Byron Bay Lighthouse LO

If it wasn't for the last minute I don't think I'd every get anything done! :) Here is one last entry for an October challenge, this time for Scrapbook Savvy's October Sketch challenge. Even though the sketch itself is pretty simple, the design really appealed to me for some reason. I again went with a painted background, so I'm now two from two when doing LO's about Byron, I think it might be the hippie-town influence. The adorable chipboard is from Scrapmatts, I picked it up at the craft fair last week. The details of Ben's proposal are included on the blue tag hidden behind the photo.

Here is the sketch. I used it more as a guide than something to follow exactly. The LO also had to have a decorative edge, which allowed me to play with my new Martha Stewart punch on the brown cardstock.

Treasured Moments LO

There's a brand new challenge up at The Lollipop Ladies so I can reveal my DT submission for this fortnight. The inspiration this fortnight is chocolate spiders with an added challenge of thread. Chocolate spiders are normally made with peanut butter which I'm allergic to and I'm none too fond of regular spiders so I was a bit stuck on this one. I decided to go with a chocolate/brown colour scheme instead and used another photo from my wedding.

The prize this fortnight is a $10 gift voucher to Annabelle Stamps. We haven't been getting too many entries recently so you'll be in with a good chance if you submit an entry. :)

Don't forget I'm having a blog giveaway with the prize pack below up for grabs. All you need to do to enter is spread the word about the giveaway and post a comment on this blog post. Entries close 6 November!

21 - Stuck?! Entry

I had some friends over for a crop last night and started working on this LO. I now understand why people don't get too many pages done while on crops, we spent more time talking/laughing/eating pizza than crafting! :) Anyway, I decided to finish it up today. It seems to be missing something and Ben thinks it's too plain as well but I can't figure our what else to add. Maybe some paint splaters?

 

 

Anyway, the photos are of my brother, celebrating his 21st birthday. He's the troublesome one in our family but he has a good heart, I think it's just taking him a little longer to mature than for my sister and I. Papers for the LO are from a mix of manufacturers. This is also my entry for the Stuck?! October 15th challenge. Here is the sketch I had to work from:

Edited 31.10.11: I took another crack at it and added some more details, such as the banner to the top right, outlined the numbers and added some bling to the big patterned paper circle. I think it looks a lot more complete now.

 

Thanks for looking at my many blog posts today! It's been a very busy weekend for me, I also completed my DT entry for The Lollipop Ladies. Sneak peak is below. Don't forget the current challenge with the Boogey men lollipops for inspiration is still open, I'd love to see some more LO entries.

Brisbane Craft & Quilt Fair

I went to the Brisbane Craft & Quilt Fair yesterday with two of my friends. They are both more into beading than scrapbooking so we ended up having to stop at almost every stall there! :) We signed up to do two classes, the first was a beading/wire work class to make a bracelet and the other was to make a wish bear. It's fun to try out new hobbies at these expo's.

I was able to complete the whole bracelet during the class. We had to make the wire beads from a length of wire, so that was a cool thing to learn. We only had time to complete this little heart from the bear kit. 

I finally got the depth of field thing to work in this photo! :)

This is what the bears will eventually look like if I get around the completing the kit. It's from Krazy Kreations.

I also managed to pick up some great new products at the fair. I got that Martha Stewart corner punch set for $30, looking forward to a chance to use it. I also finally caved in and purchased some Liquid Pearls. If anyone has some tips for how to use these please share them. And of course I had to pick up some new Scrapmatts chipboard!

Blog Layout Template Dramas

So I have spent the past hour trying to update my blog design and in the end I think it looks worse than when I started! :( If anyone can help me to fix the following issues it would be most appreciated:
1/ How do I centre my title?
2/ How do I get rid of the shading at the left and right edges of the reading areas?
3/ How do I get rid of the semi-transparent overlay right at the top which is changing the background colour?

Also, does anyone have recommendations for good complete design sets?

Thanks!

Giveaway extension

I am running a blog giveway at the moment. It was due to end yesterday but since I only received one entry I've decided to extend it for another two weeks! The giveaway includes alphabet sets in pink and aqua, two sheets of die-cuts, 15 brads, 4 fabric embellishments and a pack of acrylic stamps, all by Kaisercraft.

As an added incentive I will also be giving away a second place prize of 15 cabochons.

How to enter:

1) Spread the word about my giveaway - this can be a post on your own blog, an update on your facebook or twitter account, anything else you can think of.

