Siesta Scrap

Christmas Tags 11 & 12

2011-12-14T19:41:00.001+13:00

Tag 11: I have found my new love to play with. . . Shrink Plastic! I have had some of this product for quite some time and never played with it. I knew how it worked but just hadn’t found and excuse to give it a go.

I don’t have a melting pot and Utee so I simply did it without. My Silhouette was not able to cut through the shrink plastic completely but it was enough for me to either pop the shape out or cut it cleanly with scissors. I did experiment with adding the colour before and after shrinking so that I could see what difference it would make. I much before to add the colour first so that it become much more vibrant after shrinking. I used my heat gun to do the deed – it was so much fun to watch the shape shrink, shrivel and then flatten.

Well – here it is. The last of the tags for this year. I have taken a couple of days to complete this one but I am pleased with end result.

You cant really see the script stamp under the tissue so that step was probably pointless foe me. I stamped my own tissue ( I didn’t even know about Tim’s tissue on a roll), Cut my own house shape from grungeboard and used Broken China crackle paint followed by a glitter nail polish, would you believe!

I don’t really like the look of the doll that Tim Holtz used so I used something uniquely Kiwi.

Merry Christmas!

Cheers, Esther

Christmas Tags 9 & 10

2011-12-11T16:29:00.001+13:00

I love the vibrancy of Tag 9 from Tim Holtz this year. I had fun doing this one but did manage to get embossing powder simply everywhere!

My background stamp is from Stamp-It (I think) and I used a variety of Silhouette cut files that I “fiddled” with to create the candle and the greenery. The letters are also cut on the Silhouette, from cardstock covered with vinyl.

All in all, I am really loving this one!

Tag 10 looked easy to re-create, and it was . . . . until it came to finding a substitute for the fragments! I had several attempts at fake ones but in the end I found two frames. I chose to use the same image but in different sizes.

For the banner, I ran some double sided tape over a book page and inked it, popping the middle on foam tape. Again, the letters were cut on the Silhouette (a bit too big, I admit). How did I ever craft without this amazing machine?

Thanks for popping in to take a wee look-see. I hope your weekend has gone well and you have managed to avoid the crowds at the malls.

Cheers, Esther

Christmas Tags 7 & 8

2011-12-09T18:17:00.001+13:00

Day 7: Yes! This is much more like it! I have struggled to get excited about the first 6 tags and it seems that Tim Holtz did too. Day 7 is much more his style.

I don’t have the distress stains in the same colours that Tim used so I used re-inkers instead. The tag came out a little darker than I would have liked but I think it still looks good. I stamped my crackle background stamp with Stazon Dove Grey that I find is an awesome colour for ghost stamping.

I was excited that I had the Craft Glassine! Yay me!! I don’t have the die but with my Silhouette, who needs it. I cut the leaves (from a Kerri Bradford kit) before colouring and crushing. I found my last little bit of branch with crystals attached and decided it looked heaps nicer than the branches I had cut and “snowed”on. I used a tinsel pipe cleaner to make up the lace bow and added some red bead drops that I took off cheap and, quite frankly, nasty earrings from the $$ shop.

My sentiment is actually a Dingbat font that I sketched and then cut on the Silhouette. I filled in the font with metallic gel pens and inked around the edge.

Day 8: How cool was the Steampunk tag that Tim Holtz came up with? Very!

I love Steampunk but I am not so flash at putting it together from scratch so having Tim’s tag as a guide was awesome.

Again, the Silhouette came to the rescue for cutting out the clock and the cogs. I can’t remember where I got the cogs from but the clock is a file from the very talented Penny Duncan.

I have the Steampunk stamp set from Crafty Secrets so it was perfect for this tag. I used the lightbulb and cog stamps from that set, heat embossing them with white. I was chuffed that my Winter Edition distress inks arrived a week or so ago (thanks Art of Craft!) so I set to and coloured my tag – loving the combo!

My gentleman are part of an art stamp from Crafty Individuals that I bought on-line maybe a year ago.

I thinks this one just may be my new favourite one so far.

Thanks for stopping in to take a look. If you are doing the tags too and live in NZ, check out Dianne’s versions at Art of Craft. Leave comments and send her photos of your tags – she has a giveaway up for grabs.

Cheers, Esther

Tags 5 & 6

2011-12-07T19:49:00.001+13:00

Day 5’s tag from Tim Holtz had me flummoxed for a while. Why would anyone buy a “backwards” stamp? For this very purpose, I guess, lol.

I got myself hung up on the whole using “words” thing until Shell reminded me that I didn’t need to use a word stamp at all! Duh! I knew that (silly me).

So I cut a tag from acetate and set to colouring it red with alcohol ink. For goodness know what reason it wasn’t keen on drying in a hurry so I did give it a wee push with my heat gun. I found a great stamp to use but do you think I could get the archival ink to lift off the red? No way!!! I gave up trying after half a bottle of alcohol ink and simply stamped on top with white. I cut the wreath with a Silhouette Studio file and popped on the pearls.

Day 6’s tag was fun to make. I covered a cardstock tag with metal tape from the $$ shop, cut it into various pieces and embossed them with various embossing folders. I then stuck all the pieces onto a tag base and set about playing with paints. When the paint was dry, I followed Tim’s tutorial for the sanding, inking and embossing. I added a small wooden ornament in place of the metal frame that Tim used.

Thanks so much for all the lovely comments you have left me! It gives me such a buzz and keeps the old mojo in place.

Lets catch up again after Day 8.

Cheers, Esther xoxo

Christmas Tags 3 & 4

2011-12-05T16:54:00.001+13:00

Day three’s tag is total improvisation! I don’t have the Tim Holtz stamp or the embossing folder so I was stumped for a while.

I was going to make my own embossing folder using both the negative and the cut outs of the words, using several layers made with the Silhouette but I decided it was too much like hard work. Maybe another time. I just layered 2 copies of the letters and inked them to suit.

Day four’s tag is very, well, Blue! My crackle paint has seen better days so Mr Snowman is more textured than crackled. I don’t have this die either (actually, I don’t have any of Tim’s dies) but I do have my Silhouette so I played around with a purchased file of the snowman and a snowflake border. The acetate snowflake border seems a bit pointless to me – you can’t see it at all on my tag :(

Thanks for stopping in to take a look. See you after Day 6.

Cheers, Esther

12 Tags of Christmas

2011-12-03T12:27:00.001+13:00

Like many other paper crafters I love following along with Tim Holtz as he produces his 12 Tags of Christmas.

I got myself organised early this year, cutting all my tags and making them into a book. I made a cover and waited for Tim’s 1st post. It shows up in my time zone about 9pm each day.

I cut extra reinforcing tabs and added them to the left-hand side of my tags. Not at all keen on the colour of the book rings!!! That will have to change but they were all I had at the time.

Day 1:

The only things I have that Tim used are the inks so I improvised for everything else. The “pine cones” are actually seed pods from my Liquid Amber tree. I usually curse the thing because they are really prickly and hurt like the billy-oh if you stand on them with bare feet!!!

I created the Noel on my Silhouette from glitter cardstock and used cutting files from Penny Duncan Creations for the leaves and the flourish.

Day 2:

I used some of the regular Kraft Resist as I don’t have the holiday ones and tore/inked some cardstock for along the bottom. Once the brads were in place I dented them using an eyelet-setter. The reindeer was one of several that I had cut out while up in Rotorua visiting Shell after the Scrapbook Dreams retreat. Bless you for sharing you die with me Shell!! A star brad and some green pipe cleaner finished him off nicely.

Roll on day 3, I say!!

Thanks for popping in to see what I have been up to.

Cheers, Esther

Christmas Countdown

2011-11-25T13:28:00.001+13:00

I do love advent calendars! Last year I made up the Kaisercraft one with all the drawers and really enjoyed doing it.

This year, I purchased Kerri Bradford’s cutting file project for use with my Silhouette. I stuck to her colour scheme and used the print files that came with with the kit. I also added a bit of bling here and there to finish it off.

There are, obviously, 24 Tag Boxes so I mounted them on a black canvas using Velcro Dots. At a squeeze, each box will hold a pack of Tic-Tacs but I think I will pop a mini treat bar in each one.

Not like me to be excited about Xmas this far out but I had such fun making this the other night that I stayed up till 1.30am to finish putting it all together.

I might just make another to give away, in another colour scheme, if I don’t get distracted by something else new and wonderful, lol.

Cheers,

Esther

The De Vinci Code

2011-11-25T13:15:00.001+13:00

I haven’t read the books or seen the movie/s and I was disappointed to think I didn’t have any stamps that I could use for this weeks challenge at Dragons Dream Tag It On.

Huh! I jolly well did have something I could use! I admit that I had forgotten about quite a few stamps that I have still stored in CD cases (my first storage attempt). I have so many stamps now (please don’t tell hubby) that I have moved the majority to expanding pockets in ring-binders. Much easier to flick through to find what I want to use.

Anyway – this is what I came up with and I am pretty happy with the end result.

You cant see the sparkle in the first photo but you can in this one, I hope:

Asian Influence

2011-11-22T11:40:00.001+13:00

The challenge this week at Dragons Dream Tag It On was to create a tag with an Asian theme using at least one real stamp.

