A visit and a major project

Finally my daughter has come home for Christmas,albeit 3 days late.There is so much news to catch up on and so little time.We are heading back to Canberra on New Years Day.I've put a rare photo of me on here.It was taken on Christmas day.Everyone tells me that I look festive and green really suits me.

I'm currently working on a layout for Scrapbooking memories which is due by January the 7th.It has to feature shoes.The photo is the easy part...this layout has taken weeks, but hopefully will look good when finished.It is very fiddly!

D-lish

D-lish scraps and kits is the store where I can spend my $10 prize for runner up on out of the hat challenge.They have some good bargains there including christmas card packs.I wish I had found those prior to Christmas. I'm thinking of being boring and buying a bazzil pack as I find cardstck seems to disappear when you need it most.
I haven't done much scrapping over the festive season but plan to get busy again now that it is over.
At the Lincraft sale yesterday I bought a florentine border punch for 30% off.Can't wait to have lacy edges on some of my girly layouts.

Happy Christmas

I've just checked my out of the hat challenge and I got runner up for their monthly challenge.
Public Choice - Kylie Symons
Runner - Up - Julene Matthews
Random Draw - Judith Armstrong
Mad Hatter Choice - Amanda Taylor
Summary of my achievements in the past month are:
1 layout of the month Shabby chic
1 runner up layout of the month out of the hat
1 3rd in layout of the month artastic
1 layout of the week mystical
3 cybercrop wins purple and mystical

1 2nd place in cybercrop purple
1 encouragement award for completing a challenge nobody else did.

I hope my readers have a sense of humour.I saw this on Unicornjulie's blog and just had to copy it! Those from Purplescraps will get the inside joke!

In case I don't get back here before Christmas,have a very happy one everybody.

There will be more stunning layouts from yours truly next year.(cough)

Soho good

I'm sure someone has thought of this before but I was doing this layout's title,stuck down Soho and thought what letters do I have left?There was a g,d and 2 zeros.The result was this!

It summarises our morning in London's West End.Erica and I were so cold so we went into a coffee shop for a morning cuppa and some biscuits, which were tied with this ribbon.I kept it for a scapbooking layout.(Isn't that sad?).The result was this.I love the maroons and pinks in this and even the facr that the other ribbon looks like butterflies.

Another design team application

Here I go again.Another application has gone in.(not saying where!).I've included the Moulin Rouge canvas plus 2 of the cards I made recently on Mystical and Enchanted challenges.I agonised ove which layout to submit(they only want one!!!),so I've sent 2 completely different to each other.Maybe 2010 will be my year.After 8 years of scrapbooking,I'm more than ready.

Results of Purplescraps cybercrop.

Well I'm amazed at my run of luck.In the purplescraps cybercrop I received 2 firsts and a second.Melinda drew the names out of a hat so it wasn't necessarily on skill.This gives me $50 to spend on chipboard from scrapping'n'craft.com.au.It will be fun spending all that money!
I've also joined the forum at scrapping2perfection

Using up leftover papers.

My scrapdesk is clear now that all the challenges for December have been completed.I plan to get out the scraps and make some more of the flowers from Mystical scrapbooking as featured on my "all I want for Christmas" layout.They will come in handy for future layouts and also use up the leftover papers.I may also make some more inchies and twinchies(2x2) squares.

My prize and a card

I won $25 voucher to scrapbuds.com.au so I have updated my stash with some lovely papers and trimmings.Here is a christmas card I've made using silver stickers and inchies.I may add more to each square before entering it in mad about scrappings card challenge.I liked the way the squares form a star pattern in the centre.What do you think?

Toot!

I've just discovered I won layout of the month on Shabbychic butterfliesandbows with this layout of Annabelle

.Thank you to Eve and her team.I think this might be my first layout of the month win.I'm excited.
The prize is $25 voucher to spend so I'm off to have a look on scrapbuds.com.au

Toot!

"Hi all well this is our last challenge for the year and I am pleased to annouce a winner , so without further ado the winner for this month is Julene Matthews----fashionista congrats Julene." I just read this on shabbychicbutterfliesandbows.blogspot.com and am amazed! The quality of work on there is so high.
I've won cybercrop challenges before but I think this is the first monthly challenge I have won.Not sure what exactly the prize is yet but I think it is a voucher to spend at a scrapping store so it won't go amiss.

