Lovely to see you here...

Lovely to see you here...

Monday, September 24, 2012

Sometimes it doesn't work...

Well I have been sick for the past week, started on layouts then couldn't complete because I was just so sick and tired!  I would come out to my table in our lounge room and wistfully look at my unfinished layouts moving one thing or adding something just sitting it on and then usually going back to bed.  I spent one full day on the bed not getting off and where was my mind - on scrapbooking as usual!!!  I think somedays it's all I think about - seeing cars drive past "Oh what a colour combination!" Sad but true.

Well I started with a layout that I was pushing to finish before I got really sick for the Scrapbook Boutique, the challenge - Button, buttons and more buttons - include buttons.  Well considering I am not a person who likes to go over the top this is a lot of buttons on a layout for me!!!

So I used a photo I had previously completed on a page but didn't like the overall effect so I pulled it apart and started again!  Used my Dylusion sprays and added buttons!!!!  I love this better than what it looked like before.

I had almost finished this one but then this was the night I became sick - so it just sat on the table... SFS had this challenge for this month of Blue, Yellow & Black so I came up with this page.  The Water Wheel in Augusta is one unbelievable thing when it was made back in the day.  Spent a few hours here on the beach even though it was getting rather cold.


Finally for SFS I completed this page - the challenge was the quote " Life is better when you're laughing"  I couldn't fit it all in so shortened it to work with my photo.  Plus added even when you are tired.  I have a journalling chipboard tag under the photo with the butterfly dangling from the chain.  


Anyway that is it for me at the moment I am working on a layout as I am typing this but I am not happy with it - one of those pages that just isn't really working - there isn't much I can do about it except move it around and play about... another challenge but based on a sketch this time, may have to throw the sketch out the window and just go for it!

This weekend coming is a long weekend so armed with my camera we are on a 4wd trip up past Perth to see what mischief we can get into and how many times we can get bogged in sand - I hate Sand!!!!!   So I shall sign off for now have a wonderful time no matter what comes.

Saturday, September 15, 2012

I forgot about...

Well would you believe been home for over three weeks and already I forgot that I had other layouts completed... I packed them away when I went through the stash of scrap crap that I bought home!!!

So here they are;

A me page to be completed...  

Hubby took this photo of me the arvo before leaving for the retreat for this challenge,  used some Lost & Found paper, used the name as my heading cause I once was lost now am finding myself as I am currently doing 12wbt (12 week body transformation) with a lot of people here in South West WA including my man and people all over australia.  Heaps of journalling now that is a first for me.


Next was a family page...
 We were given a pack of chipboard people and pets made specifically for us by Words or Whatever (WOW) so I used the two little girls.  Nothing over the top and I have to journal on it yet - Photo taken in a wonderful Park great for kids in Perth.


That is all from me till next time which will be soon... Have a lovely weekend!!!

Wednesday, September 12, 2012

Creative Cyclone Overload...

Oh I just love it when the mind is on full speed and the creative cyclone is just belting out pages and OTP projects - ARGH I just LOVE IT!!!!!  So does hubby as I am in overdrive - mind you I can't stand the mess... I have had five projects on the go - which has really blown my mind into segments as I keep thinking on each one and developing each as I go.

Today I want to share two projects with you that have been completed since retreat but both started at retreat - I just had to get home and grab the perfect embellishments and papers to compliment both items.

Firstly - Lisa Oxley You are one talented Lady and thanks to your class I completed my FIRST EVER canvas.  I used the wording from our wedding 11 years ago - Hubby really loves this and it will find a home on our wall somewhere...  The background which is texture paint I wrote over that with a Artline 990XF Silver Metallic Ink to make it really stand out!

The last class for the weekend that I couldn't finish till I came home and found the right papers and a 12x12 thick cardboard backing.  Hubby is really excited over this one and truly Loves this - he has ideas swirling through his head now!  "No Darryn it won't work I don't have enough time...." LOL he is going to keep me busy after seeing this... 

Darryn is thinking of framing this and putting a glass overtop as I wanted to use a thin clear see through plastic sheeting but it really dulled the photo.  Looks flat hey?? 

Definatley is not flat a lot of Magic mount used under there...



Thought I would share from this morning.  I am thinking this is brilliant payback from when I have Mikayla under foot so to speak, she is really in daddy's road here as he is building storage cupboards for Samantha's room first then some for her room.  I had the choice my scrapbooking cupboards or the girls cupboards for inside their built in wardrobes.  They need it more than me, although if you could see our loungeroom you would be like hubby and disagree... I don't work well in chaos! 

Darryn is trying to get things straight and she thinks if Daddy can be up there so can she - 2yr old little copy cat of ours.


This next photo I love she has been aiming for that tape measure all morning Darryn kept moving it so she couldn't get it - Well she has it!!!  I am going to enjoy scrapbooking these once I get through the stream in front of me.


Christmas is just around the corner and I will be getting into OTP's for Christmas, but before then I will be finishing the album for my mother-in-law.  I was going to show you some layouts which I still shall do after I show her the finished album so you will have to wait a little longer... Something to look forward too!!!

I hope you find the time in everyday to cherish the ones you love, to lift them up and spend time with them that they may look back on in years to come as special.