I coloured my tag with Distress Ink sprays in Worn Lipstick and Broken China. I stamped the Asian writing and the rays at the top with a glue pad and laid foil leaf over the top. I was so pleased with the way this turned out that I swiped the edges of the tag with the glue pad and went to town with the foil again. The Girl With Umbrella is part of a stamp from Stampington & Co.

Thanks for popping in to take a look this week.

Cheers – Esther

The Great Outdoors

2011-11-13T10:35:00.003+13:00

.The 1st challenge theme for November over at Scrapbook Dreams is to complete a layout involving the great outdoors in some way.

A real challenge for me as we are not an outdoors kind of family. On reflection, we all have indoor hobbies – James has his study (rather him than me, lol), I have my scrapbooking and Liam has his ever present laptop (I really must get myself one of those)

Thank goodness the school program ensure some outdoor time for Liam. He does not see a lot of sun and is quite pale really.

I went with Liam and his class (plus a 3 other classes in the syndicate) on their Education Outside The Classroom trip earlier this year. We went to Zelandia Wildlife Reserve in Karori and the Aquarium at Island Bay. It was great day spent outdoors - not something Liam does often

Thanks popping in to take a look – why not join us at Scrapbook Dreams with your Great Outdoors layout.

Cheers, Esther

Letters to Juliet

2011-11-13T10:25:00.001+13:00

I was super excited when this movie title was offered as the inspiration at Dragons Dream Tag It On this week.

I had so many ideas and stamps that I wanted to use and yet the tag, once again, turned out to be a long way off what I had imagined. Still, I am pleased with it.

The multiple pen nibs stamp is from Tim Holtz and the typewriter from Rubbadubadoo, as is the full pen stamp that I foiled. I slit the tag and inserted some printed paper (I printed 3 copies, really small), distressed another copy and rolled a third copy to pop into the tiny bottle. I added a bit of gold glitter in there too, popped on a pen nib and hot-glued the flowers in place.

Thanks for popping in to take a look.

Cheers, Esther

Steampunk Tag

2011-11-07T08:46:00.002+13:00

The whole Steampunk thing intrigues me but I am not very good at producing work in this style.

The theme this week at Dragons Dream Tag It On is inspired by the movie Mr Magorium’s Wonder Emporium. I had not seen the movie so I hired it from the local library – still have not seen it and it is almost due to go back, lol.

I based my tag on those created by the fantastic design team. Firstly, I masked the tag and sprayed various ink sprays to produce the background then I embossed the tag using a gear & cogs folder. The dress form was cut on my Silhouette and I added metal elements and charms from my stash. The wings are stamped onto acetate using a Tim Holtz stamp from the Regal Flourish set.

I am reasonably pleased with how it turned out.

Thanks for popping in to take a look.

Cheers, Esther xoxo

Guess the Movie Title . . .

2011-10-30T15:14:00.001+13:00

Did you come up with “Planes, Trains and Automobiles”?

If you did – pat yourself on the back (I can’t reach from here, silly). This was the inspiration provided over at Dragons Dream Tag It On this week.

I spritzed the background using Pumice Stone and Worn Lipstick with a dash of Broken China as well and edged the tag with Vintage Photo. I stamped the plane and clock face using Stazon Dove Grey directly onto the tag and stamped the train ticket onto watercolour paper using the same ink. I then distressed it with Vintage Photo and popped it up on foam.

The car was made with hot glue, believe it or not! I brushed a latex mould with Perfect Pearls in Pewter and filled the mould using my hot glue gun. Not my own idea, of course – I am just not sure where on the net I found it.

Really cool fun if you have silicon or rubber moulds but don’t use the chocolate mould with the hot glue – messy, I am told. It seems you can use the low-temp glue guns but I don’t have one so can’t vouch for it.

I had heaps of fun making loads of different embellishments – some with added glitter, some with other pearl powders (eye shadow from the $$ shops works a treat) and some painted up with nail polish. I popped mine in the fridge for 5 minutes to set before I de-moulded them. The pearl powder ones work best, I think

Thanks for popping in to take a look.

Cheers, Esther

The Good, The Bad & The Ugly

2011-10-24T10:25:00.001+13:00

The Team at Dragons Dream Tag It On are on a roll with Movie Title Inspirations. Once again my initial reactions was “@#%&!” but once I stopped panicking and thought about it, this is what I came up with:

I added a charm to match each Tilda stamp. A Heart for the Good, Handcuffs for the Bad and an Octopus for the Ugly.

Each Tilda is stamped on water colour paper and coloured with Distress Inks and a water brush, then cut out and adhered to the tag. I added a resin rose to finish.

Thanks for popping in to have a look.

Cheers!

October Layout Challenge #2

2011-10-19T15:21:00.002+13:00

Within hour couple of hour of the sketch being posted on the forum at Scrapbook Dreams I had finished my layout! It is a great sketch from Page Maps.

My layout is one I have wanted to do for ages (8 months actually) and is the first layout I have done that is about my sister. I ‘m a bit embarrassed about that really! Shame on me etc, etc. Anyway – it looks like this:

Thanks for stopping by.

Cheers!

Ticket to Ride

2011-10-14T15:53:00.001+13:00

This weeks theme song inspiration over at Dragons Dream Tag It On is a classic from the Beatles. It is also the 100th tag challenge! Whoop, Whoop! That’s awesome Frankie :)

I had a million ideas running through my brain of small capacity and, as usual, not one of them ended up on my tag. LOL.

It just sort of “evolved” as these things tend to do and I had it done in a very short space of time.

The tag was printed and cut on my silhouette as were the film strip, the drink and the popcorn box. Boy that popcorn box was fiddly! Not doing one that small again! I backed the film strip with some acetate that I tinted with alcohol ink. Everything except the main of the tag is coloured with Distress Inks.

The ticket stamps are both from Tim Holtz. (Of course, lol)

Thanks for looking in and thank you so much to everyone for leaving me such kind comments every week! I just never seem to get the time to visit everyone else’s blogs to leave comments of my own but one day – I just may surprise you.

Cheers!

October Layout Challenge #1

2011-10-13T20:13:00.002+13:00

The first layout challenge over at Scrapbook Dreams is about our “Four-Legged Friends”

Our cat, Snuggles, has been with us for 14 years now. She was my daughter’s Xmas present all those years ago and although they don’t see each other very often now, Snuggles knows who she is and always happy to “talk” to her and hang around her feet.

Aptly, my son now calls her “the old girl”.

The Whole of The Moon

2011-10-09T10:43:00.001+13:00

This is the song for this weeks tag inspiration over at Dragons Dream Tag It On. It is by The Waterboys and I have to say, it’s not one of my favourites. Never mind – It’s not the song that is the most important thing, it’s the inspiration!

This is the tag I came up with:

I sprayed the tag with a combination of Broken China DI and Sailboat Colour Wash. I punched a circle from scrap and placed it before spraying, then used the “hole” to mask the tag while I sprayed the moon with Mustard Seed/Pearl Powder (actually a $2 eye shadow, lol). I like that it ran under the mask a bit – kind of looks like light cloud cover. The stamped sentiment and Cityscape are both from Tim Holtz.

Dragons Dream TIO - Boots

2011-10-03T09:35:00.001+13:00

The song theme this week at Dragons Dream Tag It On was “These boots are made for walking” – yet another one I can’t get out of my head, lol.

I admit that I I had made this tag some time ago but it was looking quite unfinished so I re-stamped the image and popped him up on foam, overhanging at the bottom of the tag. The sentiment is a purchased digital stamp from TLC Creations. Paulette creates fantastic and often funny word art – and then proceeds to give much it up fore FREE! If you do use any of her work, don’t forget to leave her a thank you comment.

Dragons Dream Tag It On # 97

2011-09-26T09:06:00.001+13:00

This week AJ set the the theme at Dragons Dream and the Song chosen is Mother from Pink Floyd.

The challenge is to dedicated the tag to our Mother and to incorporate some embroidery.

I sprayed my tag with home-made mists using Mustard Seed and Walnut Ink Distress Inks. I stamped the border in Archival Sepia using my new MME Lost and Found Christmas Stamp Set.

I added a piece of hand tatted lace that was made by my Mum (she is just a bit clever!)

The embroidery pattern came from Silhouette and I added the file to my tag before I cut it out.

This was fun tag to make considering my first reaction to the challenge was – “OMG! What the heck I am I supposed to do for that!” LOL

xoxo

Retreat Layouts + Tags

2011-09-26T08:37:00.002+13:00

As promised, here are the layouts from the Scrapbook Dreams Retreat.

Class One:

Class Two:

Class 3:

All the papers were from new collections and of the best quality. I know Shell makes a real effort in this area and everyone found the classes and the techniques we used to be very inspiring.

I also made tags using “scraps” from each of the three classes.

Class One:

Class Two:

Class Three:

Thanks for stopping in to take a look.

xoxo

Scrapbook Dreams Retreat

2011-09-20T17:25:00.001+12:00

OMG! This weekend should have been re-labelled Re-Treat (for those of us who have been before).

What an awesome weekend! Held from 4pm Friday to 2pm Sunday with meals and accommodation included. The venue was awesome and we had 30 VERY talented ladies in the one space with oodles of room to spare. The shopping was full of quality products and a fabulous variety. I have to admit, I did indulge more than a little. Hehe.

