Happy New Year/Show us your stuff

I'm wishing everyone a happy new year! May 2011 bring all your dearest wishes coming true.

I'm amazed at the internet sometimes.One of my comments on here is from a scrapbooker in Russia.....how amazing is that and what a small world it has become.Enjoy your parties tonight those that are going to them. I'll be curled up watching the fireworks on the TV with maybe a quiet glass of wine or two.(must be getting old!)

Here's a layout about my achievements for the year just gone for Show us your stuff".I'm just scraping in as the deadline is midnight NYE and it is 9.30pm now.The tag is misting over a Twiddlybits butterfly and the organza flowers are hand done.(took forever but effective!) Getting on to not 1,not 2 but 3 design teams was a big achievement for me.I dearly wanted 1 but was fortunate to be asked for 3 plus getting published again after several years.My other achievement was my trip to Singapore.

Let's get shabby-Architecture

Here's my entry for Let's get shabby.The theme is Architecture and features a photo of an arched building.

I used a scrapmatts chipboard archway plus a WIOIN kit.These were 4 photos I took from the tour bus as we travelled around Athens. The paper with the columns on(October afternoon ) goes perfectly.

A Christmas poem to scrap on Scrap the poetry.

A
Shiny
Little star
Burned bright
Full of glowing light
Spreading joy to the night
Christmas time!
A time that fills us with desire
And slowly sets our hearts on fire
We pray, we love and listen to the choir
A jolly Christmas time
The Christmas tree stands so tall and so proud
Takes a seat on the presents as they become a crowd
Looks over the treasured presents like a hovering cloud
Everybody loves Christmas time
It’s decorated merrily with colours and materials of all kinds
It created a place of pleasure and joy for our eyes, and our minds
And many years of pleasure and memories it always unwinds
Christmas
Is slowly
On its
Way
To
Us
If you haven't anything to scrap try this! The link to scrap the poem is on the left hand side of my blog.

Phew! Recovery time

After a mad few days prior to Christmas I've finally come up for air.Hope you all enjoyed your festive celebrations-we did! The kids loved opening their presents,the oldies enjoyed the food and family time together.I was lucky enough to receive some scrapbooking items ,so there is new incentive there for them to be used.
My next project is a mini album featuring our Christmas for scrapmatts.It is partly done and I've taken advantage of Big W's 10 cent photo offer. Happy new year everyone!!

And the winner is Emily P.

Thank you for all your wonderful comments.I love receiving them! We've just finished a yummy Christmas lunch.I asked my daughter to choose a winner by reading her all your first names and she chose Emily.If you send me an email confirming your address I'll post your parcel in a few days.

Final reminder re blog giveaway

Just another reminder about my blog giveaway,drawn on Christmas day.I have several names in the draw but would like more.It isn't too late just leave a comment.
Happy Christmas to all my blog followers.Hope you and your families delight in the joy of the season.
I haven't done any scrapping for the past few days..the silly season is in full swing.Tomorrow I'm off to my daughter's place in Canberra.Today I'll visit my mother and sister and do the gift exchanges.

Crafty sketches using Scrapmatts

Here's a very spotty Christmas layout for Crafty Sketches this month.It was the year we were married and features my husband,mother in law and husband's aunt.I used Scrapmatts reindeers and card borders plus some green bling.my dress in this photo was spotted which inspired the use of this paper.

Artastic "I believe in angels"

I used the words from one of my favourite ABBA songs for this layout.It is the nativity scene from my mother's nursing home and greets you as you go in the door.There are many caring kind nurses and staff there who look after the patients.

I went for the olde worlde look and downloaded the angel picture from a website featuring old postcards.

Thank you to all who've put their name in for my blog giveaway.It isn't too late if you haven't.

Stuck on a fountain/giveaway reminder

Here's my entry for Stuck sketches this month. I love these papers that came from What is old is new again.They are October afternoon and studio calico. I made the flower from cotton lace and used an antique button from the 1940s.The grey/white and touch of red combo has been a favourite winter choice of mine for years.

Reminder to enter my blog giveaway.Just leave a comment...it is that simple.Details are 2 posts ago.

