2020 | Welcome...

Welcome 2020! Hello Friends. I'll be honest. I don't really know what my intentions will be with this blog in the coming year. I'll probably still touch base. I might revert back to just documenting family stuff as I did in the beginning. But I will endeavour to get on here now and again to say hi!

Today I wanted to quickly share a favourite tradition I started back in 2011.  At the end of next year, it will mark the ten year anniversary of compiling yearly photo books. I am proud to say I already have nine in my possession!

Each Christmas I bring the memories, highs and lows throughout the year, together and have them printed into a book. Going through each photo month by month can definitely pinpoint grateful moments at an incredibly stressful time of year.

These books have become so popular in my family. It's like they're a staple that everyone can't wait to consume once it's on the table!

And I love that they want to sit and reflect.

And I especially love that once you have these books in hand, you can see the physical growth my kids have made over the years. I mean, they're not going to stay little forever right?!

I've built each book up similar to a PL set up. I just wish I had added more journaling. But it has always been a tough decision to decide between sacrificing photos or words.  So far, photos have always won!

I also "borrow" photos from my kid's social media accounts. As they grow older, they become more reluctant to get in front of the camera. But I have found ways to get the crazy moments captured. Even if I wasn't present!!!

I am looking to change up the format for 2020. I am excited to plan and see where this tradition takes me.

Happy 2020 Friends! May your year be full of adventures..x

Jillibean Soup | This is Us...

Time spent with family is always a blessing in this household. And especially at Christmas time. At every opportunity I love to gather the people for photos. Even if it is just an ordinary, everyday lunch!! This layout was create for Jillibean Soup.

"This is Us"

products used: cs - American Crafts; pp - Jillibean Soup Garden Harvest; alphas - Jillibean Soup foam stickers; embellishments - Jillibean Soup pea pod parts, enamel shapes, 3x4 placemats; other - paint, sharpie pen; tools - metal tag die, typewriter.

Lots of fun fussy cutting on this layout. For more detail, feel free to visit the Jillibean Soup blog here. Thanks for visiting..x

Jillibean Soup | This is Us...

Need layout inspiration when you have too many patterned papers to choose from? I had to break the process down when creating this layout.  Jillibean Soup Garden Harvest collection is simply too cute!! Check out my latest Jillibean Soup project here.

"This is Us"

products used:  cs - American Crafts; pp - Jillibean Soup Garden Harvest; alphas - Jillibean Soup foam stickers; other - sharpie pen, Jillibean Soup epoxy stickers, staples, embroidery thread; tools - typewriter.

Thanks for visiting..x

Bella Blvd | Keys...

Hello Friends! Today I have a bold and bright share using the Bella Blvd Addison collection. 

I created this layout with the idea of using all or most of my leftover scraps pieces that were sitting on my desk. The Addison collection is such a happy grouping of patterns and colours that I knew I wanted to use it in a celebratory way.

My daughter has recently passed her Learner's driving test which is quite a big deal for her! And I love that in this collection there was a die cut key!

I kept the photo black and white to allow the patterned paper to have a starring role. The strips of paper were also shaped to represent a city skyline with varying heights to create interest.

"Keys"

products used: cs - American Crafts; pp - Bella Blvd Addison; Alphas - Bella Blvd; embellishments - Bella Blvd: puffy stickers, paper pieces, stickers. other - staples, typewriter, paint.

The rest of the leftover paper strips have been layered with fussy cut images, stickers, puffy hearts or die cut paper pieces. My journaling was simply stapled to the bottom of the page and a few drops of paint complete the look of my layout. I am so glad to have now documented this milestone! Thanks so much for visiting..x

Pebbles Inc | Heart of Home layout...

Hey there friends! I'm just trying to get this blog up and running once again! Life keeps interfering and it is a struggle to even get to the computer at times! LOL! But here I am, starting over. Again. :)

Today I have a share using the Pebbles Inc Heart of Home collection. I think I fell in love withthese patterned papers, almost instantly! *sigh*

My first project was to create a layout featuring my crazy kids!

"We Are Family"

products used: cs - American Crafts; pp - Pebbles Inc Heart of Home; embellishments - Pebbles Inc Heart of Home label stickers; enamel dots. other - machine stitching, typewriter.

The flowers were all fussy cut and adhered to allow the edges to lift from the page.

Machine stitching added an extra detail while the gold foil labels help to draw the eye across my layout.