We had a general get together/meet & greet on Friday night to catch up with those whom we had meet before and to get to know those we hadn’t. There were several scrappers new to the Scrapbook Dreams Retreat which is just fantastic.

We each received a Challenge Pack too. 4 x brand new to NZ papers, to use. I love that Shell is so generous! She rocks!

Saturday saw 3 classes in all. Shell provides each attendee with a full kit and fantastic step by step instructions for each class. Her instructions are so good that one of our ladies, who is completely deaf, had no trouble at all following what was going on.

One thing that Shell is very insistent on is that the layouts we make are OUR layouts! If we want to use the other side of the paper or change the position of elements then just do it, for goodness sake!

The classes were so relaxed. Everyone worked at their own pace and were very happy with the work they produced.

I will post the class layouts later as I have yet to take photos of them. I also made a tag with the “scraps” from each class and will post those as well so be prepared for a heavy photo post coming your way.

xoxo

A Dedicated Follower of Fashion

2011-09-20T17:04:00.001+12:00

This weeks theme at Dragons Dream Tag It On is inspired by the song “Dedicated Follower Of Fashion” by The Kinks.

I spent the weekend at the Scrapbook Dreams Retreat in Rotorua (more about that in the next post) and made my tag while I was there.

My background is inked using Chipped Sapphire and Stormy Skies Distress Inks. My sentiment stamp is from Tim Holtz, as are the wings stamped onto transparency. I die-cut the dress form from TH sewing pattern paper using the silhouette. The additional element comes from the 8x8 Graphic45 Steampunk paper pad. To finish off, I used charms and a blue ball-chain from my stash.

Red, Red Wine

2011-09-08T08:28:00.001+12:00

No! Drinking it is not what this post is about (I will save that for another day, lol)

The song to inspire this weeks tag at Dragons Dream Tag It On is an oldie but a goodie – Red, Red Wine by UB40.

The challenge was to use mostly red and, as usual, at least one real stamp.

I coloured my tag with Tim Holtz Distress Inks: Barn Door, Fired Brick and a touch of Aged Mahogany. My stamps are again from Craft Secrets. I took to them with metallic gel pens and added a die cut phrase from my Silhouette Library, using silver pearlised cardstock.

I topped it off with the gorgeous corkscrew charm that I have had for a wee while.

It’s a bit “flat” for my liking but I couldn’t figure out how to add more texture/3-d/touchy-feely to it so I am hoping the gel pen does enough to give it some life.

Cheers!

Another Challenge Site

2011-09-06T12:25:00.001+12:00

I have talked myself into joining the current fortnightly challenge at The Stamp Man. It was hard twisting my own arm so far up my back! Haven’t been able to do that since I was about 3! LOL

Frankie set the theme as travel here too and I had a tag that I had been playing with, technique wise, but it was never “finished” as such.

The tag was inked with distress inks then the stamps of the hand were done in Archival. I then literally slapped on some petroleum jelly where I wanted a resist (ie over the stamping and a few other random places) and then covered the tag with white acrylic paint. When the paint was dry, I took a paper towel and wiped off the areas that had the PJ on them and there you have a “peeling” paint kind of look.

I then added a bit of glitter paint here and there and added the balloons. The Stamps are from Crafty Secrets and the phrase is a cutting file from the very talented Kerri Bradford.

Photo Shoot

2011-09-06T07:47:00.001+12:00

I have so few opportunities to get decent photos of myself to scrap. Like most scrappers, I am always behind the camera.

Shell kindly took some fantastic photos for me back in July while I was in Rotorua. (Yay, I will be back there in less than two weeks for the Scrapbook Dreams Retreat!)

Whew! Made just in time!

2011-09-06T07:26:00.003+12:00

How did it happen that I missed the latest post at Dragons Dream Tag It On? Blowed if I know but I have managed to make my tag for the theme of Roses and Light Metal. This theme was inspired by the lyrics of “Bed of Roses” by Bon Jovi.

My stamp is from Stampington & Company and I have coloured the tag with Wild Honey, Aged Mahogany and Vintage Photo Distress Inks. I moulded a Paper-Mache rose and embellished it with multi coloured foil leaf for my metal element. I printed tiny photos of roses and popped them behind Tim Holtz film strip.

Scrapbook Dreams – July Challenges

2011-08-25T20:24:00.002+12:00

It has come to my attention (naughty me) that I have not blogged my layouts for July for the Scrapbook Dreams challenges! What’s with that!

In my defence, it has been so cold in my “office” that I have been spending as little time in here (away from the heat pump) as possible.

So. here they are:

The theme was “Attitude of Gratitude”

And the sketch challenge mid- month was this one:

And my take on it was:

DragonsTeam Tag It On - Travel

2011-08-25T15:59:00.001+12:00

Although Frankie was wee bit naughty, giving me the heads ups on this weeks theme, I resisted making my tag until the theme was published. Pop on over to the blog Here, and check it out.

As usual, the rule is to use at least one real stamp and I used seven! Jolly pleased with myself, I am. LOL

My tag was coloured using Aged Mahogany and Peeled Paint Distress inks on a foam blending tool. The stamping on the tag was done with Black and Sepia Archival Inks, stamps from Tim Holtz and Crafty Secrets.

Pilot Edwin was stamped onto water colour paper with Archival and coloured with various Distress inks and a water brush. I popped him up on foam for extra dimension.

Diamond Dust

2011-08-25T08:57:00.001+12:00

I have discovered Diamond Dust and I just love it! Sprinkled into a clear dimensional product, it give a real lift to cards, projects and layouts. I used Chrystal Effects this time and I do find that because I printed my own PP on an inkjet, that it changes the colour of the ink underneath. I do have other dimensional products that don’t do this so I must remember that for another time.

With the amazing snowfall we had just last week, I couldn’t help but use it on a winter time layout.

The PP is one of the Digital Collection ones from Websters Pages. I love having a colour A3 printer although I would love it more if mine was able to print out a 12 x 12 borderless. Never mind, I am learning to love the “frame” around the edge, lol

Tag It On – Childs Play

2011-08-22T06:56:00.001+12:00

I have discovered a really fun blog that involves tags and challenges! I pull up each new challenge post and think to myself - “I would love to do that one” – but somehow the week passes by and I miss the opportunity to make and link a tag for that weeks theme.

Huh! – Did it this week though! Yay Me! You can visit Dragons Team by clicking here. The theme this week was Childs Play and this is what I came up with.

The rule is to use at least one real stamp and mine is from Paper Bag Studios.

Tag – You’re It!

2011-07-30T22:03:00.002+12:00

I have been fluffing around making tags, of late. I find they are really good for practicing techniques or for trying something new.

I follow a really great blog Ink On My Fingers and the author, Hels, is just so funny. Pop on over and not only have a wee giggle but take a look at the great tags and cards she makes.

I thought I would share a few pic’s of my tags, just so you know I haven’t dropped off the scrapping planet for good, lol.

Tag background is Aged Mahogany and Dusty Concord Distress Inks. I did pinch the idea of using the vintage pen nib on wings from Hels so – Thank You Hels!

The die-cut phase and chair are from a Kerri Bradford kit and the tag and cardstock used for the rose are stamped with a great stamp I got from Scrolls Works before they closed down. Tag coloured with Mustard Seed and Vintage Photo Distress Inks.

I was having fun with my latest set of Tim Holtz stamps and masking on this tag. I’m not sure if I got the die-cut phrase from Keri Bradford or the Silhouette Store. The tag is cut from Kraft Cardstock and inked with Vintage Photo.

That will do for today but I do have more to share and hopefully I will get on to that before you forget I exist, lol

Thanks for stopping by.

Scrapbook Dreams – June 2011

2011-06-20T19:52:00.001+12:00

The theme for the first of the June challenges over at Scrapbook Dreams was “Then and Now”

This threw me into a right tis, I can tell you. However, after I calmed down a bit I came up with this layout.

The journaling reads “You sent Nana a request for a “Steve” Jersey so that you could play the character of Steve, the original presenter of the TV show Blues Clues. She asked a friend to knit it for you and 5 years later you are still wearing it.”

“Steve” is often Liam’s Saturday persona. LOL.

Off The Page

2011-06-05T20:45:00.001+12:00

Some time back, the lovely Shell, gave me a 7 Gypsies tray, bless her! I had wanted one for absolutely ages but it has taken me this long to do something with it.

As you may know, I simply love using my Silhouette digital cutter! I have also fallen in love with Keri Bradford’s This and That kits, made to measure for the 7 Gypsies tray. She has several to choose from and with the buoyant exchange rate at the moment, I am now the proud owner of her Family and Lucky kits.

I chose to use the Family Kit for my tray.

Madly wishing I had a second tray, I altered a multi-photo picture frame, adding divisions with ice-block sticks and bits of another frame that I butchered. I was so impatient (what a surprise, lol) that I didn’t measure a damn thing. Even so, It turned out OK. I used Mariposa Card Stack pages for the various backgrounds. I used the cut files from Kerri Bradford’s Lucky Kit for this one.

Surely, I must have been doing something creative!

2011-06-05T20:20:00.001+12:00

I have done few layouts that I would love to share.