Blog giveaway reminders and a card

Here's a card I've made for the 12 days of Christmas challenge at www.stampandscrap.com.au The current one is a sketch for a card or a layout. It isn't too late to join in.

Also,I'd like to see more people for my giveaway(see previous post) .All you have to do is leave a comment.I'll draw it on Christmas day.

My blog giveaway...from me alone.

It is nearly Christmas and I feel generous.

Just leave a comment after this post and you might win this collection of goodies.There's a Grant A5 mini album,black paint,Heidi Swapp chipboard Kaisercraft droplets and bling and some Claudia Elyse 3d stickers.

I'll draw the winner on Christmas Day and then will need your contact details to post it after the festive season,when the P.O. is less choked.

December challenge at stamp and scrap;air vent fun!

We are back in Paris again,this time in front of the Moulin Rouge in Montmatre.There is a round vent over the metro which blows air up..similar to the one featuring Marilyn Monroe in "Seven year itch" Erica thought it was great fun and wished she had worn a flared skirt to get the full effect.
I used Rhonna Farrer paper which features a close up from a dictionary,including the words music and museum.I thought this was apt considering the location.I continued the grey,black and white idea to highlight the photo elements.The vent and the weather were also grey.Erica was wearing black(what else!),so the Moulin Rouge stood out.The transparency featuring red dots and the inking on the flower on the tag picked up the red. this layout is for the December sketch challenge on www.stampandscrap.com.au blog.Go check it out!

Kraft it up December challenge

Ah the 1970's, such happy memories! This photo was taken on Christmas Day 1978 in Auckland New Zealand.We were at the start of a 4 week bus trip which was eventful to say the least.One of the host girls put on a bbq for 40 people because it was Christmas Day.

I used dusty blue and apricot with a touch of red and mauve.I knotted the fine ribbon and used an appliqued flower from a garment I cut up.The backing paper has a pinecone so there is a tiny touch of christmas there.

12 days of christmas at www.stampandscrap.com

12 Days of Christmas
This year, we will again run our very popular 12 Days of Christmas Giveaways... Everyone can participate with us for this...as each day starting from Decmeber 6th, 2010... I will post a challenge on the blog for you to complete.Please pass our blog link on to anyone you know who is interested...The more people we get joining in...the BIGGER the prizes will be!!One lucky person who completes the challenge in the specified time will win the day's prize.We will have 12 challenges, 12 prizes, & 12 winners....I look forward to seeing everyone's creations and I hope you can all join us on the blog from December 6....

The layout from the dress, using tiny corsets

Here is the layout using the 3 photos of the dress that Erica made.
She received a distinction so that was the title of the layout.I used graphics 45 paper "Happy Homemaker" and by cutting a hole behind the photos was able to get some of the revese side featuring fashion sketches from the 1920s.The spotty paper is my Minds eye "Lost and found".
The 2 tiny corsets are from Scrapmatts and the velvet tag is from a garment I purchased in a store,with a luggage label in the centre.
I was sent the roses ribbon edging so thought it would make a nice border for the layout.

Steampunked layout with chipboard

I've been noticing steampunked layouts on a few sites,so thought I'd give it a go.
This photo of Jacob aiming his gun straight at the camera,contained all the correct ingredients.
I've used My Mind's eye "Lost and found" papers,Jenni Bowlin studio chalkboard alphas,lots of metal pieces including a kaisercraft decorated brad and chipboard from 2 different companies.(Sorry Sofie).The silver inked circle cogs and lattice corner piece are from Scrapbooking 'n'craft and the gold clock and black lampost are from Scrapmatts
I cut the penny farthing picture and the gun from an old encyclopedia..The copper card backing the photo was actually from an old wedding invitation.I inked the deckle edge to make it stand out more.

let's get shabby entry using scrapmatts

"Let's get shabby" this month wants you to scrap a favourite Christmas carol.I went for Frosty the snowman,a family favourite.
The Graphics 45 picture of a snowman with a small angel/boy/cupid is surrounded by a chipboard frame from scrapmatts.I lightly inked it with white.The doiley and fabric flower and dotty flourish, give it a touch of Christmas red and green.The lace is antique from my great grandmothers stash and the satin ribbon with birds is as old as me(56).I curled to top of the sheet music but it flattened in the scanner.

