A2Z scraplets entry

Here's my layout for the January sketch on A2Z scraplets. I put vines through the Xyron then curved them around the photos and journalling box.The base of the biggest flower is a crochet motif I was given years ago at someone's wedding.One of the flowers wasaged with walnut ink. I was going for the whole "ancient " look and think I might have achieved it. Paper is by Kaisercraft.
The new theme poster has just been realeased on From screen to scrap so now I need to find a pirate!

Stuck?! sketches

Here's a layout I've just done for Stuck?! sketches.I used lace paper which is self adhesive,then sassafrass lass papers and Heidi Grace flocked tags.The brads are by Bella and match quite well.

As it was an Easter layout I added the chicken which originally came in a recipe swap.The photo is of Annabelle playing with Erica who in turn was looking slightly bemused and wondering how long it would go on.It was a clear case of hero worship.It was nice to use pastels on this layout.

Photography quotes.

" Photography is about finding out what can happen in the frame.When you put 4 edges around some facts,you change those facts." Garry Winogrand
" Photography is about catching a moment that is passing,and which is true" Jaques-Henri Lartigue
"Photography is a way of feeling,of touching,of loving.What you have caught on film is captured forever...it remembers little things,long after you have forgotten everything" Aaron Siskind
"Photography takes an instant out of time,altering life by holding it still" Dorothea Lange

Tidying and sorting

I've just spent about 3 hours sorting through my scrapping cupboard and found some interesting bits and pieces I had forgotten I owned.There are soooo many tags,I think I could use one on every layout between now and when I turn 99.There were also many small embellishments I had forgotten I owned so it was good to put those somewhere safe.I've also added a couple of new containers for metal embellishments,bling,paperclips and so on.
My readers will notice some different things appearing on my new layouts.
I submitted 6 layouts to scrapbooknewsandreview.com for publication but unfortunately they weren't chosen.Lisa Kampus from Encanted and mystical is on their team now.

White,gold and bling

Shabbychic butterflies and bows entry is here.I used left over Christmas papers,gold bling,lace,courrugated cardboard, a gold sticker and a sheet of baroque music torn from an old encyclopedia.The theme was white,gold and bling.I didn't want to do a Christmas layout and this palace in Venice suited the colour scheme.The background paper is by Rhonna Farrer called Autumn leaves.I love the shape of this one.

Two cybercrops in one weekend.

I have 8 layouts to complete before Monday night 4 for Purplescraps and 4 for Enchanted scrapbooking.Both sites are having a cybercrop.I've finally done one about the breast cancer fundraiser we did at the Purplescraps retreat but couldn't fit all the photos so this will be a double one.I've also made one about wanting to be on a design team as the theme was something you want to achieve this year.
Oh well, back to the scrapping board.

Mystery solved!

The wonderful Wendy has solved the mystery! It was for Anna's craft cupboard so I'm going over there right now to upload it.
I've started getting back to my family research spurred on by my cousin Pat.I started 24 years ago then had Erica and that was the end of it.Now she is "all growed up" and left home I have no excuse,plus the internet has made life a whole lot easier.

photographs and displaying the mystery layout.

Here's 2 photos I took of the November lillies in my front garden.I was testing my close up abilities.I can see the graininess of the petals and the delicate folds too.

I've decided to upload the mystery layout here. If you can identify the blog that this sketch challenge comes from,please tell me.I'm searching but can't find it...so frustrating when you've spent time assembling it.

Papers are from Sassafras lass and Sandy Lion.The mottled one under the tag was a free SM one.Clover shapes are from Scrapbooking'n'craft.

Mystical layouts and a mystery

These two layouts are for Mysticals cybercrop.The Pizza Roma is for a sketch and the Colonial Gardens was a blind scrapping.

I've also made a sketch based layout but can't find the site I made it for.At least I have a few days to look for it.

Some bunny

I missed out on another design team but received some positive feedback saying that my work was outstanding.That gives me confidence to try again as it has been so hard waiting and hoping.When I think back i reached the 3rd round for Scrapboxx so I can't be too bad.

I received a nice comment on my last post from Aga who encouraged me to put a scrapjack in. So here it is.This stuffed bunny was in a shop in Athens that sold fur coats and gelato...a weird mix.The people obviously had a sense of humour.The rabbit made us laugh!