Scrapbook Dreams have 2 challenges each month. The 1st on a theme or subject and the second using a sketch. These were my efforts for May 2011.

The first challenge for May was to do a layout using “Action Shots”. Haha – was this some sort of joke? Action shots, my house, my family members? I don’t think so!! The issue was solved, however, when I had my gorgeous God-Daughter for a few hours one afternoon. She can move pretty fast for a 10-month old, lol.

She came to the rescue, yet again, for the sketch challenge. Do you have any idea how hard it is to take a decent sort of photo, of yourself and a baby, while said said baby is squirming and you have only one hand left to hold her with? I don’t plan on trying that trick again in a hurry, lol.

This was the sketch from Page Maps that inspired Shell for the 2nd Challenge.

Challenge Me Happy

2011-06-05T19:56:00.001+12:00

There is a new challenge blog that looks pretty interesting. Why not check it out, help spread the word and you just might win some goodies too.

Challenge Me Happy

Deleted Post

2011-06-05T17:27:00.003+12:00

April Layouts

2011-05-01T20:18:00.001+12:00

As promised, I am back with my April layouts for Scrapbook Dreams:

The challenge was to use a number or numbers. I chose to write out Liam’s weekly breakfast menu. His choices coincide with which “Wiggle” day it is. Complicated but it all came about through one of the Wiggle’s books – Mixed Up Breakfast. It all makes perfect sense to Liam, lol.

The second challenge for April was based on this sketch:

Here is my take on that:

The customary yard glass (well, a 1/2 one in this case) for Natasha on her 21st.

Catch up Time

2011-04-30T21:55:00.001+12:00

I have been slack – again! I hasten to add that I have a couple of small PC niggles and that I am not so motivated to blog after I packed a hissy fit and broke my keyboard!

OK – so March Layouts for Scrapbook Dreams:

The challenge here was to use an over-sized letter in the title.

and then:

This one was was all about “Comfort isn’t Always Pretty”. I turned it around and did a layout about “Pretty is not always Comfortable”.

I will be back with my April Challenge layouts on the next post.

And Shell Made One For Me !

2011-03-31T22:37:00.001+13:00

While I was at Shell’s, happily making my first mini book, Shell made herself a stunning mini using covered file folders, tags, digital graphics and a Vintage book. I raved and raved over it and because hers used the first 6 months of the book (about gardening/flowers) she generously made me one to go with it, using the 2nd 6 months of the year. Bless her!

The quotes on the tags come from Brave Girls Club and you too can sign up to receive an inspirational message each day.

I am honoured to own a fabulous piece of Shell’s work and will treasure it always. The books go together like one of those Best Friend pendants but without the “naff” factor, lol

These photo’s are of Shell’s own book. (Yes, that is because I haven’t taken photo’s of my own yet).

Heartfelt Thoughts for Christchurch!

2011-02-22T20:04:00.002+13:00

OMG! What utter devastation! I have both friends and family in the Canterbury Region and the 6.3 earthquake today has has caused total havoc there today!

Selfishly – I’m so relieved that my girl has not yet returned to Christchurch for her final year at Uni. I am also relieved to hear that her flatmates are together – at home – and are all ok.

As I write, there are 65 confirmed deaths from today’s earthquake! I am glued to the TV news in a way I have not been since Princess Dianna’s death. Unbelievable, yet compelling viewing.

My love, thoughts and prayers are with all those affected and also with those who have loved ones in the area and are anxious about their well-being.

http://www.stuff.co.nz

My Steampunk Mini

2011-02-17T14:55:00.001+13:00

As promised – here is a look and my second ever mini-book.

I have used the Graphic45 8x8 pad, Steampunk Debutante.

I found it harder to do than I expected but I am still reasonably pleased. Some pages strike me as a little unfinished but never mind.

My First Mini-Book

2011-02-01T20:21:00.001+13:00

Over the Christmas break I got to to spend some precious one-on-one time with my close friend and greatest crafting inspiration, Shell.

She offered to help me to get started on my first mini. Quite a daunting prospect, as it turned out. Initially I had though “How hard can it be?” Ha!! Dumb question!

It was more the starting of, rather than the completion of and I was grateful for Shell’s guidance. She is an amazing crafter and I love her dearly.

So . . . what marvellous creation did I manage to come with then?

Using the the Graphic 45 8x8 pad “Once Upon A Springtime”, along with various stamps, embellishments and loads of liquid dimension, I am proud to present ……..

It was so much fun to create that I came home from holiday and promptly made another mini …..

Watch this space.

Enough Tags Already!

2011-01-14T09:40:00.001+13:00

Last ones – for 2010 anyway.

Day 11

Pretty happy with this one too. I created another mask for the snowflake border and cut the tree on the silhouette.

I smothered the tree in pva glue and green embossing powder. When heated, the glue bubbles and this creates an amazing texture, setting like enamel. Rock Hard! The snow was added using some textural “stuff” I got from goodness know where.

The frame is made from a stamp, clear embossed on grunge paper and inked.

Day 12

For the background, I used a digital paper that I have had for ages. The calendar page is a digital graphic. I don’t have any of the Movers and Shapers die so I cut my ornament on the silhouette. The Joy Charm is actually one of those silly earrings that people feel compelled to wear at Christmas but put to much better use here, lol. The pinecones are from a spray of artificial flowers bought at a dollar store about 2 years ago.

So – there you have it. All 12 tags for 2010. Roll on December 2011!

But Wait! There’s More!

2011-01-14T09:20:00.001+13:00

Day 9

One of my favourite tags. The rosette and the lettering cut on the silhouette. The rosette was inked and stamped before folding. The buttons and the baubles are from my stash. (Gotta love cheap jewellery that you would much rather take apart than wear)

Day 10

Once again I was faced with the challenge of not having the Tim Holtz die for the snowman. Yes – you guessed it – back to the silhouette! I embossed some acetate in the cuttlebug and secured it with brads from my stash. (Hmm – must fix that hand up)

Moving Right Along

2011-01-13T23:13:00.001+13:00

Day 7

My Word! Was this a challenge or what? A woodgrain embossing folder – do I have one of those? Nah-Uh!

The silhouette came to the rescue yet again! (how did I live without one of these amazing machines?) I used a purchased woodgrain background file and sized it to fit the tag. I then attacked said tag with the embossing stylus once again. Inking on the raised side showed up the pattern and I was pretty stocked with myself.

The flourish, the poinsettia and the wording were all cut on the silhouette – of course, lol. I didn’t have a type charm (but I do now, haha) so I used and epoxy sticker from my stash.

Day 8

OK – not so thrilled with this one but had fun creating the houses on the silhouette as well as the Santa/Sleigh that I cut from acetate to use as a stencil/mask. The clock face is a digital graphic and I added a Ideology spinner. The key is silver-inked chipboard.

Now . . . Where was I ?

2011-01-13T23:06:00.001+13:00

Oh, yes – Christmas Tags days 5 and 6

Day 5

I printed the Santa on the tag, used peel-craft type stickers for the holly leaves (I went over gold with a black permanent marker) and used the Silhouette to cut the label shape and the numbers.

I managed to make the numbers look like enamelled metal by using an embossing stylus on the reverse, painting them with white and topping off with clear dimensional.

I added the clear dimensional to a paper flower which soaked right in and gave it an almost glass-like look.

Overall, I’m pretty happy with this one.

Day 6

I used the silhouette to sketch and cut the Season Greetings tag and coloured it with metallic gel pens, edging it with Vintage Photo Distress Ink.

I also cut several “layers” of trees that I glued together in order to do the embossing on the left hand side (not that you can really see it.

The swirls were stamped in gold and the “splatters” in bronze paint. The reindeer is a clear sticker on brown cardstock. The wreath was made with white flowersoft that I coloured with re-inker and topped with clear dimensional.

I don’t have Tim’s tissue tape so I made my own by stamping on white tissue paper and backing it with double sided tape. Works for me! LOL

12 Tags of Christmas – Next instalment

2010-12-09T21:11:00.001+13:00

Day 3:

Okay – I panicked slightly at this one. No tree/branch stamp! No Tim Holtz Bird die, no tissue tape and no Tim paper to cut the “postcard” from. Ahh! But I did have a memo pin, lol.

To make matter worse, Tim put tinsel on his tag!! What the . . .? I loathe tinsel!

I used a Silhouette file for the bird, a plant stamp for the branches, a Penny Duncan cutting file for the flower and a graphic from Land of Enchantment for the postcard. I found some ruffled ribbon in my stash that had some lurex in it but I still had to force myself to use it.

Day 4:

This has to be my favourite so far!! I used a Christmas stamp that I am pretty sure I got from Rubbadubbadoo (is that how you spell it? – can’t find the business card under all my creative mess)

I didn’t have any of Tim’s facets so I used a microscope slide instead. I couldn’t get the snowflakes to lift off so I just cheated and stamped the over the now blue glass, with silver ink.

The bling is a a Prima corner that I cut to suit and the self-adhesive pearls are from my stash. The pearl charms are re-invented earrings but I actually has an adage ticket and mini-paper clip from Tim’s range that I could use. Yay me! LOL

12 Tags of Christmas – Day 1 and 2

2010-12-09T20:34:00.001+13:00

I love following Tim Holtz as he produces twelve tags each December. I made them for the first time last year and just love all the techniques he so willingly shares.