Scrapmatts just happen to have...

Look what I've got from Scrapmatts. In view of the last post I made with accompanying photos,I feel a layout coming on.
Scrapmatts have lots of exciting chipboard for Christmas too.Go on over and check it out.I love the reindeers with curly antlers.

www.scrapmatts.com

She's finished her course! And a Christmas card too.

I was inspired by something I saw in an old Kaisercraft magazine.This is a christmas card I made using a rhinestone tree.It is just right with the other tree I made and tiny bird.

In other news my daughter has completed her CIT course in garment construction and went before an interview panel from the fashion industry yesterday to assess her dressmaking skills. She received a distinction.Here is the dress she made.These are front and back views with the card in between.LOL

Drumroll please............new design team!

I am pleased to announce that I am now part of http://scrapmatts.ning.com/ Scrapmatts design team.They are the makers of chipboard and i am in very good company.There are 16 on the design team,led by Angela Peardon.It promises to be a fun year!

Mystical bad taste night layout

The other November challenge at Mystical scrapbooks is to do a layout using ADVICE. My mother always told me to dress to suit the occasion.In the case of these photos we went totally overboard and wore everything that didn't match,winning a prize for the worst dressed couple.

I included an AST I made at the recent papercraft show because the word on it fitted....unique.

The quote rub-on also seemed to go with the advice..."seeing yourself as you want to be is the key to personal growth".I'm still friends with the other people in these photos.

Purple pumpkin giveaway

http://purplepumpkincrafts.blogspot.com/2010/11/cute-little-giveaway.html? Check out this blog to win some cute buttons and flowers.I've applied but probably somebody else wiill win.

Mystical Titanic layout

mystical scrapbooking have a snap challenge which required more than 3 words in the title,cut out patterned paper,
so I did this layout.The transparency flourishes were sent to me from Amanda via my win on artastic.The cut out flowers are from Bella "Delightful life" papers.
I've gone a tad crazy on butterflies lately.In this case it represents Thena's efforts at flying.
Now I'm off to do my challenge for A2Z scraplets

stuck sketches honeymoon

Do not adjust your eyes,the backing paper is printed crooked! However,it suited the rest of the layout so I used it.The photo is of my ex husband and myself on our honeymoon in Norfolk Island in 1982.We were at a museum,called Bishop's court, where there was a musical evening.

I used a beautiful lace butterfly that I bought last weekend at the Papercraft festival.It is from a shop called Art Stamps where I used to work.The crochet lace flowers were dyed (see a previous post) by myself and match this salmon pink paper nicely.The rub ons featuring cupid's arrow also added to the mood of this layout as did the playing card.

From Screen to scrap

Here's my entry for from screen to scrap this month.The movie was Casablanca and we needed to feature 2 people,an aeroplane and at least 2 colours in the title.

This was my friends from Greece's visit to Australia 2 years ago.We had a wonderful reunion after 32 years apart!

The chipboard aeroplanes which I inked in silver are from scrapbook'n'craft.

These are a few of my favourite things...sport

Here are Erica and I rowing at National Park at Audley.It was great fun! I made this during a lesson paper tearing and think that it looks like the boat is actually in the waves.

let's get shabby

"Mum you have always had style" is the title.My mother was a dressmaker so always dressed perfectly for every occasion. Here she is at a wedding

in 1966.

I used maya Rd letters for the title but they aren't as clear on the scan as I'd like them.Because this was a vintage layout I used vintage patterned paper,a paper pattern,3 pins,a ricrac card,ric rac braid and crochet lace.

Cop an Eiffel (eye-full!)

For this layout I used My Mind's Eye "Lost and Found" papers.I also used an Eiffel tower and lampost from scrapmatts. I vividly remember this day,it was freezing at the top of the tower but there were spectacular views all around Paris.I had bought a hot cuppa mainly to warm my hands.The chipboard tower is like a reverse silhouette of the photo of the tower.

These papers were sent to me by Treesa after I won her random draw.

Out of the hat meets Mad Max

A friend recently went on an outback adventure and stopped at Silverton near Broken Hill.There she saw the car from Mad Max.