A wicked layout.

While we were in London last year we went to see "WICKED" at London's west end-Apollo theatre. The show was fantastic and Erica was in her element,being a theatre designer.
I chose to do this layout with purples and black rather than the green.The sketch was on a new site I have discovered Scraphappykat.The papers and embellies are from my $50 prize, the paper being named "Snowy serenade prelude" by Bo Bunny.The musical words on the page say "sparkle on a lonely winters night" which inspired me to scrap the wicked photo.It describes Elphaba. I love the way this has turned out!

ATC 52 week challenge has started

At Purplescraps we are doing a 52 week challenge using ATC's or a diary. I've opted for an A5 book and have done the first week's theme which is mosaics featuring the letter T.

Rather than square mosaics i went for the torn collage effect.The flowers are stamps I had spare.

Tomorrow night also on Purplescraps I am running a blind scrapping.

Taking stock

I've spent a few days just taking stock of what scrapping supplies I have.Found some older things which could still be useful so I moved them to where I will see them more readily.Also took things out of packets to condense stock.eg my flowers are now colour co-ordinated in small zip lock bags.Tidying up always adds a sense of accomplishment.
My layout to be published has now been delivered to SC headquarters.
Parcels from all those wins in December have arrived now.It was like Christmas all over again.

WIOin second place.

My layout of Edinburgh castle scored second on Wioin. I've won a $15 voucher which I intend to save until their new kits appear.

Personally I didn't think it was that great but there's no telling what the judges are looking for.I included the dockets because I wanted to remember the cost.

From screen to scrap with tulle

Here is my entry for From screen to scrap for January.I love these 3 photos of my daughter at around the ages of one to three.The centre one shows her dressed as a fairy wearing a tulle skirt.This is what motivated this layout.I cut out a large heart from card then sewed pleated tulle cut into one inch strips around the heart.I added flowers for extra depth and cut away some tulle where the photo was important.It reminds me of a 1950s valentines day chocolate box!

I'm getting published!

The layout aforementioned over which I agonised is going to be published. I made it for a contest on Scrapbooking Memories,but also submitted it to Scrapbook Creations.Their theme this month is a touch of whimsy.It features Erica's red sparkly Chuck Taylor shoes. I'm in shock!
As it has been several yesrs since I was published I was doubting it may ever happen again and here you are.It will appear in SC No 77.

Artastic Challenge

This months Artastic challenge features a Prohart painting of flowers. They are triangular in shape so I went with the shape and some of the colours.These photos are from Floriade earlier this year.

The layout also needed a bouquet of flowers so I used a vine and added Prima flowers plus folded petals from some silk flowers I had.They reflect the shape exactly but also I couldn't help thinking about Jacarandas.

Artastic and Screen to scrap are looking for a guest designer for march.It would be wonderful to be chosen, I can only hope and dream!

Another travel layout at USE YOUR STUFF

Above the town of Florence there is a lookout where you can get a birds eye view of the Duomo.This layout is for a challenge on Use your stuff where the theme is travel.

I've been wanting to do a patchwork quilt for sometime,so here was my chance.
Colour blocking reminds me, there is still time to enter Archiscraps where the theme is Colour blocking and a holiday photo.
This layout would be perfect.

When you look at the Duomo you do wonder how they built it so huge,so long ago.

Look what I got!

Corsets

Here's my latest layout.It was for crafty sketches.We visited the Victoria and Albert Museum in London where there was a fashion collection.Erica photographed several clothes including these 3 corsets.I used the last of the loopy brads on here plus a chipboard corset.I tried to keep the colours navy/white/red with a hint of yellow in the patterned paper.

Happy New Year and looking like a busy one.

We spent New Years Eve in Canberra where there was a handful of fireworks and nothing much else happening. My daughter has returned there to work and study again this year full time learning dressmaking to add to her costume designer degree.Her sewing machine will be getting a workout.Her computer adept boyfriend has pimped my blog to make it more snazzy.Thank you Jacob!
Looking around the blogs and sites I visit there is lots happening. I'm running Blind Scrapping on 15th January at Purplescraps.I've found a great layout design in a magazine and plan to adapt that.There is a cybercrop the following week.The other sites have some interesting challenges too.