Anotheree!

I just realised I have won another freebie, a bling word "adore" from Scrapping to perfection's daily comment section.This will be a handy addition to my stash.
Meanwhile I have one layout left to do for Purplescraps cybercrop and have scrappers block.It is for a non red and green layout but Christmas.For me this is really hard.Most of my Christmas photos are already scrapped.Looking back those I have aren't the right colour scheme.I may have to think outside the square for this one.
I've joined a challenge for next year in a notebook format using scraps from each weeks scrapping.Kind of like a designers notebook. IT should be interesting.

A win.

Look at the cute butterflies i just won on Scrapping2perfection.It pays to check scrapbooking sites regularly.They're having a sale too so I may be tempted to indulge a little.

Christmas and chocolate go together

The layout on the left is for Enchanted scrapbooks and features a photo from Christmas 1984.It was using the falalala pack which we bought for this contest.There have been 6 Christmas challenges and this is the last one.I love the wirly tree.

The layout on the right is for purplescraps and had to feature vines,bugs and the colour chocolate.I was quite impressed with how my vine turned out as this is the first one i have done.I put it through the Xyron then added Prima flowers and dragonflies.

Layout of the week on mystical.

The layout pictured below featuring Jonathan's teeth was voted layout of the week.I'm in shock as I didn't think it was that brilliant but obviously someone else does.It is nice to feel the love.
Enchanted scrapbooking also has the last Falalala challenge due this week so some hours need to be spent scrapping.

Purplescraps Cybercrop this week

I'm doing 4 layouts for purplescraps cybercrop this week and luckily none of them are Christmas themed. The first is a double layout.I've managed to fit 8 photos of the louvre on it and am now putting embellishments on .The second is quite a ptretty sketch challenge.The third is a summer layout with no red or green.The last is chocolate coloured paper with insects and leaves and twigs. I'm leaving that one till last.

Another Mystical layout and a redo.

I've just completed this layout featuring Jonathan's new teeth.They came early for Christmas.

Mystical scrapbooking taught us how to make these fantastic flowers.I think I will be making those again.

I hurried to complete a layout for out of the hat and blurred the heading when finishing it off.Unfortunately it will need to be reconstructed again.So annoyed with myself over this but I kept reciting the scrappers chant "it is only paper!"

blogs and cards

Go over to Scrapping 2 perfection for blog giveaways and fun.It looks like a great blog.Meanwhile I've been making cards and have uploaded 2 of my favourites here.

Enchanted limited challenge and a clock

This layout features the clock tower in St Mark's square in Venice.There is a zodiac clock,above that is a wooden carved winged lion.Atop that is 2 statues,the top half of which move and they ring the bell between them.It was fascinating to watch.

This layout was done for the limited challenge which had 5 pp,1 c/s,3 photos, 4 diecuts,strip journalling and 2 different fonts in the heading.
I added clock hands and 2 zigzag brads.

I won a prize

When I submitted sponge bob to ARTastic challenge blog I received some favourable comments but never dreamed I'd win a prize. I was chosen by the person who set the challenge for a RAK.It was the equivalent of third prize so I'm happy.
I'm now working on next months song title challenge.

Over the top blog award

Chelle sent me this award.Thank you!


1. Where is your cell phone? Handbag
2. Your hair? Short
3. Your mother? Still alive
4. Your father? RIP
5. Your fave food? seafood
6. Your dream last night? confusing
7. Your fave drink? tea
8. Your dream/goal?More Travel
9. What room are you in? Spare room/office
10. Your hobby? Scrapping,reading,travel
11. Your fear? Dying
12. Where do you want to be in 6 years? Travelling
13. Where you were last night? Here
14. Something that you aren't? Greedy
15. Muffins? Don't eat them any more but probably apple
16. Wish List Item? i-Phone
17. Where did you grow up?Sydney
18. Last thing you did? Ate dinner.
19. What are you wearing? Clothes
20. Your TV? Off
21. Your Pets? No
22. Friends? Loyal
23. Your Life? Relaxed
24. Your Mood? Calm
25. Missing Someone? Erica
26. Vehicle? The mighty Mazzie 121
27. Something your not wearing? shoes
28. Your fave store? spotlight
29. Your fave colour? Green
30. Last time you laughed? Today
31. Last time you cried? Today
32. Your best friend?Ann or Barbara
33. One place that I go to over and over? out.LOL
34. One person who emails regularly? Margaret
35. Fave place to eat? Home

