself into the habit of making quick simple cards with my leftovers after I finish each project.. A little idea popped into my head....I covered this wooden stationary holder with a lovely range from "Delish", placed my cards and envelops within and took them to work...It's been great, all the cards are selling, each week I add more, I'm getting  cash for what I considered scraps, and I have more room in my Scrap Room. This picture is of the box filled with cards .















Here I have taken the picture without any cards so you can see the lovely papers and the liitle money box that I made ( the handle lifts up)...cute hey...Wooden swirls from Kaiser,Chipboard Letters inked then sprayed with Glimmer mist and a little sign post which I use to place the cost for the cards...all add up to a very useful Stationary Box.

A few close-up Pictures.


I hope you have enjoyed my two Off the Page Projects, pop back in a couple of days as I will be sharing some layouts completed recently.

"Summer Fun" and "My Story"

It's nice to sit down and know that you have absolutely nothing to do ( Ok well nothing to important that can't wait for another day)...I have been without technology for the last four days, so over the weekend I've been busy landscaping a section of my backyard...(I love sitting back and admiring newly planted plants) and have hung up some picture frames (after much deliberation in where to put them hahaha). This weekend is nearly over and another mammoth work week ahead but.....the Easter break is nearly here (two weeks, let the counting down begin).

The following two layouts are from My Monday night Advanced Course....the girls were in fine form in these classes...whinged the entire time LOL (You know you girls Rock)...they like to be challenged with new techniques...so each layout here has 2 diffferent ways of making flowers...

My Dear S.I.L  on Holidays at Palm Cove (yes she is wearing a Bikini Top). I have used the 7 Gypsies "Venice Collection" and I have tried to use differnet textures to reflect parts of the Photo. I have used the 7G tape but with a twist, very carefully and slowly (because it's super sticky) I have pleated it into circles to form 2-3 layers for a flower, finishing it off with a large brad in the middle. The Chipboard letters were inked, stamped with script writing then finished off with Glossy accents and LOL nearly everything else is inked.

A Few Close-Up Photos

Using G.C.D Studios Papers, Tim Holtz Embellishments and a few other little touches, this is Me and a Layout of My Story so far (well a review of 2009).  Here I have made flowers out of Dress Making paper (I saw this technique on Julie Dudley's blog)...after the layers were adhered together, the edges were inked and  T.H stickles in Rust painted over parts of the flower. 

A Few Close-Up Pictures

A Bit of Basic

After a Great relaxing weekend...I'm winding down...Tomorrow well another busy week at work. The following two layouts were taught as classes at Scraploot and feature "Nook & Pantry" and "Origins" from Basic Grey.




















It's almost impossible to get a good Photo with the kids now, one is either pulling faces and the other looking away....so in saying that this is one of those rare photos. I cut up alot of strips which were inked then placed them behind the template that sits on top. The chipboard flourish was inked and then had Crackle glossy accents applied to the top.

A Few Close-Up Pictures.

My Dear friends "S" and "K" at my party...You girls rock...A Fairly simple layout with all the elements being inked and lifted with magic mount.

Graphic 45 Finalist

WOW WOW WOW.... While scrapping with friends last night, I was surfing the net while they were all chatting, I popped over to the Graphic 45 Blog and saw that they had annouced the 20 Finalists for there New Design Team. As I scrolled down there was me...OMG I was so excited that I had been picked...needless to say my friends couldn't work out what I was raving on about but after I showed them they were pleased as punch for me. I'm very humbled to be amoungst so much talent...and with one more round to go...I will have to wait and see....Being a Finalist at Graphic 45, I'm already over the moon.

So to keep with the theme...I will show a little sneak peak off some of my upcoming classes featuring "Le' Romantique" and "A Proper Gentleman" ranges from G45.

Have a Great Weekend.

Class Layouts and a Birthday Wish

What a crazy couples of weeks it's been. I have just recovered from a two week battle with the Flu (Yuk). Work has continued to be extremely busy with more hard weeks ahead. There has also been alot of other bits and pieces  happening but I would be here for ever . My classes are know fully up and running, and all the girls are having alot of fun getting back into the swing of  things.

