Bella BLVD | New Year's Resolution...

It's Designer challenge time over at Bella BLVD again and Nicole and I have been assigned to share our New Year's Resolutions.  Kind of appropriate that I post today, right?! *grin*

 

"Hello Everyday"

products used: cs - American Crafts; pp - Bella BLVD (Molly, Lucky Starz); other - Bella BLVD (Treasures & Text, Candid Cards); tools - typewriter.

 

Anyway...! If you would like to learn more about the details, please visit here.  Thanks for joining me today..x

 



Bella Blvd & National Scrapbooking Day!

Hello Friends!!!!  How excited are you for National Scrapbooking Day? Yay!! Although I truly think the name of the day should be changed to Inter-National Scrapbook Day!  Don't you think?  I absolutely love seeing inspiration from all over the world and nobody does it better than scrapbookers and crafters! *grin*

 

 

 

Today Bella Blvd has organised a challenge for the entire design team to participate in.  And once again the challenge is for us to share a little about ourselves with you.

 

This challenge was an extremely difficult one, not because I don't want to share with you, but because I am not a fan of being in front of the camera.  I agonised about the challenge because I didn't have any new photos of myself and no one else in my family willingly likes to pick up the camera and snap away like I do.  Can you relate?

 

So, after my lovely husband calmed me down (yes I was stressing about having my photo taken) I took control and stared at myself in the bathroom mirror.  I figured if I couldn't get a decent shot nobody has to see them.  The joys of having a digital camera! And I could always get creative with a photo-less layout!  Lucky for me, I decided I had three photos I could work with.  :)

 

This was the photo I was going to use on my layout.

But then I changed my profile picture on Facebook with one of the other photos.  Some thing that was long overdue, as the last one was over two years old! Again, can you relate? LOL!  Anyway, what happened next was a true eye-opener.  The amazing amount of support I received for a photo that had no word content just blew me away.  I wasn't expecting comments and I certainly wasn't expecting "likes".

 

The direction of my Bella Blvd layout just took a new turn, because this is what I wanted to document.  The lesson learnt.  I need to be kinder to me.

 

 

"Profile Update"

products used: cs - Kaisercraft; pp - Bella Blvd (Family Forever); alpha - Bella Blvd; other - Bella Blvd: candid cards, crochet hearts, stickers; Heidi Swapp colorshine; tools - machine stitching, typewriter.

 

I hope you will hop along with us today and as you get to know us a little better, be on the look out for some gorgeous giveaways on the Bella Blvd blog!!!  Good luck and thanks for visiting...x

 

 

 

Jillibean Soup | Everyday Adventure...

Hi Everyone!  I'm back again today with another Jillibean Soup share.  And guess what?!  There is even a photo with me in it!  *grin*  It is a bit of a crazy day in my household today so I'll leave you with my layout and some detail photos.

 "Everyday Adventure"

products used: cs - kraft; pp - JillibeanSoup; alphas - Jillibean Soup; other - Jillibean Soup: wooden sprinklers, wood grain mini bag, label stickers; paper clip, Heidi Swapp colorshine; tools - machine stitching, white gel pen.

 

 

 

Thanks so much for visiting..x

 

 



Bella Blvd | Celebrating Stephanie's Wedding...

 



Hi Everyone!  We have an exciting week starting over at Bella Blvd today as the DT are joining in with the celebrations and sharing with you, our personal wedding layouts and photos, to honour Stephanie's up-coming nuptials this week end!!

 

 

"On This Day"

 

 products used: cs - Kaisercraft; pp - Bella Blvd: Love and Marriage: Esther Fleming Floral, May Eighteenth, Vows; alphas - Bella Blvd: Love and Marriage Alpha+Bits Stickers; other - Bella Blvd: Wedding Day Miniatures, Just Write Journaling Stickers; Freestyle Sophisticates: Freestyle Pickle Juice; & Crochet Hearts: Pickle Juice, mist; tools - machine stitching, date stamp, ink.

 

I have many wonderful memories and photos from my wedding day, fourteen years ago!  But sadly most of my photos are copyrighted by the fabulous photographer we had on the day.  I tried desperately to find some photos that friends or family had taken but it was truly slim pickings!  Nobody in my family picks up a camera except me! How heart breaking is that?! So I have had to think outside the box for this challenge. 

 

I included a large photo (that I eventually found buried beneath a crazy amount of paperwork!!) and a lot of journaling.

 

My children have frequently asked my husband and I, questions about our wedding day and they love to hear the stories of what occurred.  Like most big events, we had our share of drama, but they have been over shadowed by the fun memories we have of our day.  I wanted to journal a few of these memories so that in years to come my children or grandchildren can really get a sense of these special moments.

 

 

You may have noticed that this layout is an odd size and deviation from my usual style.  *grin* Not only is it a rare double but an uneven double at that! LOL.  One side is my regular 8.5in x 11in...

 

 

... and the other is slightly larger at 11in x 11in.