I will post them up 2 days at a time.

Day 1:

I don’t have Tim’s dies so I altered a cutting file from Silhouette (Haunted House) and scored the weatherboards rather than using strips of grunge paper. The fence was a free download file I have had for a couple of years – no idea now where I got it from.

The wreath is one of those cheap Xmas earrings and the tag I printed and cut on the Silhouette as well.

Day 2:

I don’t have anything remotely close to the pinecone stamp that Tim used but I did find this bird on a branch so figured that would have to do. The pearl charms and the silver “wings” are made from junk jewellery. The sentiment was printed from an installed font on my computer.

My first ever Blog Award

2010-12-09T17:36:00.001+13:00

How cool is that! I received one each from Sherryn and Lynne. Thanks girls! Gave me a real buzz.

The rules of the award are that you list 5 things about yourself that others may not know and to pass the award on to 5 others.

So …….

1. I hate housework

2. I used to be a gym junkie

3. I used to scuba dive

4. I have always wanted a convertible

5. The 2nd and 3rd toes on each foot are webbed to the 1st knuckle (weird, huh?)

I would like to pass this award on to :

Cyndi, Brenda, Elaine, Denise and Trina

Birthday Boy

2010-11-25T09:03:00.001+13:00

Hell’s teeth! Liam is 12. How did that happen?

This year Liam insisted on a Wiggles Big Red Car cake. I did try to get out of it by saying “I don’t think I know how to make one of those Hun” but quick as flash he came back with “That’s OK! I’ll get the instructions off the internet.” Damn – he did just that.

So, he helped me bake the chocolate cakes to make it with (not to mention the other 2 batches of mix that were made into 40+ muffins for taking to school so that he could “share my birthday with all my friends”) and I put the finishing touches on at 11.55pm the night before his actual birthday.

A long way from perfect but Liam was very happy.

Friday Night Fun – 2nd Instalment

2010-11-07T20:00:00.001+13:00

5/11/10 8pm – 12pm – Forget the fireworks! There is scrapping to be done for goodness sake! (actually the weather was pretty grotty so I didn’t miss being outside till all hours, lol)

Right on cue Rangi posted this fortnight’s Friday Night Fun at Scrapbook Dreams:

1. Choose a paper range and scrap with it.
The challenge being the majority of the layout must be in the range including embellishments (you may have to be creative if you don't have any pre-made ones in your range).
2. Once you have your range an photo/s sorted, lay them out and take a photo and post it in the gallery with the name of the range you have chosen.
3. Create your layout and take a photo of it all completed and post it up in the gallery (by midnight).
Don't forget we have a 9.30pm TWIST!
Have fun and I can't wait to see what everyone comes up with
Note:You may add additional bits and bobs to your layouts like buttons, rub-ons etc ... but keep in mind the challenge is to use a majority of the range you have chosen. Be creative!

Oh hell! I am so not a “brand” shopper! I have a paper or two from this range, one from something else and three form another, if you get my drift. A bigger panic this time!

I went through my drawers of papers and came across a collection I had bought from Shell at Scrapbook Dreams some 18mths ago with good intentions of using it for a particular project. Obviously that didn’t happen, lol.

It was the Kaisercraft range, What a Hoot Collection.

I am so not a fan of having to take these photo’s in rubbish light but we are all in the same boat I guess.

My finished layout (surprising I got it done at all between phone calls, forum posts and an almost 12yr old who simply refused to be tired enough to sleep):

The journalling reads: What defines me? My Job? My culture? My Background? My Family? My Friends?

9.30pm – time for The Twist:

With the range you are using- Create a gift tag!
It must include: To & From
And don't forget to take a photo and pop it up in the gallery (by midnight) to get yourself another entry into the draw.

It was fun and I finally gave up on wide-awake-son and went to bed at 1.30am with him happily watching TV. Mattress, blankets, pillow and remotes – but he was asleep when I got up on Saturday, lol

Friday Night Fun

2010-11-07T19:41:00.001+13:00

Over at Scrapbook Dreams, the lovely Rangi as offered to host a fortnightly challenge – Friday Night Fun.

And it is – fun, I mean. We have had two now and because I am such a slack blogger of late – I haven’t shown you either nights results! What am I like?

22/10/10 8pm – 12pm

1. Choose an unfinished layout or project and take a photo. Post your photo up in the gallery. You have 30mins(until 8.30pm) to do this.
2. Complete your unfinished layout or project. Take a photo of the finished creation and post this up in the gallery. You have until midnight tonight to do this.
3. Keep an eye out for the 9.30pm TWIST!
I hope you have some yummy snacks ready now lets have some fun

Oh boy! Slight panic but here is my unfinished layout “ingredients”:

(Yes – my 45th birthday! There were so many darn candles I needed sunglasses. Mind you, Andrea and Christine did stick in a few extras! Also another post to blog, lol)

Here is my finished layout (bad lighting due to photo being taken at night):

at 9.30pm Rangi posted her “twist” to be completed as well:

TWIST- With the products you have used (3 items or more) its time to make a card! You can add other products if you wish. Put your name next to a theme. Once a theme is taken it can no longer be done.
Card Themes
Happy Birthday-
Thank You-
Congratulations-
Miss You-
I Love you-
Merry Xmas-
Get well soon-
You're the Best-
Greatest Friend-

I chose “Miss you”

Will post the next Friday Night Fun separately. Why not join in? – Register at Scrapbook Dreams if you are not already a member of the forum or jump right on in if you are.

Well It’s About Time!

2010-11-07T19:17:00.001+13:00

OMG! I have been so slack at blogging! Slap on hand! Bad Blogger!

OK – enough of that. What the heck have I been doing of late?

Sprucing up the house (well two rooms anyway, Friday night fun at Scrapbook Dreams, ATC’s for Crafting Passionz and Scrapbook Dreams, Creating various “stuff” for a craft stall on the 9th of December and loads of other goodness-knows-what.

So, this post will show you the sprucing up. With the sale of the house becoming inevitable there are oodles of finishing jobs to be done. I took some of that into my own hands (seeing as James has taken his helping ones elsewhere, lol) and tackled my bedroom a couple of weeks ago.

It was OK, just looking tired and dated. Now it is calm and serene and I just love it! Jolly proud of my efforts too, if I may say so.

Just don’t open the drawers, lol! A girl has to put all that essential “stuff” somewhere.

This week I tackled the spare room. Now that there is one less big bed in the house, I have free reign on this room for a Crafting Mecca! Yay for me!

My word! I love it! I spent Friday night in here, working on the challenge and twist that Rangi hosted on Scrapbook Dreams for the fortnightly Friday Night Fun – but – that’s another post, lol.

Bizzy Becs Blog Candy

2010-10-12T21:07:00.003+13:00

Wow! Check this out here!

What fun! - What are you waiting for? - Go on over and check it out!

A Celebration of Kiwiana

2010-10-10T19:06:00.001+13:00

Scrapbook Outlet NZ has been running a 9 week challenge/celebration of all things Kiwi and today it all comes to an end. I haven’t shown you any of my efforts yet so be prepared for a long and photographic post.

Each week the challenge would be issued and we had 7 days in which to upload our layouts. I enjoyed getting some layouts done in reasonably quick succession.

Week 1. “New Zealand Icon”

Week 2 “National Colours”

Week 3 “No.8 Wire”

Week 4 “Remoteness” (use of white-space)

Week 5 “Beaches / Water”

Week 6 “NZ Song Title”

Week 7 “Sports Mad”

Week 8 “Weaving/Maori Design”

Week 9 “Mystery Product”

All participants who entered layouts and/or quizzes were award various points and if you reached 100 (as I did, only just) were sent a mystery product to be completed and uploaded by midnight tonight – 10th October.

With entries not being revealed until Monday, I will wait to show you what it was all about. Let me say this though – it was not something I would have purchased and not something I will purchase in the future but was good fun all the same.

Watch this space . . . .

Time for a catch-up

2010-10-08T14:26:00.001+13:00

Well – a few things have happened that have altered my life path!

My husband moved out of the family home in July this year and although we undertook counselling, and I thought things were heading in the reconciliation direction, he dropped the bombshell last week that he will not be coming home.

I was angry but now I am just sad and disappointed that he found it necessary to take such a drastic step away from his family. I hope he can find the peace and life satisfaction he is looking for and in the meantime we will build a new kind of relationship – one that I don’t really have a name for yet.

I have made the decision not to go on a benefit and my workplace will do what they can to give me extra hours. I can probably fit in an extra 5 a week, most weeks so it’s all good.

I am feeling somewhat in control of my own future as a single parent, knowing there will be days when I fall apart and there will be days that I wonder if it was ever any other way.

All in all, I am OK and Liam will adjust. Onwards and upwards and drinks on Fridays, I say!

Mid-Month Motivation

2010-09-19T17:16:00.001+12:00

Time for mid-month motivation over at Scrapbook Dreams.

I have suggest some scrap-lifting to get the mojo flowing.

This layout, published in Australian Scrapbooking Ideas magazine, was my inspiration

And this is my version of that layout

It was a great way to use up scraps (of which I have a very large drawer of) along with some awesome Tim Holtz papers. A lot of my embellishments were either handmade or cut on the Silhouette and painted. The larger film strip is a rolling stamp and the smaller one is is Tim Holtz Film Ribbon. A stamp or two finished it off.