2) Leave a comment on this post telling me how you completed step one. I'd prefer the comment to also tell me what kind of blogs you follow (personal/craft/product/challenge etc) and what makes you decide to follow a blog.

Bonus entries:

For your chance to get bonus entries you can also complete the following:

1) Become a follower of my blog (please only do this if you like my work).

2) Leave a comment on any of my other blog posts about my work (maximum of three extra entries).

Competition closes midnight 6 November 2011. Entry is open to everyone, I'm happy to post internationally.

Halloween Cards - Lollipop Ladies Reveal

Time for the reveal of my Lollipop Ladies design for this week. The inspiration this week was Boogeyman Lollipops with an added challenge of Halloween. I don't have any Halloween photos or papers so I went with a set of three cards instead.

I'm not sure what I'm going to do with these cards now though. Anyway, the prize this fortnight is a TGF stamp (Lula) from Mad for Markers. I'm looking forward to seeing what the image below inspires you to create. :)

Also, don't forget I have a blog giveaway going on at the moment. The giveaway includes alphabet sets in pink and aqua, two sheets of die-cuts, 15 brads, 4 fabric embellishments and a pack of acrylic stamps. Entries open until 20 October 2011.

Shall We Dance LO and Lollipop Ladies sneak

Scrap Jacked is another challenge blog which I've been watching for a while but never entered anything before. They pop up a variety of different LO's and you chose one to scraplift to create your entry. Some of the LO's in previous months have been pretty amazing and I think it's a great way to try out a new style. As soon as I saw Bec's wonderful DT LO for this month I knew exactly which photos I wanted to use. I probably should have interpreted the design a bit more, but I really thought it was perfect to start with. Here is my LO:

This is the LO by Bec Miller that inspired me:

I also managed to create my DT submission for The Lollipop Ladies. Are you after a sneak peak?

The current red frog challenge is open until midday on Tuesday so you've still got time to create a design to enter. I'm loving seeing all the cute frogs entered so far.

Lime Tree and Scap Addict Giveaway

I'm a big fan of doilies and it just happens that Lime Tree Creations is giving away at $20 pack this month! How could you go past a chance to win this colourful lot?

Scrap Addict is also having a fantastic giveaway with the Fancy Pants Baby Mine line. I already have some of these papers but they are SO adorable! In fact, they are the only baby range I've ever bought.

Don't forget my giveaway is still open too. Since no one has commented yet your chances are looking good at being the winner!

Embellishment Giveaway

I think it's important to share the good luck around when things are going well and I've got a bit to celebrate at the moment. My scrapbooking is going pretty well: I've made it onto a DT; I was the most successful exhibitor at the Gold Coast Show this year; I've managed to talk a couple of friends into taking up the hobby. My little blog is also chugging along: I've recently posted my 200th post, I've had over 2500 visitors and just made it to 40 followers. So to share it around I've decided it's time for another blog giveaway. :)

The giveaway includes alphabet sets in pink and aqua, two sheets of die-cuts, 15 brads, 4 fabric embellishments and a pack of acrylic stamps.

How to enter:

1) Spread the word about my giveaway - this can be a post on your own blog, an update on your facebook or twitter account, anything else you can think of.

2) Leave a comment on this post telling me what kind of blogs you follow (personal/craft/product/challenge etc), what makes you decide to follow a blog and how you completed step one.

Bonus entries:

For your chance to get bonus entries you can also complete the following:

1) Become a follower of my blog (please only do this if you like my work).

2) Leave a comment on any of my other blog posts about my work (maximum of three extra entries).

Competition closes midnight 20 October 2011. Entry is open to everyone, I'm happy to post internationally.

Wedding Mini Frames

As anyone who checks out my blog on a regular basis might know, I'm rather fond of Kaisercraft supplies. I like the designs, I love the versatility of their double-sided paper, I have an outlet shop close by however I do wish their off-the-page projects came with assembly instructions sometimes. Maybe I should be able to figure out how to assemble an accordian book by myself but in the end it took me just as long to get these mini-frames to stand up as it did to decorate the fronts! :(

I've used the Chapter One collection of papers here, some Scrapmatts chipboard, Same & Lucy word sticks and to finish Kaisercraft rubons, pearls and rhinestones. Embelishments were deliberately kept pretty plain to keep the focus on the photos. I'm planning on setting this up on my desk at work if I can work out how to transport it there.

Close-ups of the frames. The chipboard was all embossed with UTEE to get a shiney finish. I'd forgotten how great this looks and the chipboard didn't warp like often happens when I try to get a similar effect with Dimensional Magic.