I've fussy cut a lot of the flowers from the Esther Fleming Floral patterned paper and layered them in clusters on my journaling page.  I've added small splashes of mist to enhance the floral and confetti look.  It is a wedding layout after all!! *grin* And well.. I don't really need an excuse to use mist/paint but I really wanted to on this layout! 

 

 

I hope you will join in with us over at Bella, to wish Stephanie an awesome day!  Thanks so much for taking the time to come and visit..x

 

Bella Blvd | National Scrapbooking Day...

Hi Everyone and welcome to the Bella Blvd National Scrapbooking Day blog share!! 

 

Our team was challenged to create a layout all about ourselves and trust me.. I found it much harder than it looks!  LOL!  It was really an open book when it came to what we scrapped about as long as it was about us. We could share what are our favourite things, or things that make me smile, or our top ten...whatevers!  You get the idea.  :) I decided I wanted to remind myself of the good stuff in my life.  The right here and now.  Here's what I came up with...

 

"2013"

products used: cs - Kaisercraft; pp - Bella Blvd: Love & Marriage, Freestyle Sophisticates, Birthday Girl; alpha - Bella Blvd: Love & Marriage Alpha+Bits; other - Bella Blvd button (pink flowers), cardstock stickers & Designer Tapes (Yellow chevron, Blue chevron, Piggy Pink Stripe), Kaisercraft pearls, twine, mist, Greatest View petite doily, medium doily; tools - machine stitching, Fancy That Dies, home printer.

It is simple and basic.  And I need to have this as my mantra!  Family, friends, love and laughter, and of course scrapbooking!  *grin*

If you are interested in learning more about my scrapping process, please visit Bella Blvd and check out the answers to five fun questions posed to me by Laura Vegas (our DT coordinator!).  You will also learn a little more about Kim Jeffress too!  Hmmmm.. .I think you might learn a little about her obsession for the colour yellow! *grin*

 

Now here is the fun part!  There is a giveaway being hosted over at Bella, but I can't tell you when.  Head on over and leave a comment for your chance to win some gorgeous new product.  Best of luck!  And thanks for visiting..x

 

 

Bella BLVD | Love Story...

Okay.. So I know we are past Valentine's Day and we are at the very end of the month, but it is still February so I thought I'd share my ode to the big V- Day!  And thanks to Bella BLVD, I had the perfect inspiration to go forth and create.  *grin*

Up on the Bella Blog today is the second inspiration photo for the month and I was one of the lucky designers who got to play along.

I love the colours in this photo and the background pattern.  I also love the big navy and white bow!

 

"Love Story"

products used: cs - Kaisercraft (navy); pp - Bella BLVD; alpha - Bella BLVD; other - Bella BLVD just write journaling stickers, buttons & cardstock stickers, Kaisercraft organza ribbon; tools - typewriter.

If you would like to know more about this layout, please visit Bella BLVD and if you leave a little bit of love, I'd be very grateful!  LOL!  Thanks so much for visiting..x

 

 

Jillibean Soup | Love the Little Things...

Hello Everyone.  It's my birthday today and I wanted to share some love with you.  Starting with this little tag/card I made for Jillibean Soup.

products used: cs - kaisercraft; pp - Jillibean Soup; other - Jillibean Soup: tag, twine, soup label; vellum, liquid pearl; tools - flower punch.

I wanted to create something heart shaped for this week, but not necessarily in the traditional sense.  So, I collected several sheets of red/pink Jillibean papers and started punching out small flowers.  Once I had the amount I needed, I started to form them into a heart shape.  Easy peasy.  *grin*

The flowers on their own however, still looked a little flat.  I added some liquid pearl as flower centers just for that extra dimension.  On top of the heart, I adhered a soup label sticker directly to some vellum and cut out a banner shape from each end. The soup label was then mounted onto foam tape.

 

 

I really love how versatile each of the Jillibean Soup patterned papers are!  I have used several collections on this little card, but I don't think you can really tell.  :)

........................................................................

Okay, so as it is my birthday, today I would also love to say thank you to all of my on-line friends who come to visit and leave me wonderful comments to savour.  I really appreciate every one's efforts to leave a kind word.  Not only does it continue to encourage me to create and post here on my blog, but I also gain valuable insight into you, the reader.  I love to visit your blogs.  I love to see your scrapbooking/papercrafting creativity, your scrap spaces and to read about your creative processes!  If I could, I'd spend ridiculous amounts of time on the computer pouring over heaps of scrappy blogs...Ha!  I love them... but that's not going to happen with a three year old in the back ground here!  LOL!!

So... Thank you.  To each and every one of you, who takes time from your busy schedule to leave a little bit of love for me...x

 

She is important...