I am off to Shell’s retreat at Waihi Beach this coming weekend so hope to have lots to show you next week from that.

I won a Challenge!

2010-09-16T06:32:00.001+12:00

OMG! How exciting! I enter challenges sometimes, not with the prize as my goal but to keep my MoJo up and to try and provide some variety to my layouts.

I do have “issues” with the opportunity to take photo’s because, as most will understand, Liam’s Aspbergers does not really allow him to participate in all and sundry and he has a strong need to stay at home and just be himself at weekends. There are only so many photos to take, and scrap, of Liam on the the computer or playing the Wii, lol.

However! For his Dad’s birthday this year (40th) we had Andrea and Ivan here along with SIL Melanie and her fiancée Aaron for the weekend and we went to the see our home team, the Hurricanes, play rugby against the Crusaders at the stadium in Wellington. (We won, by the way)

Liam often interacts with Dad while on the computer and Dad is watching a game on TV. I love it when this happens and it never fails to make me smile!

MIL had sent down her old team supporters jersey for Liam and, yellow being his favourite colour, this was very well received.

So – the challenge . . . this was run at Scrap Box NZ and it was to do a layout about sport.

I had heaps of product left from my SENZ class (Thanks Trina) and the colours just seemed to work for the photo.

Fiona offers a $20 voucher for the Scrap Box shop so I will have lots of fun working out how to spend it. What’s the bet I don’t stop at $20 though, hehe. Thanks so much Fiona, you made my day.

(PS – Didn’t make the design team for Southern Girls Challenge blog. Oh well, maybe another time. )

Southern Girls Challenge Blog – DT Call

2010-08-22T20:27:00.003+12:00

Tracy and Louise have set up a blog to add a down-under feel to the www challenge realm (Click on their banner above to pop on over and check it out).

Yay for them! Even better – they have put out a call for applications to be on their Design Team.

This is something I would so love to be a part of! As they say “Gotta be in to Win”.

These are the projects that I am showcasing for the girls to look at.

A set of 4 cards using stamps, inks, vintage atlas paper, diecuts, vintage photo images, printed digital scrapbooking elements and journal spots, done in collage style.

A collage of photos showing two of my off-the page projects. The mail-box and the bird houses were cut using my Silhouette, inked with Vintage Photo Distress ink and decorated using a mix of Websters Pages (6 x 6) and various printed digital images. There is some additional stamping on the mail-box which closes with jump-rings and a Tim Holtz hitch fastener.

It wasn’t the easiest job to photograph the 3-D objects and the weather has been dismal for so long that I jumped at the first opportunity to photograph them outside in natural light.

The mail-box measures approx 4” deep x 1.5” wide x 2.5” high.

The tallest of the birdhouses stands 5.25” , the middle sizes one at 4” and the smallest is a smidge under 3”. They are each about 2” deep (give or take) and 1.75” wide.

The edges of all the cut outs are inked too – you should have seem my fingers, lol! A bit fiddly but absolutely worth it!

You know – whether I make the design team or not – I loved doing these projects and I am so happy to share them with you.

My card has been shown on a blog

2010-08-14T13:07:00.001+12:00

Yay! How exciting to have one of my cards shown on someone else’s blog!!

I have used a Vintage Floral frame digital stamp from Create with TLC, added a Longing Tilda from Magnolia Stamps and coloured the complete image with Distress Inks. The sentiment is a rub-on from my stash.

I did it myself

2010-08-12T14:57:00.001+12:00

Liam has been really enjoying the Technology Cycles at school – we used to call Manual in my day, LOL.

He started with Visual Arts, followed by Hard Materials (Woodworking) and Food Technology (Cooking). At the moment Liam is about 2/3 they way through the Fabric Technology (Sewing) cycle and is loving it.

I sent a camera to school and his Teacher Aide took some great photos of Liam making his Wheat Bear in Solar System fabric.

The journalling is some word art that I had downloaded a long time ago, printed directly on to the cardstock (love have an A3 printer) and to follow through with the theme I took to all the elements with my own sewing machine.

The word art reads” A child is never more proud than when they can say – I Did It Myself”

More SENZ creations

2010-08-04T20:00:00.002+12:00

I took a really interesting class, tutored by Wilma Sharp. It was a Kaleidoscope technique class and included the Perspex templates (4 different sizes) and a hinged mirror to help you with placement of the template on your images. You need to have the image printed a number of times and the same number of images printed in reverse.

We were provided the images too and Wilma chose a generic photo of a tea cup and saucer. Each layout in the class came out quite different depending on where participants had placed their template.

This was my initial layout:

We completed it with enough time to have a second go (Bless You Wilma for providing so many extras) so I chose to do a different size (therefore using a different number of photos) and this is how it turned out:

Interesting Huh!

Who stole July?

2010-07-30T11:22:00.002+12:00

I cannot believe that July is all but over! What happened there then?

There have been some domestic issues, that I won’t go into here, that have taken most of my time and energy this month but hopefully I am fighting my way through the haze now.

I have been crafting, although less than usual. I have submitted my ATC’s for the Scrapbook Dreams July Swap so I will post a photo of the full set when they arrive.

The other biggie for me this month was 4 days in Christchurch, rooming with Brenda and Elaine, attending SENZ and spending a day with Natasha.

I took 5 classes at SENZ!

In this post I will show you what I came home with after the 3 in 1 class tutored by the very talented Trina McClune. What a lovely lady with a lovely smile! It was full on, trying to produce 3 layouts based on 1 sketch in two hours!

I am not happy with the execution of this unfinished layout! To be honest the photo looks way better than the real thing! I love the idea of this technique but I don’t think it’s my thing. I am more than happy to admire Trina’s work in this style.

See what I mean? It is much more her thing aye?

Layout two was to use 5 small photo’s, all the same.

I love the layering and colours of this one. I’m really happy with it.

The third layout used a single large photo.

With my best girl living so far away now, I don’t get the same chances to scrap photo’s of her very often. This photo is a few years old now but she hasn’t changed at all – a beautiful girl, inside and out!

Brenda took this class as well and has posted some photo’s on her blog that you can visit here.

Happy Mail

2010-07-01T18:26:00.001+12:00

As a member of Your Paper Pantry, I signed up for a Lightweight Scrappy Swap in May this year. I was partnered with Tina from Alabama and this is what arrived on my doorstep today (the first parcel she sent has disappeared and strangely enough, the postal worker that accepted it has since been fired! 1+1= 2) .

How spoiled am I? VERY!

Thank You So Much Tina xoxo

Happy Birthday Scrapbook Dreams

2010-06-20T19:21:00.001+12:00

Scrapbook Dreams is 2 years old! Yippee and Yahoo! It was Shell’s site that I found on my very first search for a New Zealand ATC swap and I have been an active member ever since.

To celebrate, Shell issued 4 challenges last Saturday. First was a scavenger hunt that took us all over the site to find the answers. It was great fun! Answers were e-mailed to her so no one could “cheat” with a copy and paste, lol (as if we would).

Next came a layout challenge. The theme was of our choice but we needed to use this sketch for inspiration:

I was so pleased with my end result. It just came together:

Challenge 3 was a card challenge. We had to use at least 3 items from a list Shell provided and one of 4 card sketches:

Here is my entry for this one:

The final challenge was a tag one, again with a sketch given for inspiration:

And, here is what I came with:

Thanks for a great site Shell and all the hard work you put into it!

Good Grief!

2010-06-05T13:59:00.002+12:00

I haven’t put up a post for such a long time! Talk about slack!

In my defence, now that Winter is upon us, it is pretty chilly in my craft cave so I don’t spend very much time in here.

Having said that though, I have been pottering a wee bit here and there. Making a few cards, a couple of layouts and some atc’s and tags for swaps.

Scrapbook Dreams May Challenge

Scrapbook Dreams April ATC Swap – Hattitude

Scrapbook Dreams Mid April Motivation to use Handmade Flowers.

Tags for RAK gifts made with my Bombshell Angel stamp, a cut out dress for her and background stamping in Dusty Concord.

An easel card for Kelly’s baby shower.

A tag turned easel card for Jane.

A tag for fun! Lots of techniques used on this. Spritzing, masking, transfer to selloptape, lace flower.

Teaching myself to make these paper flowers, which I just love!

Scrapbox NZ Challenge – Black and white only

Scrapbook Dreams June Challenge.

So, you see, I have been doing something after all. I also made my sister-in-laws wedding invitations/RSVPs which I was really happy with.

Tuesday Trigger – Poolside Inspiration

2010-05-03T11:56:00.003+12:00

The Tuesday trigger at Moxie Fab World was not so inspiring for me, as we head into the winter months in NZ.

However, as I am home from work with a bad cold and no voice, I sat down with my supplies and came up with this card.

I used my new “Angel” from Bombshell Stamps, water colour pencils, digital patterned paper and a rub-on, mounted on a gold card base. The dive mask, snorkel and the Hibiscus in her hair are part of a Silhouette America cutting file (C0021), resized to fit. The elements are all edged with Vintage Photo Distress Ink.