On another note over the weekend my family got together to celebrate my eldest brothers Birthday...we had such a great time, lots of photos were snapped and  I'm sure some will start appearing in future layouts.

Happy Birthday "I"...Luv You heaps.

Isn't he just so handsome...OK I'm extremely biased but my Nephew is just so cute...This is a layout I completed for a class over at Scraploot.These papers from Websters were perfect for this picture. I bladed out the centre panel then rolled the sides back adding another panel underneath. With the sides rolled, I threaded some weaved ribbon right around and finished with a loose knot.

A Few Close-Up Pictures

I'm truly blessed to have so many awesome close friends... "Z" has been with me all my life...growing up together..living through the good times and the hard...she is an angel...These pictures are from my Birthday bash late last year. Here I have used the lovely earthy range from My Minds Eye.

A few Close-Up Pictures.

Double Basic Grey

People that know me, know that I'm not a huge fan of Summer. Ok, when your not working it's okay, trips to the Beach, Relaxing, Swimming etc but when your at work and the humidity is up to 99% , it's ridiculous. Bring on the cooler weather because what we are experiencing here in Sydney is miserable, rainy then boiling hot tropical weather.

With that of my chest... here are two layouts that I created for my Advanced course that I'm teaching. Both feature two very different ranges from Basic Grey.

The Little Princess giving me hugs and having a little chit chat with me.I must admit I wasn't the biggest fan of the "Origins" range, but with the vibrant tones of yellow, pastel greens and hints of black, it won me over. I'm also loving the new Martha Stewart Punch that I have used for this layout. Inspiration came from a Beggahuna Sketch. 

A Few Close-up Pictuures.

Purple is one of  those colours that I call "scary"...I just never gravitate to it nor do I ever choose it for any personal layouts, but one of the girls I teach requested it...and like the layout above loved it once I had it all finished. Using the "Wisteria" range, here is another wedding layout that will eventually be placed in an album for my Brother and S.I.L.

A Few Close-up Pictuures.

Favourite Photos Mini Book

Just a quick post tonight...I just come back from a great little birthday party that was held for my nephew. With the weather being absolutely shocking (torrential rain, humidity and high winds)...his party was held inside at his family home. All the family had a great time and so did he.

The following mini book was created for a class over at Scraploot. Embossed Chipboard, Graphic 45 and lots of great embellishments helped me put together all my favourite photos from the last couple of years (alot of them have featured in my layouts). Some pages I haven't included to keep the privacy of those that have requested it....but here are most of them.

Take care until next time.

Five Birthday Wishes and a New School

These may look like your average school shoes, clean, no scuff marks and all shiny and new...but to me it marks the first day of a new era. My dear nephew has grown up and so on  Friday the 29th January,  he started Kindergarten .There was no tears to be seen just a big smile and alot of  excitement......It's just to soon.

Four days later, another  Milestone for him .....Today  was his 5th Birthday. The cuddles and kisses are still there as always...but I know time does not stop and before long I know he will be all grown up.

"HAPPY BIRTHDAY MY GORGEOUS BOY"

The following layouts all feature My Munchkin...

Nine Months old...at the Wedding of my Brother and S.I.L.

While working on this layout I had envisaged using other photos, but because I needed it A.S.A.P for a class  I went through my existing stash of photos and found all these....abit flowery for a boy I know.Since then I have decided to leave them just where they are (I'm sure he will have a few words to say about it in years to come :)

Definately the "Little Man" now....

Love You to the Moon and Back, and Back , and Back.

Three Layouts,Three Styles.

Nearly the Weekend....Yeh, I'm repeating myself but it has so far been beyond busy this week at work and I'm so needing a Mini-break, one more day to go. This was also a week of Birthdays, my dear friends  gorgeous TWO year old munchkin and my dear younger brother..."Happy Birthday to you Both" Hugs and Kisses.

The following three layouts are all very different from eachother....I love pushing my own boundaries, but I will always favour the shabby chic, distressed, heritage style of scrapping...Enjoy.

