CSI - Share

Just a quick post to share a challenge layout, I completed today - nothing like leaving it until the last minute.
I LOVE the challenges at CSI and it was just what I needed to give my long lost mojo a boost.
Here is the Case File I selected to attempt.

Here is my take on the Case File.

I've used trees, enamel dots and text for my evidence and the inspiration word LOST for my testimony. Journalling about our recent trip to Venice. What a wonderful city!
Thanks for dropping by.

August Challenges

I can't believe my last post was last November!!! Not only that but it was also a sharing of retreat layouts! Well here is another post almost the same.
I recently spent a few glorious days at Camp Mojo and managed to complete a few layouts using challenges as inspiration.

I completed two of the Scrapping Clearly challenges but when I tried to upload them today the link was closed! Must remember to not leave it until the last minute to photograph layouts in future! lol

Anyway this was the Mood Board and my interpretation.

And the sketch challenge from Scrapping Clearly and my layout.

I rotated the sketch to suit my photo and used washi tape and a stencilled shape to replace the banner.

It felt good to create again, I really must find more time to do it!

Thanks for dropping by!

Retreat Layouts

Earlier this month I managed to spend three fabulous day at Opal Cove creating, laughing, eating, enjoying cocktails and spending time with some wonderful friends.
I managed a number of layouts over the weekend for a few November challenges. I love having a challenge to inspire me and give me direction, for me it make the whole process so much easier!

This one was inspired by the current mood board at Scrap Around the World.

One for Scrap the Girls and the sketch challenge for November.

Stuck! had a great sketch this month too so I decided to give that one a go.

and the final one was for the Scrap the Boys challenge - Eating out.

I love the foiled chipboard in this one. I used a new product available from Scrapboutique and I love it, it comes in a range of colours and once you get the hang of it, is fairly easy to use. I think it will be featuring on many layouts in the future!

Thanks for dropping in to take a look.

Scrap the Boys

It's hard to believe it has been so long since I last published a post! I have rediscovered my love for scrapping and have decided it is time to start using challenges as inspiration to get memories documented.
I have always loved the Scrap the Boys challenges, so this was a great place to start!
I have adapted their fabuous September sketch to come up with this layout. Lots of Dylusions paint and ink and some stencils by Donna Downey and Dina Wakley. Lots of fun!

Thanks for dropping by!

July Stylist Challenge at ScrapBoutique

The July Stylist challenge is up at ScrapBoutique and this month we are scrapping about the things that bring us WINTER COMFORT.
You can find all the details here.

Think scarves and jumpers, roaring fires, warm curries, reading books indoors when it is raining.....the ideas are up to you.

The only extra criteria is to use at least two old items from your stash. 

I've scrapped about my love for long boots, denim and chunky scarves when the weather turns cold and used some very old Maya Raod snowflakes and Basic Grey rubons.

Get your entries into the gallery by the 31st July to be in the running to win a $20.00 voucher for the Boutique along with free postage! 

Hope you can find the time to join in, we'd love to see some new faces!!

Finally.....an update!

Well I knew I had neglected this blog but I had no idea it had been that long between posts! Sometimes life gets in the way of scrapbooking and finding time to be creative and I really must make more of an effort to be less bogged down by work and find more time to do the things I love!!
Anyway, a few layouts I have recently created for Chels at SCRAPBOUTIQUE.

I worked with the wonderful Elle's Studio 'Day to Day' products to create the following two layouts!

I love the papers and all of the little bits and pieces you can cut out and add to your layouts! You can find them here.

Chels also sent me some of the gorgeous Websters Pages 'Plum Seed' papers, mini bags and folders and journalling cards.

In this first one I used the mini folder and a bag to add extra photos and journalling so I have included a close up of that too!

I made this one using the same range, I love that there are both pinks and red and then more masculine blues and browns in this range!!

Thanks for dropping by! I really must make an effort to update more frequently!! 

A fabulous new challenge

Just wanted to share with you some exciting news about a new challenge now running at ScrapBoutique.The Boutique Life(Style) challenge will run all year with great prizes and special offers only available to participants. So whether you are into Scrapbooking, Project Life or Mixed Media we would love for you to join in :)

Here are all the details:

The first challenge for January is up in the forum HERE!

The forum is a very encouraging and friendly community and we have a stack of new members joining us for the year long challenges. Come on over and take a look!

Also a few layouts to share...just realised I haven't posted them before!

