Sydney LO

Wow, three layouts in three days and two of them were doubles (I can't show the LO I did yesterday for another fortnight)! I'm looking forward to a couple of days off before I get started on my next DT project due by the end of the week. As you can guess, another double means another entry for the Gold Coast Show. I can't decide if this one fits the category of 'Australiana' or if I should submit it in the open category. Please let me know your thoughts.

I was having trouble picking what colour paper would match my photos, so decided to try something different and used two different tourist maps as the main backgrounds. I quite like the effect that has been created. I've also added quite a few bits and pieces of memorabilia from our trip in pockets on this LO, as well as some various facts about Sydney on journalling strips.

This page has ticket stubs and transport tickets as well as a mini-booklet for all the journalling I wanted to include with this LO. The Opera House chipboard has a cool crackle effect on the paint.

This also fits the criteria for Another Freaking Scrappy Challenge this month which was "Scrap about YOUR COUNTRY or ethnic group". Happy to be able to play along with them again, they're a very fun blog if you're looking for a new challenge.

Edit: Just realised I totally forget to credit Sketch Support for the fantastic inspiration for this LO.

Christmas Trees of 2011

I love doing Christmas LO's, so much so that I actually have an album of nothing but Christmas LO's. This one was created for the Christmas category for the upcoming Gold Coast Show. I don't normally do double page LO's but it's mandatory for some of the categories. I thought this was a great way to use up a lot of the photos I had of the Christmas trees for last year.

Most of the materials on the LO are Kaisercraft, because I love their products and I have a really good outlet store near where I live. I've used some crackle medium on the chipboard pieaces just to add a bit more texture and lots of bling because I think that really works on Christmas LOs.

I went with hidden journalling for this one, using two journal tags. I think I'm actually just getting a bit lazy when it comes to remebering if find a place in the design to incorporate the writing so it's getting hidden right at the end. You can see in the corner's I've used some texture paste and green mist to add some more detail. The mask is from The Crafter's Workshop and I just had to buy it when I found it at my LSS because one of my favourite scrapbookers, Linda Eggleton, uses it on her LO's all the time and it always looks so cool.

I was inspired by Sketch #27 from Sketch Support for the background. For some reason I forget to print of the sketch though, so the LO kind of took on a life of it's own after the background stage.

Please don't forget about my Blog Giveaway! Easy way to win yourself some free goodies.

Cheeky Monkey in Thailand

My nickname for my husband is 'monkey'. When we were staying at Bandara Resort Koh Samui in Thailand for our honeymoon they had monkeys on all the signposts and also monkeys on the doors to indicate if you wanted room service or not. I manged to snap this photo of Ben pretending to be a monkey next to the sign while we were on the way to the pool one day. He, of course, hates this LO and personally I'm not quite sure I pulled it off either but I love the photo! :)

This is my DT entry for The Lollipop Ladies for Challenge #50 which was bananas and leaves. The bananas made me think of monkeys and I've also used the yellow background. I was able to use my new Big Shot to die-cut the leaves.

The LO was also inspired by Once Upon A... Sketch. The challenge this month was to use the sketch below and journal about friends. My husband is my best friend and I was so glad that I got to experience my first international holiday with him. Journalling is on the back of the LO.

I'll also enter this LO over at The Corrosive Challenge Blog. Their theme for #154 is "Cheeky, Saucy, and Sassy". Using an image and/or sentiment, we want you to make us laugh, chortle, snicker, and guffaw!

The current Use It Tuesday challenge is to use uncut paper. The green background piece is one I've had since near when I started scrapping so it's good to finally use it.

Willow and Boris

I might have mentioned previously that the Gold Coast Show is coming up at the end of August. Anyone that is a long time follower of my blog will know that I sometimes enter some layouts into the Show and I'm hoping to do so again this year. This is my entry for the Pets category. I've used a photo of my aunt and uncle's pet doggies and used mainly scraps I found left over from when I completed the Unleashed class in November last year. My husband was undecided on whether it was too busy or unbalanced so please let me know what you think.

(Removed for publication)

I used another sketch from ScrapFriends as my inspiration here. I just love their sketches so much!

300 blog posts = a giveaway!