Graphic 45, Lace, Chipboard, Inks and Ribbons ....can't get any better then that.This is the other photo from my friends masquarade party ( and yes I also made the mask as well)

I normally don't work with "brights" but this range from Basic Grey was just to cute.My Little nephew being a little poser in front of the camera.

This is an old stash layout but the layout was inspired from a Qdiggity Sketch. This little Boy, dear "N" just celebrated his 2nd Birthday, it's amazing how time flies.

As Promised.....

Hi all, Well work is now definately heading into that lovely zone of  "Get me Out of Here"...it's too busy, way to soon, and unfortunately I can't see it easing off for awhile...but I'm so excited about this coming Australia Day Long weekend....4 Days of Beach Bliss (Heading to the Coast with some dear friends)...so now to get through the next 4 days. So as promised here are some sneak peaks of upcoming classes.

This may sound crazy but yes next months Class layouts have been submitted and now waiting for February to begin...For those of you that live in Sydney pop over to Scraploot and check out the Timetable...Hope to see you there.

These are 6 of the 8 Layouts now completed for the Advanced Course that teach...New Techniques and some Great New Papers. The Girls before going on Holidays requested certain themed layouts, so with my thinking cap on these are the designs I came up with. So as the classes are taught I will be posting them straight away...so stay tuned.

A Little Bit of Graphic 45

Air-conditioning, Heat and Humidity....Welcome to the middle of January....How much longer till Summer is over? Well I've been a Busy Bee over the last couple of Weeks, I am half way through My Advanced Course layouts ( all the papers and embellishments etc are picked yeh) ....sorry I haven't posted my sneak peaks for my February classes ( it's on my to-do list :)......I must say I am on a roll at the moment....three more weeks till the girls are back and with a few received calls.... they are itching to scrap all their holiday photos. Work is continuing now at a normal pass, and the backyard landscaping is coming along at a snails pace (Okay the heat is getting to me LOL)

The following layout and Mini Book are long over due posts, both projects being completed mid last year...they have been happily living over at Scraploot.

Using Graphic 45 papers, lovely laces, Pearls and some Metal embellies, I loved working with  all the lovely delicate colours. The photo, well, yes it's mini me...gotta love those chubba cheeks and the super cool 70's retro curtains. Sketch idea came from Page Maps.

Sue over at Scraploot asked me for an idea for a mini book...I suggested an old fashioned Pram ( something a little different)....and before I knew it...one was waiting for me (she is brilliant at sourcing out suppliers). I originally had other pictures in mind but ended up using a few of my baby pics.

A Grandmothers Love

Just a Quick Post tonight, well with New Years behind me now, I'm plodding away at work , while most are away on holidays (I'm going away later in the year)...It's actually not to bad I'm in cruise mode as things are fairly quiet.

I've made a few changes to my blog ( it's still growing on me ), and I have finished my layouts for February classes over at Scaploot ( I will post some sneak peaks in a couple of days for those that live in Sydney) ...and now the magic wand will have to start putting together layouts for My Advanced Course (the girls choose to have a break and we will resume classes 1st February).

I love this photo of my Nephew and Mum, they are like two peas in a pod. I have cut out all the PP squares then adhered them onto chipboard, placing them at different heights. The whole sheet was bladed but only the centre panel then the entire middle (with the swirls and flowers holding the frame)..another PP was then taped to the back (the reddish one showing through)...Beads, Ribbon and a Flourish to finish it off.

Mothers Day 2009, and of course lots of Cuddles and Kisses were given at every opportunity. A little bit of a photo shoot after we all spoilt Mum. This layout was for the Design Team at Scraploot.

Welcome to "2010"

Well 2010, is finally here...I hope everyone had a great New Years Eve celebration, I know I did and had one of the most relaxing days ever on the the first day of the year.

 I got up today needing to start moving my body and muscles again after all the festivities over the last two weeks....so I got stuck into the backyard landscaping (which I have put on hold since moving in). OMG  right now I think every muscle in my body is in pain, I think I might have done alittle to much (and paying for it now)...I got a good tan out of it though (mind you the weather was beyond ridiculous today...sun, thunderstorm, sun again, thunderstorm etc etc etc....all day)

My scraproom also got abit of a tidy, its quiet embarassing, I have 13 completed layouts (that I have taught) that still don't have photos on them, lots of other layouts and Off the Page Projects that I still haven't taken photos of so I can upload.....and 17 unfinished projects (layouts) still waiting for me....I said it last year but I so need to get organised.