I Have Learned - Created for a challenge at CSI

The Uncooperative Subject - For Scrap the Boys

and Santa Hats - another one for Scrap the Boys

Hope you get a chance to join us at ScrapBoutique for the new challenge! I'm off to leave a little blog love, it has been ages since I've had time to browse!!  xxx

Ahoy Me Hearties

Recently we held our annual Bookweek Parade at school and I love to join in and dress up each year too. This year a few of us decided to go as pirates and I just had to scrap this photo of the event.

I just love that Julie Fei-Fan Balzer template I used with gesso in the background. Chels has them here in her shop along with many of the other new templates at a very reasonable price.

I made this layout for my CyberCropcolour challenge, all the details are here in the forum. Entries close at midnight tonight so there is still time to get your entries in. 

Thanks for dropping by, if you are in my part of the world hope you are enjoying this warmer weather, I love it!! 

CSI - Special Investigator

I was so surprised, and very excited, when Debbi contacted me to see if I would like to be a Special Investigator for the month of September at CSI.

I love the Case Files the super talented Debbi puts togther each month and jumped at the chance to join in! If you haven't had a chance to try her challenges pop over and take a look at the current file Case File No. 38.

I've already created three layouts and have been so busy with the end of school term that I haven't had a chance to share any of them here. So here are my layouts so far for September.

Case File No. 36 This first one is a photo of my youngest and his gorgeous friend taken just before they headed out to dinner. I've glued an old Maya Road chipboard alphabet onto the background and covered the letters with gesso and tissue paper to fit in with the criteria for the challenge.

Case File No.37. I found these photos of my eldest son and one of his friends on my computer and just had to scrap them!

 This is the most recent one for Case File No. 38 with a close up shot of the journalling. Photo of my hubby taken at the National School Rugby championships last year where he coached the NSW side to victory for the fourth year in a row!
There is still plenty of time to get this one in....take a look, it is due 30th September.

Hope that you can find the time to come and visit and take look at the amazing layouts created by Debbi and her very talented group of ladies who make up the design Team.

Thanks for dropping by and leaving comments, they always make my day!

There is still time...

.....to get your August entry in for the Stylist Challenge at Scrapboutique.

This month we are scrapping about memorable holidays inspired by the London Olympics. The extra criteria is to use your own handwriting and to journal at least 30 words.

Get you entry into the gallery by the end of the month to win a prize voucher to spend in the store!

Here is the layout I created.

Lots of gesso, mists and a little stitching in the background (seem to be my favourite three at the moment!). Hope you get a chance to join us!

Playing Along at CSI

I just love the case files created by Debbi each week for the challenges at CSI. They are a great starting point for colours and I find the inspiration for the journalling (testimony) always gives me the kick start I need to tell my stories.
If you haven't played along pop over to have a look at the current challenge, beautiful beachy colours!!
Here are my entries for the two most recent challenges.

I love this underwater photo of my gorgeous niece Amaka and it was perfect for the colours in Case File 30. One of the things I love about these challenges is being pushed to use colours I would not normally use!

I used another photo I have been wanting to scrap for quite some time for Case File 30. The little girl in the photo is me, taken in our backyard sometime in the late 60's.

Thanks for dropping by and leaving comments, I know everyone says it but comments really do make my day! I hope you get a chance to be inspired by the challenges at CSI.

Speed Scrapping

Speed and scrapping are not two words that I would normally put together!
I take days to finish a layout, I move bits around until I am happy and often come back the next day to change the position of papers ever so slightly or add another embellishment until I am happy and eventually glue it all down!
So having to run the Speed Scrap for the ScrapBoutique Cybercrop was a challenge for me to say the least!!
It was made a little easier having this wonderful sketch from PAGE DRAFTS as inspiration.

Anyway I managed to put this layout together and photograph and upload it in 1 and a half hours. A miracle for me and, apart from the heavy ink splotch caused by dropping the ink pad on the layout while I was rushing, I am reasonably pleased with how it turned out.

Hope you have a great weekend and thanks for dropping by!

A SALE, a CyberCrop and a feature!

There are still a few days left to pick up some bargains at the best ever BIRTHDAY SALE happening at Scrapboutique!!!
Chels always has the store stocked with the latest products and, with 20-50% off everything in store, there are some amazing deals to be had!!

Also in the Boutique forum this weekend (and lasting for a week) we are holding a Birthday CyberCrop. There will be fabulous challenges, speed scrapping and store vouchers up for grabs. Come and join us for a weekend of fun!!
The Boutique is a very friendly and supportive scrapping community and new members are always welcome!

On a final note I am very excited to be the STAR WITNESS at CSI this week with this layout:

Thanks for dropping by and leaving comments, they make my day!

It's not too late...

... to get an entry in for the July Scrap the Boys challenge.

THIS MONTHS CHALLENGE IS...