Hello Friends!  Sorry about the lack of blogging over the weekend.  We have just started two weeks of school holidays here.  The kids have been keeping me busy, organising play dates and other activities.  I need to do something to keep them entertained otherwise we each drive the others crazy!  *grin*  Today we are heading off to the netball courts for a bit of exercise and fun with friends.  :)

Today I am also sharing this layout created for Greatest View.  This was a joyful project for me to work on.  It shares the story of my "Masters" journey.  It was also a timely reminder for me to scrap more about myself.  :)  Yes.  I am very guilty of leaving "me" out of the equation when documenting our family stories..  I think I can honestly count on one hand, the number of layouts I have created, that are about me...  whoops!  Here is number... three or maybe four?

"She is Important"

products used: cs - kaisercraft; pp - Echo Park; Greatest View - zebra print bag, flamingo badges/flairs, pale pink bakers twine, flamingo sequins; other - versacolor ink, mister huey's mist, studio calico stickers, typewriter.

 

 

I've added quite a bit of journaling.. not in the "zebra print bag" but in a file folder on the front of it.  In the bag itself, I've added all my bits and pieces that relate to this journey, including photos of my submission layouts..

 

 

If you would like to see a little more of the details, please visit Greatest View.  And while there don't forget to go into the shop and order yourself some of these beautiful badges/flairs! 

 

Thanks for visiting..x

Create + Pretty Little Studio...

Hello Friends.  It is getting to be that busy time of year.  The time when schools go into over drive regarding end of year concerts, end of year break up parties and end of year chaos!  :)

The older the kids get (plus the addition of having more children at school!) tends to increase the work load which is expected at home.  Costumes are to be readied - ballet/jazz/rock eisteddfod/Arts night... Props to be organised - prep/ballet... Baking to start - birthdays/school projects...  And I'm not complaining.  Because I love being involved with what the kids do, both in and out of school.  I'm merely documenting the workload... IYKWIM! ;)

At the moment it's a battle between the "need to do" list, and the "want to do" list! hee hee... That first list is feeling rather large....  I have so many little (and big) projects on the go at the moment.  I'm sort of stuck in exhaustion mode.  LOL!

But anyway.. Today I want to share with you my project over at Pretty Little Studio.  It is another sketch challenge but I love the way my layout turned out... (maybe it has more to do with the journaling opportunity than the whole overall look! Because it is kinda blue looking!! But not IRL!!)

[You & Me]

products used: cs - bazzill; pp - Pretty Little Studio (Antique Store collection); alphas - American Crafts vinyl thickers, October Afternoon; other - string, PLS: journal cards, Martha Stewart butterfly punch, Tim Holtz ink, black pen (sharpie).

photo credit: Brock Beazley photography

I had to throw in a banner there at the bottom.  I love how it creates a festive or celebratory feel to the layout.  Especially in regards to the journaling...

Thanks for visiting...x

Hair yesterday, gone today...

I've had my hair cut.  So?.... you say.... That's not a biggie... Well to me it is. LOL!!!! Those who know me (family and face to face friends) have always known me with long hair.  Not just medium length hair, but a halfway down my back and keep going sort of length. :)

And always tied back in a pony tail.  Except when I felt like doing something a little bit fancy and pulled it even higher and further back from my face!  LOL!!  

Whatever works right?!

Sure, I've had the regular trim and tidy up.  It was reasonably healthy... I've even dabbled with the thought of going short many, many times....and always chickened out at the last minute.  Although there was this one time where I did follow through just after Ethan was born.  My hair always grows seriously fast, and even faster during pregnancy.  I remember thinking after baby #3, that this was insane!  My hair was driving nuts and it was just the little things like it was getting too heavy for the hair tie.... silly, I know.

But I had the chop then too.

(Liam may or may not of had a bit of a haircut at the same time!) HAHAHA!  But as you can see it still had a little bit of length.  Enough for me to be able to pull it back if required....

But now!  My hair went from this last week....

To this... as it is now.

No length.  And a cold breeze running across the back of my neck!  LOL! I'm getting a LOT of second looks and I must admit I feel really self conscious!  But it's too late now to go back and the glue is staying with my scrapping supplies!

Sorry to bore you all with this "big" news! HAHAHA!  But my Mum wanted photos and I thought this was more entertaining than sending her a mundane e-mail.

So tell me....TRUTHFULLY...(and I know I am opening myself up to reading comments that might make me cringe....)  What do you think?  Should I have stuck with the same ol', same ol' hair do?  I need to know if I am hiding beneath a few beanies and hats for the next month or two!  LOL!  Thank goodness it's Winter! hee hee....x

Create...

Remember this sneak...?

Get Picky has released the latest inspirational challenge today. But there's an added twist to this challenge!! Firstly you must use this quote...

...as the inspiration! (I found it quite thought provoking!!)

AND.....

...secondly, you must base the layout on yourself! Did I just hear a collective groan?? Or was that just me?! LOL!

Here's what I came up with:

{I am here}

Yep. That's me. In colour.

Go on over and check out all the amazing inspiration that's on offer. I can't wait to see what you create!! Thanks for visiting..x