You can see more details and read about my thought process to creating this layout on the Pebbles blog, here. Thank you for visiting..x

Jot Magazine | September Mood Board

Hi there everyone! Today I am sharing this gorgeous mood board for Jot Magazine. All the inspiration pieces were carefully chosen by the lovely Mardi and I personally think, she's found a winner!

I really adore this colour combination and have tried to use every element on the mood board that I possible could! LOL!

"The Almost Selfie"

products used: cs - DCWV, American Crafts; pp - Maggie Holmes, Jillibean Soup; alpha - American Crafts; other - Jillibean Soup Happy Hues paint, Echo Park stickers, Crate Paper chipboard & ephemera; tools - silhouette portrait, typewriter.

The story behind this layout is quite simple! One member of our family of six, just plain refused to be in our family selfie. He was too busy enjoying himself running up and down the pathways and climbing trees to be interested in having a silly photo taken! That's life with a five year old! LOL!  So I embraced it, and took the photo without him. *grin* 

As you can tell, I'm never swayed from adding a touch of pink, pretty flowers and butterflies to layouts that has a photo of my boys in it.  To me, these elements represented the outdoorsy nature I took from the mood board. Well... maybe not the pink so much...

I hope you will play along with us over at Jot. There's a great prize to be won this month (like every other month too) but I thought I'd mention that fun fact! Come on over and check out what the Jot Girls have created this month.  Thanks for visiting..x

Jillibean Soup | Family...

Hello Friends!  This week I am having a little Jillibean Soup Lovefest! *grin* I have a few layouts to share that have somehow slipped under the radar!  Eeeek!  SO I have decided that I will take it upon myself to correct this error over the next few days.

 

First up I want to share with you these fabulous wire words!

 

I use them regularly and in fact, I've almost gone through all of the ones I have in my stash! They are quite delicate, light weight and I love to attach them directly to my layouts using a strategically placed cross stitch or two.

 

"Family"

 

products used: cs - American Crafts; pp - Jillibean Soup (Birthday Bisque); other - Jillibean Soup: wire words, mini placemat, wood sprinkles, enamel stars, wooden nickles, soup labels, kraft tape; embroidery thread; tools - typewriter.

 

 

I also love using them in lieu of alpha titles.

 

Thanks for visiting me here today!  I hope you will re-join me tomorrow for some more Jillibean Soup love...x

 



Bella Blvd | Project Life Cover Page...

Hi Friends!  Today I just wanted to share with my PL2015 cover/title page before I got too far into the year!! I've kept my look quite clean and simple and used some fun new products from Bella Blvd including the clear cuts transparencies and enamel dots.

"PL2015 Cover/Title page"

products used: pp - Bella Blvd (Color Chaos, Lucky Starz); alphas - Bella Blvd; other - Bella Blvd: clear cuts, enamel dots, stickers, word strips; Becky Higgins Design A pocket page.

If you would like to learn more about the details, please visit Bella Blvd.  Thanks for visiting today...x



Sassy Scrapper | Project Life...

Hello Friends!  I am back today to let you know that my Project Life | Week 19 is up on the Sassy Scrapper blog.  AND...... I've been playing with the gorgeous new June Kit!!

 

 I hope you will come on over for a visit and check out the details...x  See you there!
 

Hello!

Have you noticed my absence once again? LOL!  You may well have guessed that it once again school holidays here and we are about to celebrate Easter.  I have a number of shares to catch you up on but as you can imagine, I am slightly overwhelmed with everyday life right now.

These school holidays we travelled 15 hours North, in the car, with four children, non-stop. Crazy? Definitely. But worth it? Maybe.. LOL!

 

While we were visiting my home town, we got caught up in Tropical Cyclone Ita.  A category 4 storm that hit the North Queensland coast.  We were lucky enough to be inland and not in the direct path but of course we still received the rain and winds.

 

What my kids enjoyed most was spending time with their grandmother and reuniting with their cousins!  Of course I also got to drag them all over the country town I went to high school in and showed them a few of the local haunts!

 

 

 

 

So while I am wading through the multiple piles of washing and unpacking our suit cases, please head on over to Sassy Scrappers and check out my PL spreads for Week 10....

 

 

 

 

And Week 11..

 

 

 

Thanks so much for visiting...x

 

 

 



Merry Christmas!!!

Hello Friends and Family!!   We are wishing you all a very Merry Christmas with plenty of holiday spirit!  Hope you are having fun with all of your loved ones...x

Stay safe and enjoy every moment..x  Ho Ho Ho!