Art Pieces ATC Challenge – Water

2010-05-03T10:29:00.001+12:00

This week the theme at Art Pieces was WATER and my idea came to me late Sunday evening after a weekend full of a bad cold. Perhaps I am getting over it?

I have wanted to try this stamping technique for a while now and I am pleased with the way it turned out, using Vintage Photo Distress Ink from the Tim Holtz line. I used water colour pencils for the eyes, lips and the faint reflective surface.

Art Pieces - Numbers

2010-04-27T18:24:00.001+12:00

The ATC challenge this week at Art Pieces is all about Numbers.

My ATC looks like this:

I wanted to give it some extra dimension but was worried I would ruin it. I actually like it the way it is.

I cheated really. This is a cutting file from Silhouette America that I re-sized to 2.5 x 3.5 inches. I then “filled” the design with graduated colours and cut ii using the Print and Cut technique for my machine and backed it with textured black cardstock.

Tuesday Trigger - Retro

2010-04-27T18:14:00.001+12:00

What an awesome trigger this week at Moxie Fab World.

I’m not sure if the trigger was using Napkins or the Retro take that I picked up on.

Whatever it was supposed to be – this is what I did and I really rather like it, lol

The dancer and letter stickers were done on my Silhouette. The gold border is peelcraft and the pp is a digital one from my many downloaded free files. The gold glittered card base was hiding in my stash.

Bombshell Stamps

2010-04-27T16:17:00.001+12:00

I came across some awesome stamps while blog-hopping. Needless to say, I have ordered some and am patiently (not) waiting for them to arrive.

Check them out here

Lace Up Feet

2010-04-18T17:06:00.002+12:00

In February this year, while in Blenheim for the weekend, my mother made Liam a Ronald McDonald costume – much to Dad’s disgust!

Following that weekend Liam sent a txt to Nana asking for a “Red Ronald Afro”. This Mum dutifully made and posted to Liam.

Next thing we know, he has txt Nana again asking this time for “Huge Ronald Feet”

This was proving a dilemma. How was Nana going to come up with the goods this time?

“It’s easy”, came the next text. “You start with some white shoes, paint them red, put in yellow laces!” Duh! Of course! “Oh, and the soles need to be black”.

Mum came over for the second week of the holidays to be with Liam while Dad and I were at work. I came home on the Monday to this:

When Dad came home, I was not sure how he would react to the full costume, not being so thrilled at the idea in the first place.

Liam came rushing in from greeting Dad at the door and said

“Dad was so pleased to see me in Lace-Up-Feet!”. Ah, Bless Him!

Art Pieces ATC – Pearls

2010-04-18T16:54:00.001+12:00

After a break for Easter, the challenges are back to running weekly at Art Pieces.

This week the theme was PEARLS

It was nice to make shaped ATC for a change. This one was based on some swap pins I made for Scrapfest back in January.

Tuesday Trigger Card

2010-04-13T16:09:00.001+12:00

Gosh those Tuesday’s come around fast!!!

I have struggled to find the time to put this week’s card together although I have had the elements of it shifting around my craft space all week.

The Trigger at Moxie Fab World was this card:

I made mine based on the colour combinations but completely forgot about a bow! Duh!

The lace was hand-made by my Mum and I have had fun making my own paper flowers. The patterned paper was a digital one that I printed onto kraft cardstock.

Tuesday Trigger - Easter

2010-04-06T20:18:00.001+12:00

Easter Cards are not really much of a tradition in New Zealand – at least, not that I have noticed.

That made it a bit harder to be inspired by the theme this week at Moxie Fab World, although the colours in the Trigger image were fabulous!

I really struggled, to be honest but finally, after spending time with Anna today, cutting bits and pieces out on the Silhouette to make cards, I came up with a very simple card for any occasion.

A lousy photo taken inside, at night but I was running out of time to upload it before the next trigger arrives in my inbox tomorrow.

Company d

2010-03-28T08:33:00.001+13:00

Wow! What an inspiration! This video clip does go for 25 minutes but it is so worth watching! Grab a coffee and a tissue and be prepared to be impressed by this group of young adults with Downs Syndrome.

Time to showcase some layouts

2010-03-27T17:57:00.001+13:00

I have been posting my card and ATC challenges but not much else of late. Naughty me!

I have done some scrapbooking too and to prove it, here are a few of my recent layouts.

This one was for the Scrapbook Dreams March Layout Challenge – to use a minimum of four photos.

This layout was my take on the Scrapbook Dreams Mid-Month Motivation for March. The idea was to do a layout about colour whether it be our favourite combination, what colour means to us or a memory we might have triggered by colour.

It has taken lots of thoughts, ideas and poor attempts to complete this layout. I knew I wanted to use all the colours of Distress Inks that I own but couldn't figure out the best way to do it.
I have always wanted to do a title in mixed font as well as this is not at all my usual style.
Overall, I am happy with it as a deviation from my usual.

This layout is for the current Scrapbox Sketch Challenge. I had the photo, taken in February and then saw the “Three little maids from school” stamp for sale with my favourite stamp seller on Trademe. It all fell into place from there.

Andrea and Christine were friends prior to Form 3 but then I barged my way into their lives and over 30 years later we are still close friends and always get together when we are all in one place at any one time. Pretty cool, huh!

And last, but not least:

This layout was for the previous Challenge at Scrapbox. To do a layout using Autumn colours. Again – I have had this photo Taken in our garden) for some time, waiting for me to do something with it. The paper flowers and leaves are handmade, using nesting shapes and a cutting file on the Silhouette, coloured with Distress inks and with centres made from flower shaped brads, folded upwards and a pretty bead glued in the middle of the created “cup”. The border etc on the left was already printed on the 12 X 12.

Tuesday Trigger : Butterfly Dreams

2010-03-27T10:20:00.001+13:00

The Tuesday Trigger at Moxie Fab World is all about the pastels of a Northern Hemisphere Easter.

Here is the Trigger Photo:

And here is my card for this week:

The Butterfly is stamped onto patterned paper (twice) with the top image adhered only in the centre. The background is patterned paper received free with a magazine, and I made the “pearl swirl” myself using transparency and 3-d paint that I sprinkled with eye-shadow powder while still wet. The sentiment is one of my favourite ones from Tim Holtz. The colours behind the sentiment stamp is a combination of two new distress ink colours: Pumice Stone and Stormy Sky.

Shell will be pleased to note that I did not use my digital cutter at all on this, lol. It seems I can still break from my current addiction to using cutting files for everything I make.

Art Pieces ATC Challenge

2010-03-25T20:34:00.002+13:00

This week’s (no, actually it’s a fortnight this time) challenge is an Easter Themed ATC.

Easter is not a big deal in NZ unless you are a practicing Christian. I find it not much more than a commercial chaos, really. In saying that though, I do usually send a box of Easter goodies to my daughter at Uni. She is training big time at the moment to beat hers Dad’s running time so the Easter Bunny may have to deliver some protien bars or something this year. lol.

This is my entry.

The beautiful tatted egg is a cutting file made ( and given freely!) by Paulo, here. What talent this man has! It appealed immediately because of the real tatting Mum does. I keep promising myself that I will learn the skill but have, as yet, to take up a tatting shuttle.

Tuesday Trigger 16/3/10

2010-03-18T17:15:00.002+13:00

This weeks Tuesday Trigger at Moxie Fab World is all about Texture + Colour = FUN.

I had lots of complicated, time consuming ideas – none of which I could really be bothered with because I am having a “tired” week and it was all just too hard, lol.

What I did do though, I am pleased with. The photo does not really do the card justice, sadly. However – here it is:

I printed the image on photo paper and added rhinestones to her jacket, glitter to her top and belt buckle and feathers to her hat.

The balloons have dimensional magic and the flowers on the car have the addition of stamens from artificial flowers.

All mounted on a pink card base and finished with a rub-on sentiment.

Art Pieces Weekly ATC Challenge

2010-03-18T17:02:00.002+13:00

Ribbon, Buttons & Flowers

Hmmm, I thought. Not sure that this one is for me.

However, as I looked through my stash a number of times an idea formed and this is the result:

Three layers of cardstock, a clear button with printed butterflies hung onto a reclaimed jewellery part with it’s original red velvet ribbon attached. The three flowers are metal ones that I picked up at an Emporium.

To be honest – I rather like it

Blog Candy from Norway

2010-03-14T08:11:00.001+13:00

Anette, a contributor to Art Pieces (and many others), has blog candy to give away. Not sure if it will come this way, but you never know.

Anette is Norwegian and you will need to translate her blog but it is worth doing. She kindly comments on my ATC entry every week too, bless her.

Art Pieces ATC - Owls

2010-03-13T13:36:00.001+13:00

This weeks challenge at Art Pieces was to make an ATC with one or more owls on it.

I chose to re-size a cutting file from Tina at Forever Memories For You. This woman is amazing! Her cards and projects are simply out of this world! Pop on over there to have a look through what she has made.

There are several layers used for this owl and I used Tim Holtz Distress inks in shades of Scattered Straw, Tea Dye, Walnut Stain and Vintage Photo. I used Spiced Marmalade on the beak and added googly eyes. The white rings around the eyes are coloured with a correction pen, of all things.

The main ATC is backed with textured silver cardstock. It was reasonably labour intensive but I love that this sort of challenge allows you to use techniques or product that you would probably dismiss when doing a swap of 9 or more.

