Family

Wednesday, October 31, 2012

Cowboy...

Hello!  I'm back with another layout created for Bella BLVD this week.  And since it is halloween.. I guess it is only fitting that I share a layout about costumes and dressing up!  LOL!!

 
"Cowboy"
 
sorry..
Out For Publication!!

products used: cs - kaisercraft; pp - Bella BLVD: Thankful: Perfect Day, Just Write Journaling Stickers; Making The Team: Wall Of Fame, Alpha+Bits Stickers; Sophisticates: Short Stories; Ciao Chip Elements: Stars & Hearts; Mr Boy: Alpha+Bits Stickers; Designer Tape: Pony Dot; other - Mister Huey's color mist; tools - star punch, typewriter.


If you would like to see more details and know more about the story behind the photo... head on over to Bella.

Thanks for visiting...x
 

Friday, October 26, 2012

The Pink Leg Warmers...

Hello Friends!  Stephanie from Bella BLVD has decided to set a little challenge over at the Bella BLVD blog today.  :) Her Friday chat is all about creating your own colour palette!  And it is really gorgeous.  Have a little look....



A few of the Bella girls have decided to play along with the challenge.  I had a little time to create yesterday and I am really happy with the result.

 "the Pink legwarmers"
 
products used: cs - Kaisercraft; pp - Bella BLVD (sophisticates, Birthday Girl); alpha - Bella BLVD; other - Bella BLVD: washi tape, crochet flowers & cardstock stckers, Greatest View sequins, versacolor ink; tools - typewriter.
 
 
The colour palette literally created this page.  That's my girl.. the one with the "pink" legwarmers! lol! ... ummm.. obviously.  I am so glad this photo was sitting on the top of my "to scrap" photo pile!

 

I've wrapped the edges of my typed journaling with a little bit of washi to help it stand out.  I am loving this soft pink colour against the grey!


Tahlia was practising for her ballet exam and I was allowed to sneak into the studio and take a few photos.  *grin*  Gotta love her ballet teacher for encouraging me to come in and do this at any opportunity..x

So head on over to the Bella Blog (if you haven't already), for some fun and more inspiration from the fabulous DT.

Thank you for visiting..x

World Teacher's Day & Fancy That Dies...

Hi Everyone.  My childrens' school is celebrating World Teacher's Day today and of course... when do I get notice of it?  That's right. Yesterday afternoon.  *sigh*  lol!

So being a good mum, I got up a little bit earlier than normal, this morning and created three cards for my kids to take to school... :)  Please take note that they are very simple and quick to assemble!  lol!!




products used: cs - kaisercraft; pp - kaisercraft; Fancy That Dies - Sweet Blooms, Scalloped Floret; other - Lilybee alphas, Greatest View mini doily, versacolor ink.


This first card is for Ethan's Grade One teacher, Mrs Stevenson.  I've layered the scalloped floret directly onto the base of the sweet blooms, larger petals.   The top flower is slightly smaller, but I love the effect of grouping three flowers together like this.. :)


products used: cs - bazzill, kaisercraft; pp - Junkitz, Stampin' Up, Bella BLVD; Fancy That Dies - Delightful Doily Duo, Butterfly Quartet; other - Lilybee alphas, versacolor ink; tools - sewing machine.


This card is for Tahlia's teacher Ms Walker.  Being a Grade Seven teacher, I wanted to create something a little more robust but still have a delicate edge to it.  The Delightful Doily Duo was perfect.  I've teamed it up with the shadow butterfly from the Butterfly Quartet collection and left a lot of white space on the card!  hee hee..  A quick machine stitch around the outside edge of the Stampin' Up patterned paper finished it off nicely.

 
products used: cs - kaisercraft; pp - Junkitz, kaisercraft; Fancy That Dies - Retro Globe and Stand; other - Nikki Sivils alphas, apple punch, foam tape.


Finally this card was created for Liam's teacher.  And it posed a bit of a challenge for me.  You see, Liam's Grade Four teacher is Mr Zeith and I wanted a more masculine look for this card!! lol!  The Fancy That Dies Retro Globe and Stand was a die I picked up from the recent Quilt and Papercraft Fair.  Perfect!! Add an apple and a Thank You... and I'm done! lol!  Three cards in less than an hour thanks to The Papercraft Hub and Fancy That Dies.
 