Out of the hat's challenge this month was to use corrugated cardboard,string and painted background.It seemed to be screaming"Male" photo.I thought this would be suitable. The paper is Pink Paislee "captivating" and I used a blend of burnt sienna and green Jo Sonja paints on the background and the cogs.The big flower is also made from corrugated cardboard and the string is across the top under the 3 smaller cogs.

White with one layout

White with one required white with yellow and journalling directly on to the background with no journalling blocks etc.

I used a photo from Ireland of a yellow door and window frame.There was a black spiral staircase and lampost in the foreground.It was taken from the coach window so is on an angle. I have measured and re-measured the photo with the edges of the white cardstock and IT IS STRAIGHT!I guess it is a slight optical illusion.I used scrapbook'n'craft chipboard corners,2 lace doileys,2 cut out butterflies,large rhinestones,a punched flower,a circular paper clip and 2 yellow shamrocks to add to the Irish theme. Lettering is from Kaisercraft.

I've also put a close up picture of the doiley/butterfly detail.

The doiley on the left was soaked overnight in a bucket with red water obtained by soaking one of my red jumpers.It has come out a shabby chic pale pink.I have used the technique in the past with purple dye to get mauve and blue/navy to get pale blue.A quick way to dye for scrapbooking without spending any money.

The "Lucky" picture on the left was done at the Papercraft festival as a make and take.First you place chipboard butterflies over card then spray mist them ,making a mask.Then flowers are punched from paper and scrunched.Several layers are added together with a brad.Lightly ink the branch shape with distressing ink and add a leaf and a backing sheet of paper.A photo will be added on to this,just tucking the corner under the flower

pApercrafts fair at penrith and all that stuff!

I've just returned from 2 days at the papercrafts fair at Penrith where I worked on Melinda and Chris's stall for scrapbook'n'craft.It was fun selling the chipboard but awfully hard on the back,especially today after 6 hours.Melinda declared a 50% off sale and we were inundated with customers.Here's a photo of us in action.

I also had a bit of a spending spree afterwards finding an MM edge distresser,more stamps and chipboard and meeting Tiffany at Twiddlybits,where I made a photo stand and did another make and take, an ATC(birdcage)see above.Then i found art stamps,where I used to teach scrapbooking and bought some filigree butterflies and some embossing powder. All in all a fun weekend.

Decorative edges at Kraft it up!

Our challenge this month on Kraft it up is to use decorative edges.This made me think of this photo where the arched bridge has criss cross metal and the old clock tower and street lamp contrast with the new skyscraper and bridge.
I used Sassafrass lass papers plus another piece of the floral fabric I bought at Vinnies.The lace doiley,painted edging strip and cotton eyelet lace add more decorative edges.The lace doiley echoes the curve of the bridge in the photo.

Twiddlybits entry

I've had this Kaisercraft Le Chateau paper for ages plus the twiddlybits bird cage.I left it raw,made a cardstock bird to go in it,used 2 other twiddlybits curls with flowers which I inked black,plus some flowers and butterflies cut from Sassafrass Lass paper.The ribbon matched the curls with flowers exactly...that was lucky! We had to answer 35 questions about ourselves.

A mystical win.

Our Door Prize of a pack of Sceinic Route Black Chipboard Alphas goes too..Joolz . I'm excited!!! It was a complete surprise. meanwhile I've been shopping at my LSS today and picked up some yummy Christmas papers from Graphics 45.I think they're my new favourite company!. Their stuff is so delicious.The layout in a previous post called "I haven't got a thing to wear" features some of their stuff.Lots of vintage pictures etc.

see ya later at stuck!

This layout is redone. I wasn't happy with the original so managed to save some elements and use them on this Stuck sketch.I guess it is called "see ya later" or Summer Vacation" but either way it is a sailboat in Vanuatu.I used kaisercraft pearl bling to embellish plus some ric-rac.Being a child of the 60's I love ric rac.The button above the title is an old covered one onto which I put a rub on.The bookplates add a little something extra I think.

2 more layouts

I made these 2 layouts for a design team application on White with one I put a lot of time and imagination into these but unfortunately didn't get chosen.The blue one needed stamping and the red one,rub-ons.I thought i'd share them with my blog viewers here instead.