Now I choose my 5 as:
Vanilla http://essence-vanilla.blogspot.com/
Eve http://shabbychicbutterflysandbows.blogspot.com/
Krissy http://krissyscreations.blogspot.com/
Amamda http://www.outofthehatscrapchallenge.blogspot.com/
Jodi http://australia-voutenews.blogspot.com/

A Mystical challenge win(or 2)

The Edinburgh castle layout in the two posts ago, won me a challenge at Mystical scrapbooking.I also won an encouragement award(RAK) for completing 3 cards in progression that nobody else attempted.Staying up late and power scrapping paid off.

Over at Enchanted scrapbooking I have completed the latest FaLaLaLa challenge featuring someone laughing and music with this layout.I thought the expression on this guy's face was precious.

Double Venice layout

The left hand page of this double layout was for Purplescraps sketch challenge.The Bella papers inspired me so much I decided to make it a double! I'm loving the navy and cream of this Vintage beauty range and it seemed to go well with the white marble in these old buildings.

A Mystical hurry!

A mystical hurry! I logged into Mystical scrapbooking at 8pm on Monday night to discover there had been a cybercrop over the weekend that I had forgotten about.So, I hastily made 5 cards plus this layout of Edinburgh castle in 3 hours.One card challenge involved 3 cards to which something extra had been added each time so it was mass production.I think the girls there were laughing with me but I proudly can say I completed the challenge.

The chipboard castle is from Scrapbooking'n'craft.Thank you Melinda for the great inspiration with it.

Also here is this months entry for Shabby chic butterflys and bows. Annabelle likes nail polish ,shoes,handbags etc She is a 4 year old fashionista! I bought the tiny dresses at a craft fair several years ago so finally got to use them on this layout.We had to feature gingham so I used it for the background circle.

What is old is new sketch blog

I found another sketch challenge site where I bought a vintage kit full of yummy stuff.Here is this month's sketch and what I did with it using paint plus the kit.

Those vines/branches are extremely hard to buy.I rang 5 stores today searching for them.

Pina Colada in Hobart Gardens

Here is a layout using Kaisercraft's pinacolada range that I did for the Out of the hat November challenge.The baby ducks nesting were so cute that I couldn't resist a photo and the reflection of the white bridge was cool too.

I've also thrown my hat in the ring to be considered for their mad hatters(a 6 month post)...like a design team I gather.I'll be keeping everything crossed until it is announced. It would be good as I feel like I need more than just forums and challenges with scrapbooking.

A Greek art work.

Here's this month's entry for the Artastic challenge blog.It was a picture ofa greek woman with columns and ferns/palms and flowers. I took this one quite literally and used the same colour scheme-rust,cream and green as well as a photo of Thena and I from Greece.I had ribbon with criss crosses that matched the rail in the background too.The column button was bought at a patchwork shop today for $4 and cracked in half as i was sewing it on. Thank goodness for double sided tape to hold it in place.

Mini album of feet travels for my daughter

These pictures are of a mini album I made for Erica's birthday.As we travelled around Europe she took photos of her feet in various places.I've printed all those off and done a double page of an A5 notebook for her. On one side is the picture and the other is left blank for her to write her memories/impressions of the place.In some instances there were 2 photos so I then left a double note page.The cover and theme of the papers in her album are her 2 favourite colours,purple and black.

Oh Venice!

This is another one I've done for a2zscraplets sketch challenge. It is all made from scraps including the flower which was the negative of another chipboard flower I used in the past.The branch of flowers at the bottom was on a gift I received.The photos were ones I had put aside to throw out but they suited this layout.The BG pp I bought for 50cents at spotlight cause it had been folded.(Well hidden in this layout).I used my favourite pinecone ink for the title and walnut ink on the flowers.

Oh David!

I set myself a difficult task here-a masculine/arty layout with apricot. I searched through quotes on 2peas in a bucket for qoutes about perfect. All were perfect love,perfect day,you are perfect etc then I found this quote by Michaelangelo and straight away I thought of the David photo from Florence.The quote is the title.
I've kept it plain to emphasise that wonderful photo. The fleur-de-lis is the symbol of Florence.The curly chipboards are from scrapbookingncraft.com.au.The paper was originally dark green from Sandy Lion and is called "tile" I painted over it using Dimensional magic as well, which emphasised the embossed surface on the patterned paper. This is my submission for White with one's November challenge.I haven't agonised over a layout so much in ages.