I'm a huge fan of  "Collage Press" Papers, and whenever they come into the store at Scraploot I jump on them. The Photo, yes is Me and no I haven't dyed my hair (although alot of friends thought I did). I was at a Friends 40th Masquerade Party and I decided to take it to another level. The layout was distressed alot and had  two different lace elements. This layout was also based on a Creative Scappers Sketch.

"Flutter Butter" by Bo Bunny was a awesome range that suited all different genres of photos. For me I decided to use one of the little man , the colours were perfect. The girls in the class weren't to impressed when they realised how much they had to blade out...but they loved the end result.

I see a tree and I blade, I can't help it..LOL...Another beautiful range, this time by Making Memories. I did something alittle different here, all the beads were glued on throughout the circle ( I did try sewing them on but the paper started to tear).The layout is sitting on black cardstock only for the photo here and a Prima sketch was used for inspiration.

Farewell 2009

WOW...What a Year it has been!!!

(Beware a Long Post ...LOL)

I wanted to quickly pop on and share with you all some of my Favourite Layouts for the Year...(that is before I go out again to a Party for New Years Eve)...Where have I been lately, other than work and teaching the last couple of months,Life  has been Caotic, Fantastic,Fabulous and Extremely memorable.

Recently I  moved into my newly built Home (160 boxes unpaked, a mammoth effect), I love where I live as it's close to the water and bush, and its so relaxing after a day at work. In November I celebrated my 4oth Birthday (shhh) ...On the actual day I had a lush dinner with my family who completely spoilt me, and that weekend I had a Massive Party with my Friends and Family.From there I then went straight into Christmas mode .Christmas was awesome, as a Family we wanted to make sure that the spirit and magic of Christmas surrounded the kids as much as possible, they had a Fabulous time, as we all did.

Using the awesome range from Graphic 45, here are a few of my favourite things in my new house.Some pieces are quirky but each has a lovely story behind it, especially the picture of a pair of hand made shoes my grandmother wore back in her homeland which sit on a hand crafted wrought iron and wood mexican treasure trunk.  I based this layout on one I did a few years ago.

These Beautiful Prima papers were so perfect for a Wedding photo of my brother and S.I.L. I took things to the next level and bladed the centre out of both gates and to give it more stability I adhered a transperncy to the back, so that way the gates can be opened to reveal some hidden journalling.Little seed pearls adorn the gate and follow the flight of the Butterflies.

A few Close-up Photos.

This must be my all time craziest Blading project I have ever completed (I taught this at Scraploot weekend away)

The entire tree was bladed, and as I wanted to create a fairy light look in the tree  I threaded wire that had beads on it through the branches, placed dimensional foam on the back to give it some height then I had to put the tree down on the layout...a mammoth effort....The gate was also bladed to that the picture could be seen through the pailings...they also open up to reveal hidden journalling.
A few Close-up Photos.

It has become abit of a tradition over the last couple of years to go over to my mums with my niece and nephew and help her put up the Christmas tree, after which Christmas photos are usually taken...while putting the tree up we all sang Christmas Carols and danced alittle...We all had so much fun !...Here are a few photos (out-takes) from our day.

Finally the Big Bash ( I"ve put together a small collage of photos of the night). My dear friends convinced me awhile ago to have a big party, so with lots of my closet family and friends (70 to be exact) they all helped me celebrate in style. I decided to have a theme, the invites and my B'day cake were Red High Heel Shoes, and everyone was requested  to wear alittle or alot of the colour red (red being my favourite colour).With over 2000 fairy lights, beautiful lit up red lanterns, long stemmed vases with red decorations and tea lights all around ...the atmoshere was set. The food was amazing (So many people helped out)...lots of drinks were consumed and the music was pumping all night, (definately a few sore heads the next day)

I had the most Amazing night ever...Thankyou to everyone

Oh and I also wore Red Patten Leather High Heels.

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