Gonks again

My sewing machine had a workout yesterday as I made 2 more gonks for a special order. The one on the left is for bulldogs and the one on the right is for Wests tigers.Yes these 2 are football team gonks.I was lucky enough to find material with tigers on it.
Hope you like them!

Favourite Pet

This is for "these are a few of my favourite things" website.

A2z scraplets entry

Well this makes my 3rd post here for today. I'm on a roll with my scrapping.This one is for A2z scraplets October sketch challenge and is called {xxx} as in kisses,not x rated!!! We came across this huge statue of Cassanova in a mask shop in Venice.I couldn't resist getting my photo taken with it.I did the layout in cream,black and red and using these wonderful Graphics 45 papers.Very versatile!

huge giveaway at "me and the little rascals"

There's a huge giveaway at http://justlovescrappin.blogspot.com/ Come on over and check it out.Lots of imaginesence stuff.Just leave a comment and become a follower.(Sounds like a religion doesn't it?)

I just posted this and when I clicked publish post up came an ad for scientology....scary aint it? NO THANKS TOM CRUISE.

Out of the hat entry

Here's my cute entry for Out of the hat this month. I've had this duck paper for years...was it from Scrapbooking memories??? Anyway we were required to make an handmade embellishment,scallops and a book page.I sewed ribbon tightly together to make the 3 rosettes.

All the colours seemed to go nicely together.

Kraft it up!-Singapore Sling

This is my entry this month for Kraft it up! I started with a cut out piece of fabric featuring embroidered flowers. It seemed to typify the colours of the famous drink.I addeda tag featuring bottles taken on the bar at Raffles hotel,then the 2 photos. One is actually the title and the other shows us well into our drinks.They had peanuts at the table to eat with your cocktail.I look the worse for wear in this photo but we had a long day walking and shopping before going to Raffles hotel.

spend spend spend!

I've just visited What's old is new again kits and bought 3 kits. They are having a sale and reduced some items..so I bought one of each.

A scraplift I'm proud of.

our challenge for October on Mystical is to scraplift someone else's layout.








I used one by Michelle Fowler called Monday's child http://www.mysticalscrapbooks.com.au/photos/showphoto.php?photo=5863 and made this one of my mother called Choir girl.It was from an old sepia photo in the 1930s.I zoomed in then enlarged it,printing it in black and white.I'd had the bingo card with"faith" on it for a while and couldn't figure how to use it.
This all came together nicely. The background papers are 7gypsies Bayswater,October Afternoon Farmhouse,Sandy Lion Khaki Plaid plus a lace doiley.The bird tag was in a swap on enchanted scrapbooking(thank you whoever you are) and the cloud next to the tag is cut from a Sassafrass lass paper.I love the way the colours in this one work together.

Crafty sketches and Let's get Shabby

The tulips layout is for crafty sketches.The fence had to be hand cut then painted,then inked.It is the first pennant flags I've done but i'm happy with how they turned out.

"Today a star was born" is for Let's get shabby.The photo was taken at Erica's 21st and is of my sister and her grandaughter,Annabelle.I've used cream,pink with a touch of yellow.There are roses on my sisters dress and on the lower paper.The 2 diecuts are the stars and the light over the billboard featuring the title. (This was cut from a birthday card but is apt for the occasion.I couldn't resist the chocolate ad as the little girl's face reminded me of Annabelle's face, complete with curls.

Inspired Blueprints

Here's my take on sketch #57 at Inspired blueprints.

I used a stamp of a chandelier that I've had for a while to embellish my layout and add a bit of pink.The children had a great time seeing Disney on ice and I'm sure will remember it for a long time.

Win a prize at Brittannahlee

To win a huge bunch of supplies huge embellishment & Paper pack... Will include 12x12 Patterned Papers, Rhinestones, Pearls, Ribbon, Buttons, Brads & Eyelets.....go to http://sharynnecreates.blogspot.com/ and leave a comment about the new-look blog. Yes it IS that easy!

I'm on the DT there and Sharynne is trying to build up numbers on her blog.While you're there there's a sketch challenge as well for October.here's my effort for the sketch. I used satin material as my background and made the flowers myself.