Thanks so much for visiting and Happy World Teacher's Day..x
 

Thursday, October 25, 2012

Story Teller...

Hello Friends!  I am so excited!!  My first layout is up over at Bella BLVD!!
 
 
"story teller"

products used: cs - kaisercraft; pp - Bella BLVD (Birthday Boy: About A Boy, Eat Cake, Borders, Alphas+Bits Stickers, Just Write Journaling Stickers; My Boy: Borders N’ Blocks; Thankful: Turkey Tracks; Birthday Girl: Party Dress; Ciao Chip Elements: Clouds; High Five Alphabet Stickers: Yellow); other - Mister Huey's color mist, versacolor ink; tools - typewriter.


Finally a layout for Liam!  *grin*  He's my elusive one.  Gets away from the camera each time I bring it out! lol!! But I still want to document his story and this one is all about his need to share his stories in a fabulous and expressive manner!

journaling: You have such a happy nature & a creative soul when it comes to sharing how your day was at school.  We usually lol on the way home from your narratives!  Each day is a new chapter.

Thanks so much for visiting..x

Monday, October 22, 2012

Merry & Bright...

Hello!  I am working on so many Christmas projects at the moment, it feels like my head should be spinning!  LOL!  But with 60-odd days until the jolly, big man arrives I know that I won't get a lot of it completed.  sigh..   So I am making the most of my time while the kids are still at school.  :)
 
Today I can share a layout completed from my wonderful DT kit sent to me from The Scrapbook Store.  This has an older photo on it but the image is still one of my all time favourites..
 
 
"Merry & Bright"
 
products used: cs - kaisercraft, core'dinations; pp - MME (winter Wonderland); other - MME: layered stickers & 48 enamel dots, Fancy That Dies: mixed leaves, brad, bakers twine, mister huey's color mist, ink: versacolor, The Crafter's template; tools - typewriter, circle punches, machine stitching.
 
 
I am totally in love with the layered stickers from MME.  Especially the little house.  :)  To me, the two houses represent the travelling we do at Christmas time.  It is a nineteen hour drive to get to my mother's house and we usually travel there every second year.  This was obviously Cameron's first Christmas and like I mentioned earlier... one of my favourite photos.  ever. *grin*
 
 
 
 
Thanks so much for visiting.  I hope your holiday projects are progressing along nicely.  I'm about to start work on my December Daily soon.  Wish me luck..x

 


Saturday, October 20, 2012

Stuck Sketches...

Hi Everyone!  What a whirlwind week it has been!  I have spent the last three days at the Brisbane Quilt and Papercraft Fair helping out at The Papercraft Hub's stand.




There were so many beautiful things to see!  Including the "wall of washi" tape I was standing next to for some of the time!  *grin*  Also, don't forget about the Design Team call over at The Papercraft Hub.  The call finishes soon and I don't want you to miss out!
 
........................................................

But today I want to share my layout created for the mid month Stuck?! Sketches challenge.  Here is the sketch...
 
 
and my layout...
 
 
"Bookends"
 
products used: cs - kaisercraft; pp - Bo Bunny, American Crafts; alpha - American Crafts (Amy Tangerine); other - Greatest View sequins, Bo Bunny brad, vellum, ink (versacolor), Mister Huey's color mist, staple; tools - Martha Stewart pinking circle, fiskars: small & medium circle punch, typewriter.
 

I have often referred to my eldest and youngest children as the bookends.  :) Not only do they have two other siblings (Liam and Ethan) between them, but Tahlia and Cam have the same hair and eye colouring as opposed to the other two.  hee hee... Does that make sense?  These two look alike, while the middle two resemble each other.  :)

As you can see from the sketch, I have really condensed it to suit my style.  Lots of layers and plenty of white space.

Please feel free to join in on the fun over at Stuck?!.  Paper Stories is this month's sponsor and there is a great prize up on offer!  So good luck if you are thinking of participating!  And thanks again for visiting..x
 

Wednesday, October 17, 2012

"Kiss Me" giveaway!

 
Hi Everyone!  The Team at Bella BLVD are jumping up and down with excitement over the revealing of "Kiss Me"!  A gorgeous mid-release mini collection designed with Valentine's Day in mind.  But it is just so cute you could use it for any theme whatsoever!  Have a look for yourself!




Here are a few of my favourite pieces from the collection.. mmmmm!  Chevron!!