Positive feedback

http://screen2scrap.blogspot.com/2009/11/take-four-scene-seven.html?showComment=1257917771466#c6062836832060501921 I received some favourable comments for sponge bob...read them here! It is nice to get feedback.

Scrapping frenzy

I've been scrapping up a storm these last few days.Some of the layouts were ones I had packed to do at the retreat but didn't get time.I've found new challenges including from screen2scrap where Chelle from Purplescraps is on the design team.I did this negative space layout of Sponge Bob.

Also I've completed my layout for Black with 2 featuring the macaw that lives at the scrapbooking shop in Hobart.The striped paper matched well to the feathers around its cheeks.The colours were aqua and white.Coincidentally Emily had given me this Bella paper at the retreat so it came in handy.

I'm now working on the weekly sketch challenge at Purplescraps of the White horse at Bratton England.We saw it out the train window on the way to Bath.

A win

Another win,my first on Enchanted Scrapbooking! I submitted a layout featuring eyelets and a photo of ST Mark's square (see below!) for their inspirational challenge and lo and behold I won. I did it using bright red cardstock, so maybe it stood out in the gallery.It was fun hammering those eyelets in, great for frustration relief.....hope the neighbours didn't suffer too much!

Mystical challenges

Over at mystical scrapbooking this month there are 3 new challenges.The sketch challenge I have just done featuring a group of statues and a busker from the Portico of the Uffizi in Florence.There was a whole row of famous people from Florence. I tried to keep to black,white and silver/grey to highlight the photos as much as I can.

The colour challenge is pink/brown so I can use one of the layouts that I did at the retreat. The numbers challenge is yet to be tackled!

I also spent some cash at a site called "What is old is new" where they have pre-packed kits.I couldn't resist the one I purchased.

Photos from Purplescraps retreat

I can't work out how to align these so hopefully you'll be able to see them okay.The two drinking ones are a powerful "goldfish bowl" featuring tequila.The group were in the Japanese gardens in hobart and the other one is me drying "opals" while working on a page, just to prove I did some scrapbooking!

Festival of the blue moon photos

I feel a black and bottle green layout or two coming up!

Erica and her friends have gone to Newtown NSW to the Festival of the Blue Moon. The goths all gather there and socialise, parade around and celebrate halloween. The skirt Erica is wearing is a modified old one of mine. She put a swathe of striped brocade across the top then a leather frill around the hem.She added ribbon bows near the gathering.Add to this her black brocade corset and the tiny top hat with veil that she made and you have a Victorian era lady.

White on white

Here's another "shabby chic" layout I did for butterflies and bows blog. It features Erica in her debut outfit with a reflection in the loungeroom mirror.I have many old laces so put them to good use in this one.There was also a broken pearl necklace hanging around so it went on here too.Seems like only yesterday but it was over 8 years ago.Time flies!

Mini album made at Purplescraps retreat

Here's a few pages of the mini album made at a class at the retreat.The cover has a reflective silver paper with a cute owl on it.

There is also a sign in page,a perspex daisy,an envelope,a girl shape,another envelope style page,a perspex rectangle featuring a camera in the corner and a cute page with a daisy in the corner. This took around 5 hours to construct. I intend to put photos and memorabilia in this soon.

Retreat achievements

I'm back from the purplescraps retreat where we learned some new skills and completed some layouts.In between we visited Cadbury's factory,Tasmania's botanical gardens,Mount Wellington(bloody freezing),Tacos mexican restaurant where we drank goldfish bowl size tequilas(mine was strawberry and very potent!),had a Stamping up party and just generally chatted and socialised.I enjoyed sunday the most because we stayed home ,recovered from Saturday night, and scrapped and talked etc.

I'm uploading some of my layouts and a mini album we completed.

SCRAPROOM IS FINISHED!

The scraproom is finished!

I've resorted all my gear inside the cupboard and when the doors are closed it is neat and tidy. I plan to scrap on my computer desk as everything is handy to it.

I've discovered lots of items that I forgot I owned and others I can throw out,it is a great feeling being ready to go at last.