SCHOOL PHOTOS

This month is school photo time at our school so what your challenge is this month is to create a layout featuring your child(rens) school photo, if your child isnt at school but playgroup, early learning or creche try and get/use a photo of them there....

There are two fabulous prizes on offer:

SCRAP THERAPY...

Scrap Therapy are offering a 25.00 voucher...


SCRAPBOOK DIVAS...
Scrapbook Divas are offering a $20.00 voucher...

Here is my sample:

So dig out those unscrapped school photos and get your entry in by 31 July.  Hope you can join us!

Most Wanted at CSI

Super excited to have made the Most Wanted list at CSI this week!

This was my layout which can be viewed here in the CSI gallery.

These photos are so typical of Joe each time I try to get a serious shot of him!
I created the background on grey cardstock using gesso and then a Crafter's Workshop stencil, quite pleased with the effect it created.
Drop by CSI and check out the fabulous boards Debbi puts together each week. They are sure to ignite your creativity!!

July Challenge at Scrapboutique

I have a terrible habit of buying ALL of the die-cuts, tags, stickers and labels to go with a paper range and then find that I never use them all.
SO this month at SCRAPBOUTIQUE we are challenging you to use at least 4 (but more would be fabulous) of these items on a layout.
I have used 8 of the die-cuts from this awesome Kaisercraft pack which Chels has in store plus I also used a transparency and some of the stickers. Can I tell you there are still oodles of die-cuts left in the packet, it is great value for money!!

I'd love you to come and join us!

CyberCrop at Scrapboutique

Just a few layouts I made for the weekend CyberCrop at Scrapboutique.
The theme was School (Holi)Days to mark the start of the school holidays here in NSW!
The first layout was for Chelsea's challenge to use the quote from the Cat Stevens song 'Remember the Days of the old school yard, we used to laugh a lot'. Haven't been able to get the song out of my head since!!

I also did Leanne's challenge to scrap about a holiday first. I have just returned from a retreat at the beautiful Noonaweena conference centre and as it was my first retreat to this location I decided it was the perfect topic. We had the most wonderful weekend and I will post some layout shares soon. Can't wait to go back next year!

I used the Amy Tangerine line and although it is far from my usual colour choice I am happy with the way it turned out.

Thanks for dropping by!

Scrapboutique Layouts

A few layouts to share which I created using products sent to me in my first designer kit for Scrapboutique. Chels was very generous and sent me loads of papers and some divine Dylusions Ink which she now stocks in the store here.
So the shares, a layout using Simple Stories Summer Fresh.

Love the new Echo Park, Paradise Beach. It was perfect for these photos from our recent trip to Phuket. I used the Dylusions ink on this one in the background and to colour the fabric, these inks are so bright and intense, beautiful!

I also used some of the papers from this range to make a page for my Phuket mini album.

And a final layout using the new My Minds Eye Nostalgia Range. There are papers suitable for male and female pages in this range, very versatile.

Pop into the Boutique to have a look at these new ranges. 

CyberCrop @ Scrapboutique

This weekend is the May Cybercrop at Scrapboutique and our theme is Upcycling/Recycling!
The first challenges are up in the forum here and we'd love you to come along and join in, new faces are always welcome!!

My challenge for this crop is to Reduce, Recycle and Reuse to make a layout.

Reuse - something that has been used before eg. concert tickets, receipts for recent purchases, shopping bags
Reduce - your stash by using at least 4 pp and 3 different alphas
     and
Recycle - a scrap related item eg. packaging, tissue paper or twine that scrap supplies come wrapped in, pizza boxes

 I used the ticket from our trip to Parliament House question time and the negative from some corrugated cardboard alphas as my reused and recycled items.

Hope you get a chance to join in!

Scrap the Boys May Challenge and some exciting news!

Since arriving home from our trip to Thailand I don't really feel like my feet have touched the ground! Work has been super busy, one of the busiest times of the year with assessing and reporting, and things at home have been hectic too.
I am very excited to share that I have been selected to join the design team at Scrapboutique. The community of girls at Scrapboutique is very welcoming and filled with insporational ladies. Chels stocks great essential supplies in her shop and runs the most fantastic retreats. I can't wait to get started in my new role!!
We are having a Cyber Crop in the forum this weekend so if you feel like a challenge drop in and join us, new face are always welcome!!
In all the madness of everyday life I have realised I have not posted my Scrap the Boys layout for May.
The May challenge is to scrap your boys getting dirty and to use the photo as inspiration in your layout.
Not too hard!
There is still plenty of time to join in so pop over to Scrap the Boys and have a look.
Here is my take on the challenge:

Thanks for dropping by. Hope to see you at Scrapboutique!