Head on over to Bella BLVD to see the whole collection.  And as a bonus there will be an opportunity to win a giveaway!  Can you see why we are so excited!!! 

Good luck!  And thanks for visiting..x
 

Tuesday, October 16, 2012

Jillibean Introduction...

Hi Everyone!  I am being introduced on the Jillibean Soup Blog today!  If you have come this way via Jillibean, welcome!!  I am happy to have you here.  I am also so excited to share my first project with you but some of you will have seen it before! :)



This layout was created as part of my Scrapbooking Memories Masters 2011-12 submission and was amazingly chosen as the cover layout for the special edition!


"love"

This is the first time I've shared it in full, on the blog.  *grin*  It feels like so very long ago now!  lol!


Thanks for visiting..x
 

Monday, October 15, 2012

Christmas is coming...

This morning my youngest son walked to the bus stop with his Santa hat on.  All red and white and happily calling out "ho, ho, ho!" *grin*  So, with that and Christmas decorations in the shops and my kids sorting out their wish lists, (ie circling products spied in the copious amounts of catalogues arriving in our mail box...), I think there is an overwhelming sign that the big, jolly man is on his way.  Give or take a few months.  lol!

Today I wanted to share with you this "Christmas" themed layout created from my first DT kit for The Scrapbook Store.


"Happy Holiday"


products used: cs - kaisercraft (coconut) pp - MME WinterWonderland (presents, polka dots, flakes, tags), American Crafts (Amy Tangerine) other - MME WinterWonderland 48 enamel dots, buttons, bakers twine, skewer, ink (versacolor), kaisercraft paint (deep yellow) tools - typewriter, machine stitching.


The kit supplied me with the gorgeous My Mind's Eye Winter Wonderland collection.  And I've teamed it with a teeny, tiny bit of Amy Tangerine (yellow).

 
I've also added lots of layers to create some depth and hidden my journaling on the "December 25" card, tuck beneath the papers (see top photo).
 
 
journaling: Each Christmas we tend to collect another nutcracker.  Liam finds them fascinating.  In reality I'm sure he wants to set up mock battles with the soldiers!  His favourite is the one with the sword. lol! They are one of the first decorations he asks to unwrap and put on display, when we pull out our big box of Christmas goodies.
 
The colours in this collection are gorgeous!  And I really love the red wood grain patterned paper!  sigh..  I'm thinking these colours will make a fabulous December Daily! 
 
Thanks for visiting..x
 


Friday, October 12, 2012

Fancy That Dies...

Happy Friday Friends!  Today I have a quick and easy project to share using the fabulous dies from Fancy That Dies, available from The Papercraft Hub.


"peace"
 
 
products used: cs - kaisercraft; pp - kaisercraft; Fancy That Dies - fiesta flags, scallop floret, butterfly quartet, scalloped rolled rose, mixed leaves, wool felt; alpha - American Crafts, Fundamentals petites; other - Greatest View flair/badges, button, twine, Mister Huey's color mist, versacolor ink, kaisercraft: copper pearls and die cuts, paper flower (unknown); tools - typewriter.

Another girly layout but I couldn't go past the beautiful Fancy That wool felt that has been especially imported to work with the steel dies.  The colours are amazing and this pink magnolia almost steals the show! lol!

 

When rolling the felt cut from the die, I applied a small trace of strong wet adhesive on the lower edge.  The flowers haven't unravelled and you can still arrange the petals to your satisfaction.  :)  I love this idea of felt texture on my layout.
 
When creating this layout, I came across this beautiful quote by Sadako Sasaki...
 
 
It was timely and seems appropriate to go along side all the fiesta flags and butterflies on this page.  :)
 
 
Thank you for taking the time to visit.  I hope you all have a lovely week-end..x
 

Thursday, October 11, 2012

wish...

Hello Friends.  Today I wanted to share a layout created for my daughter.  She has been blessed with an incredible talent (ballet/dance - one that I would never try to emulate!! lol!) and has worked very hard to fine tune and advance.  Not only that, but she works hard at maintaining her studies too.  I am an incredibly biased mummy but that's a given I think! *grin* My role is to support her the best that I can in whatever she chooses to pursue.  Except boys.  I am staying away from that one!!  LOL! (She will get enough grief from her Dad.  And Grandad.  And Uncles. And her Daddy's best friend... !  Do you get my meaning?) *grin* ha ha!  Poor girl..x
 
Anyway... I just wanted to remind her that she is amazing.  And she can accomplish anything she wishes..
 