Thursday, September 6, 2012

Spring...Not!!!!

It is SO cold here this morning my fingers are frozen, my legs have the cold running up them and it is Spring, okay winter it is time you officially left and crawled around to the otherside of the globe so they can have a little snow. Suppose to be Spring...ha feels like winter... What makes this morning even better (sarcasm) our eldest daughter has a cold during swimming lessons - so no swimming for her today, she just cried and cried but I don't want her any sicker, poor darl she loves the water.

Anyway today I have two layouts to share  with you one I had to re-do from my Retreat that I went on near Sydney (NSW Australia) this was one of our challenges a party page.  Not a problem done and completed then I put it up on a cold concrete/block wall where overnight the cold buckled the glue and ruined the photo.  Another photo printed page pulled apart and redone.  Happier with it now then before.  Our eldest daughters 8th Birthday.

This next page is one I put together last night for my Father & Mother in-law as stated in an earlier post back in May I was asked to do their wedding album and it has been a struggle.  I am happy to create this album but I am not good with older photos so I am really out of my depth - but I know my in-laws will love whatever I do but I want it to be special...as I suppose we all do when we start a page.    As of last night 17 pages done but not all complete and I have roughly 14 pages to go maybe a couple more.
I stamped the background and made my own doilies with Cherry Lyn Designs  DL101 English Tea Party then I glimmermisted big time.  I also re-coloured my white thickers with a silver marker and kindy glitz them.  My father in-law can write on this his calligraphy writing is gorgeous!!!!


I will try to keep you updated on all the layouts that I will be accomplishing within the next few weeks my head is spinning with ideas but this wedding album needs finishing first then onto creating christmas presents as it is just around that corner - Never too early to start.  

For now have a lovely day and find special things throughout the day that will make you happy!!!!

Tuesday, September 4, 2012

It's September????

Warning: Long post - you may wanna hot drink!!!!!

I don't know where this year went...can you tell from my last post in May that the year has just gotten away.  I had a break from scrapbooking, only a couple of months and work somehow got into the road, well I do need money for more scrap stash! :-)

I have just been to my FIRST EVER retreat with Little Scrapbook Shop(LSBS) yes after 13yrs of scrapbooking I went to my first retreat outside Sydney which is a 4hr flight from Perth (in Australia). Long Long weekend after an early morning flight then a 1.5hr bus ride to the wonderful place where I stayed for the weekend (Thursday 4pm to Sunday 3pm). So peaceful below the blue mountains and 71 woman in total!!!! My motion sickness did not make my flights very nice even with three lots of medication - wow I normally take one. The hardest thing about going to this retreat was leaving my husband & our girls at home...I have never been away from my husband like this before and we have been married 11yrs. But did I enjoy hubby & child free time - you betcha I did, I kinda think I needed it and was defiantly overdue. I just scrapped, scrapped and slept (4hrs), scrapped, scrapped and slept (5hrs), no interruptions except for food breaks and chatting, although I must admit my hubby is very much involved in my scrapbooking and I get to have what I want no questions asked - he even buys more than me...lol...

Let's just say that this retreat was a real learning curve and I thoroughly enjoyed it!!!! I learn't SO MUCH!!!! I did all the classes even if I didn't finish which I have been working on for the last couple of nights. I think more than anything I was overwhelmed at the retreat by it all and that is why I struggled to finish items that I started. Since I have been to my first retreat I have now booked into two more already but these are driving distance from home, plus I am booked back into this one again next year - I have caught the bug!!!

The first page I completed at retreat was a 45min challenge, oh wowsers I didn't know what a 45min challenge was until someone explained to me (that I only had 45mins to complete a page) and I got cracking... I bought from the LSBS these beautiful Ranger Dylusions sprays 12 different colours in total and my word do they stand out!!!! I love these better than Glimmermist for colour. They do not have the sparkle that Glimmermist do but they are bright and that is me all over.

So here is the 45min challenge completed page - would you believe I got 3rd!!! That blew me away...

There were plenty of challenges at this retreat and I tried to complete them all but I needed less sleep and more time to do so!!!  
We had to complete a Christmas page (The photo was not to be of a child/ren sitting on Santa's knee - not a problem for us we believe in Jesus) so I used these beautiful photos from Christmas Eve last year.  Also used some packaging from behind some beautiful Prima flowers the words; love, hope & Faith.  

The last layout I will share today was a class by the Lovely Anna Painter who lives in Western Australia too, never been able to meet her until this retreat... I love this page it is so not what I would do so I was pushing my boundaries doing this.   I changed her layout to suit myself and only made the three pockets not four.  There is twine and metal embellishments which I didn't think would stay on the page - the wonders of good old Pritt Gel... This photo I took of my hubby the afternoon before I left WA. 

Now can I tell you looking at these photos all weekend didn't help me at some stages as I got a little teary wanting a cuddle or just to hear their voices - ah the love of my mobile phone to hear their voices many times over the weekend - even when my hubby was saying "Please hurry and come home!"  Two girls and they are both just like me...lol...I think he appreciates me even more than before.

So I will sign out, saying thank you if you have read all the way through this post, also please treasure every minute with your loved ones cause you don't know when it will be the last.  Going away makes you realise how much you do love them no matter the good or the bad!!!!