Tuesday Trigger

2010-03-11T16:39:00.001+13:00

This week’s Tuesday Trigger at Moxie Fab World is all about Green. Here is the Trigger picture:

And here is my card:

I used a digital paper for my background and stamped my Captain (from B Line Designs) using Stazon Olive. I typed the caption in word and popped them both up on foam. I was really pleased with the colour matching of the font and the ink.

It’s nice to make a masculine card for a change. They can be a challenge in themselves sometimes.

ABC of ATC’s – A Friendship Swap

2010-03-07T13:33:00.002+13:00

Last year Shell, Tricia and I started to make a series of ATC’s to create an A to Z swap.

Tricia and I each had 9 letters and Shell had 8, so she also made the title ATC.

We made the swap in person at Shell’s place in January this year and I have now mounted mine on a canvas, as was the plan.

Maths bores me to tears so having to measure out the spacing, using a combination of centimetres and inches, was no fun! Worth it in the end though.

Our styles are quite different but the set, as a whole, works so well together. I am very proud of my set and they are now on the wall in my craft space. Thanks Girls!

Do you have a favourite?

Tuesday Trigger

2010-03-05T14:58:00.001+13:00

Over at Moxie Fab World the Tuesday Trigger was this colour inspiration.

This is the card I came with using the my fab new Tim Holtz Stamp from Dallas Turner.

60th Birthday Card

2010-03-05T12:59:00.002+13:00

One of the guys at work turns 60 next week.

Happy Birthday Davey Mac!

I made this card to go with his bottle of Whiskey (he’s Scottish ya know).

Davey is football mad and fronts up to my desk on Mondays at lunchtime to get printouts of the Scottish Football Results.

Davey is an avid Phoenix supporter and it so happens that his home club of Alloa Athletic sport the same colours.

I used my Silhouette to cut out the Paper doll, the football strip and the ball. (Oh, yeah – the numbers and grass too). These are available as a free download in many formats from Quilling Patch.

Have I ever mentioned how much I love this machine? I cut something out every day, for one reason or another, lol.

Siestascrap Tags: Card, Silhouette, Football

Art Pieces – ATC

2010-03-05T08:05:00.002+13:00

This weeks theme at Art Pieces is Houses. I have Fairies and Little People on my mind right now because that is the theme for the March ATC Swap at Scrapbook Dreams.

So, for me, the choice of house just had to be . . . . . . . .

I cut the toadstool pieces out with my Silhouette in 3 layers. I added Sepia dimensional to the window panes and Glow-In-The-Dark dimensional to the spots (So the Fairies can find their house at night). The Fence is from a Martha Stewart punch.

Siestascrap Tags: ATC, Art Pieces, Challenge

ATC Challenge

2010-02-27T19:08:00.004+13:00

My good friend Tricia at Scrapping in the Avenues has been taking part in an ATC Weekly Challenge at Art Pieces

This weeks theme is "Your Star Sign"

I wanted to give it a go but thought that the scales for Libra were a bit boring. However, after seeing Tricia's awesome entry, a few thoughts came together and this is what I came up with.

Tuesday Trigger

2010-02-25T17:14:00.005+13:00

While blog-browsing, I came across a card challenge that took my fancy.

You can find the details the original card that triggered my version here on Moxie Fab World.

I used my Silhouette to cut the yellow fret-work and made the bow from netting and ribbon.

Mario and Luigi

2010-01-25T22:48:00.003+13:00

I will let the layout tell the story – enjoy!

Scrapfest 2010 Achievements

2010-01-24T21:29:00.004+13:00

I had such a great time in Rotorua with Shell and the other Scrapbook Dreams Forum attendees.

from left to right: Shell, Tricia (at the back), Rangi, Me, Brenda

I got a lovely hug from Liam at the airport and I was off and away for 5 days! This is the longest I have ever been away from Liam and I did find it quite hard. It was good to get the occasional txt from him though.

This is the altered tin I completed from Shell’s first class:

* * * * * *

My next class was also with Shell from Scrapbook Dreams

This class was aimed at layouts about boys and using multiple photos. What great value this class was as it turned out to be TWO layouts!

There were two more classes (yes, both with Shell) but I have yet to take photos so . . . . watch this space.

* * * * * *

Shell ran the Bossy Scrapper Challenge on crop night. Boy she really can be bossy! LOL!

This consists of timed instructions – Find a plain 12x12 cardstock base, add a border. Find a piece of patterned paper, cut it to these measurements, decorate one long edge. Find 6 small elements (brads or buttons etc). Find a photo. Find a title. Create journalling split into at least 3 parts. Find a single embellishment. Put it all together – you have 10 minutes. GO!!!

Talk about feeling the pressure but it was fun!

Rangi won this challenge and I was really chuffed cause I voted for her! LOL.

* * * * * *

I won (with a little help from my friends) the Scrappers Scavenger Hunt. I had to be the first one to produce: A lipstick or lip-gloss, a journalling pen, a purple brad and a supermarket receipt. It was a true race to the finish!

I was also the lucky winner of the Challenge Pack vote. At the crop night on the Saturday we were each issued a pack consisting of a 12 x 12 paper and a packet of “goodies”. The instruction was to create an entry using everything we had been given (including the packet). We could add to the supplies but not take anything away.

I chose to do a layout (being of limited imagination with the so-called goodies) but because I didn’t have a spare photo, I stamped an image with a new stamp that had arrived only the day before. I purchased this stamp from the same supplier that I have got most of my really cool favourites from (thanks Dallas!) – the character’s name is Mrs Walker and Walker just happens to be my maiden name. You can see why I just HAD to buy her.

Technorati Tags: Scrapfest,Layout,Scrapbook Dreams,Forum

Merry Christmas

2009-12-24T21:53:00.003+13:00

James and Liam were reading the junk mail and I couldn't help but think to myself - "Ha - even Santa, in these economic times, is on the lookout for a bargain!"

From our home to yours - a very Merry Christmas and a Safe, Happy New Year!

XOXOXO

Liam Turns 11

2009-11-25T16:28:00.004+13:00

Crikey! How did that happen?

Liam show real interest and excitement in his birthday this year. It was so cool that when someone asked if was having a party (which he just doesn't do) he said "Yes, with my Dad when he gets home from work!"

I had made him a big cake and 30 small ones to take to his class for morning tea and he had one special one for breakfast!

You Tube video to enjoy

2009-11-25T16:26:00.000+13:00

Found this feel good song today - thought I would share it with you.

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Scrapbook Dreams November Challenge

2009-11-03T17:01:00.004+13:00

My turn to set the criteria this month over at Scrapbook Dreams.

I chose to go with "Black + White + 1 other colour". Sounds easy but it does take a bit of thinking about.

I have just bought (off a guy at work) an A3 HP Colour printer. It does not do borderless, sadly, but almost. I printed the "Dad" paper and had a wee giggle that for the first layout after purchase I print in black and white! The frogs were free digital elements that I downloaded from the internet, printed on photo paper and popped up on foam.

Finished Book Cover

2009-10-29T18:01:00.002+13:00

What fun! Messy, messy, tear a bit, glue a bit, slap a bit her, a bit there!

I used some of the page from the original book for the cover topped with silhouettes cut with my new digital craft cutter. I used a spare jeans button for the "door handle" and when the edges were dry, I sanded and inked them with Vintage Photo Distress Ink.

Reinvented Book Workshop

2009-10-18T16:20:00.007+13:00

Now this was really my cup of tea!! Loved this idea and had a lot of fun collating the paper stocks with which to make my new pages.

I had so many thoughts and ideas about this that I couldn't sleep last night so at 1.30am, I got up and glued the binding to the spines of the signatures (or "packets" of pages, as our tutor calls them) so that I could the glue the original cover back on today and get these photo's up, lol.

So.... this is what I started with. An old Readers Digest condensed book that used to hold up one corner of Mum's old sofa:

I took out all the pages:

I then cut various cardstocks, papers and even an old aerial photo printed on film, to size. These were then folded in half, collated into signatures (or sets) of 3, 4 or 5 depending on the thickness of the paper used and then trimmed up neatly.

I used a mixture of heavily textured paper, water colour paper, black paper and printed papers. As you turn the pages you may well come across a page of random size or a pocket to pop in tags or notes. I love the unexpected element of this.
I may yet alter the cover because of course it no longer reflects the contents but I'm not sure yet how I want to do it.

I can see I will make more of these over time - they will make great gifts.

Altered Book Workshop

2009-10-16T13:09:00.008+13:00

Gosh - it has been a while since I posted anything! Pretty slack, huh?

Last Saturday, as part of my birthday gift from Mum, I went to a workshop at Pataka Museum in Porirua to get some insight into altering old books.

I had a great time! The workshop was presented by two young artists and I have yet to finish the book but it's one of those projects that you can do in bits and pieces.

This is the book that I started with:

And this is a page I started before I remembered to take a photo:

It now looks like this:

Here are a couple more that I have done:

I used lots of paint and distress inks, masks and additional images. It took a couple of days to get the ink stains off my fingers, lol.

I'm going back tomorrow for a second workshop. This time we will "re-make" a book using the book original cover and making "new" pages for it with a variety of card and paper stocks.

Watch this space for the results :)