This is my 300th blog post! It was meant to go up earlier in the weekend but I somehow managed to break both my memory card and my camera in the one go. :( I took the time to reflect on the growth of my blog and my scrapbooking back in April for my third blogoversary. I think my little blog has definately started growing this year: I've had 2616 visits and gained 12 more followers just since April! I think it is definately time to say thank you to everyone who stops by so I'm having a little giveway.

Contents: Basic Grey tag book; Kaisercraft acylic stamps and 'giggle' bling title; 7 Gypsies metal charms; Tim Holtz charms; Create Paper ribbon trim; Echo Park 6x6 paper pad; Heidi Swapp chipboard shapes; Maya Road tag album; Websters Pages push pins; acrylic stamp; flowers.

Entering is easy, because this is my way of saying thank you all you need to do is leave a comment on this post. The competition is open internationally! If you want to become a follower (it will make it easier to check if you've won) then please do so, if you're already a follower please let me know. All followers will get an extra entry in the draw. If you want to share about the giveaway I would appreciate it and will also give you an extra entry in the draw. Entries will close 31 August 2012.

Thanks again to everyone who stops by just to look and a bigger thank you to everyone who leaves me comments to inspire me to keep creating! :) I hope you like what you see.

Miracle Card

One of my very good friend's gave birth last week to her first child. Harvey Colin Hishon was born on 13/07/2011 @ 1328, weighing 5 lb 1.5oz (2.310kg). She had a difficult pregnancy and there were multiple times when they weren't sure if the little guy was going to make it so to have him finally make his arrive was a small miracle.

I created a card to give to her when we went to visit last Sunday. I've delayed putting it up for a while because it is also my mid-month project for UnstampaBelles. Don't forget, the criteria this month is 'Celebrations' and any papercraft project goes so long as you don't use stamps.

Here is my favourite photo of Harvey to date. He really is such a little fellow. All the tubes are due to a slightly early delivery and the tough pregnancy. He's off the big blue one now though and breathing on his own.

My friend Sarah having her first cuddle with her boy! She had to wait almost a whole day after delivery.

Who Am I?

I'm having trouble with my internet connection at the moment, so I thought I would schedule this blog post while I can get on line. This photo was a selfie I took last Christmas but I had forgotten I had zoomed in on something else during the previous photo. I learnt how to do the pleated rosettes during my attendance at the Kaisercraft class. I still wouldn't describe them as easy but I think they're worth doing again.

This is my DT submission for The Lollipop Ladies challenge # 49 which was inspired by Fantales with the extra challenge of text. My husband was very pleased to assist me with this LO by eating some Fantales for my to use. :)

I was inspired by the sketch below from Scrapbook Kits with a Difference.

High Tea and I'm on another DT!

How about we start with the exciting news: I have been selected to be part of the UnstampaBelles Design Team! I only recently came across this challenge blog but their concept intrigued me so I started following them. You can enter any kind of papercraft project for their challenges as long as you don't use stamps of any kind. This suits me just fine because even though I have a lot of stamps I don't actually use them all that often.

The current challenge over at UnstampaBelles is Celebrations, in honour of their first blogoversary. I have created a LO about my hen's party high tea. It will also be my entry into the Gold Coast Show this year in the celebration category so feel free to leave constructive critism if there is anything you think I could improve. 

Be sure to stop by the UnstampaBelles blog. They are running a giveaway this month as well as having two great sponsors:

Cairns Bookbinders a small Book Bindery who create menus, compendiums, wine list covers for Motels and Hotels throughout Queensland. Like them here on Facebook.

1st Prize - One A5 Handmade Journal and three lengths of ribbon.
Plus, Cardmaking Online is offering a $25.00 voucher to their store.

 

I used the Kaisercraft Blae and Ivy paper range for this LO, which I received free whilst attending the flower class at Kaisercraft Robina. I used quite a few of the techniques I learnt during that class on this LO. You can see in this close-up the lace flower I hand-made. I had always thought these would be harder.

This close up shows some of the scrunched flower technique I like to use to create blossoms with depth from multiple Kaisercraft petals. You can also see some Kaisercraft mini-blooms, sparkles and a resin flower. The chipboard is from Scrapmatts.

Finally, I used a beautiful sketch from ScrapFriends as the basis for this design. This is for their third sketch challenge. I can't seem to stay away from their great designs. :)