 
"wish"
 
products used: cs - Kaisercraft; pp - Jillibean Soup (Grandma's Lima Bean Soup); alpha - Jillibean Soup Grandma's Lima Bean Soup cardstock stickers; other - Jillibean Soup Hexies, ink: versacolor & kaisercraft, Mister Huey's color mist; tools - Martha Stewart cornflower punch, machine stitching, black pen (sharpie).

This layout was created from my first DT kit from The Scrapbook Store!  I was so excited to get this happy mail.  I also had a bit of a laugh too, that it was full of gorgeous Jillibean Soup!  Double bonus!  hee hee..
 
I adore the colours.  Such a bright and youthful combination.  Yet not baby-ish.  After all, my big girl will be a teenager next year!!! yikes!!

 
 
 
Head on over to the blog and see what else is avaliable in store.  I can't wait to show you some more layouts from this kit.  So please stay tuned.  :) 
 
Thanks for visiting...x

 

Monday, October 8, 2012

The Scrapbook Store...

Hello Friends.  The kids have started back at school today and I am trying to organise myself both here online and in the house!  LOL!  Guess which one I started with!  :)

Today I wanted to share with you this sketch created by Nadia over at The Scrapbook Store.

 
My take on it is a little different but that is the beauty of sketches!  I love to be able to transform a sketch that will suit my style.  It's the challenge I guess, that attracts me to sketches.  :)
 
 
Here's my layout...
 
"x box"

 
products used: cs - kaisercraft; pp - American Crafts (Amy Tangerine), Jillibean Soup; alpha - Nikki Sivils; other - Scenic Route label sticker, Nikki Sivils photo corner stickers, ink: versacolor;  tools - punches: fiskars (small cloud & medium circle), Martha Stewart (pinking circle & small circle); typewriter.
 
 
 
If you look carefully, the sketch is still there!  LOL!  It just isn't all dressed up in beautiful flowers and lace.  *grin*
 



I hope you will play along and share your interpretation too!  Thanks for visiting..x



Saturday, October 6, 2012

Happy "World Card Making" day!...

Hi Everyone!  Just wanted to share in the excitement this week-end with this card I made for Bella BLVD and World Card Making day! 



There will also be some pretty amazing prizes up for grabs over at Bella BLVD to help celebrate!!  If you want to be in the running to win, make sure you continue to check out the Bella BLOG.  :)

Recently we have had a new baby girl join our extended family!  (Okay... I am just making it clear that I haven't had a fifth child!  LOL!)  Congratulations goes to my beautiful cousin Evelyn and her family.  They welcomed Lacey Evelyn into the world on September 24.  And since today is all about making cards, I thought what better way than to share the joy of a new baby, than with a card created especially for her from some delightful Bella goodness... :)



products used: cs - Stampin' Up, kaisercraft;  Bella BLVD - Sophisticates: Sprinkles & Lace Punch; Spring Flings and Other Things: borders; Lovey Dovey: Alpha+Bits;  other - kaisercraft ribbon, staple, sequins, vellum, Tim Holtz distress ink (antique linen).



Thanks for visiting and I hope you enjoy World Cardmaking Day!  ...x

 

Friday, October 5, 2012

Broken Treasures Guest spot...

Hello Friends.  Quite some time a go I was asked by Elizabeth if I would like to do a guest spot on her gorgeous blog Broken Treasures.  Of course I jumped at the chance to share a little about my creative processes.  :)

At the time I was asked to play along, my second youngest son came to me with the cutest hand written note, telling me how much he loves what I do for him.  He is six and this little note is most definitely one of my most special treasures.



Of course, since he was just learning to put sounds together a translation was definitely needed!  LOL!  Here is the full layout...


products used: cs - Kaisercraft, bazzill, kraft; pp - American Crafts; alpha - American Crafts thickers, Carolee's Creations mini alphas; Greatest View - woodgrain badges/flairs, kraft baggie, baker's twine; other - buttons, glimmermist (sunflower), versacolor ink (pinecone + umber), close to my heart ink (chocolate), kaisercraft ticket stub, washi tape, typewriter.


and the translation...


I've kept the original note tucked away inside the kraft bag.  :)  It makes me smile each time I read it!  For more details, please visit Broken Treasures

Thanks so much for visiting..x