Well hello everyone,

So sorry I have not been around too much – between organising the start of the school year and a trip to Fiji, time has been very short for me… I promise I will be popping by your blogs and leaving some love very soon!!

Today I’m here to share my um… well, one of my very first layouts.  I began scrapping around 10 years ago now and a lot has changed over that time, but you know what, the more I look the more I see that has stayed the same.

What’s changed…

1.  My layouts are much more dimensional – this one is as flat as a tack!
2.  I don’t use pre-printed titles that often or those pinking scissors!!
3.  I no longer use paper from Big W or K Mart – and usually have a card stock base or thick pattern paper so my page has some strength to it when loaded with embellies.
3.  I have learned since this layout that just because there is blue in the photo doesn’t mean every colour on the layout should be a shade of blue LOL  I would definitely say I’m a lot more adventurous now with colour.

What has stayed the same…

1.  I still do 12 x 12 single layouts – I did go through a “phase” of doubles so that both sides of my album matched, but that did not last too long.

2.  I still scrap with single photos mostly preferring to print them larger rather than smaller.  Photo size of choice is 5×7.

3.  The design is still very similar to a lot of my designs now, linear and embellishments in groupings around the page… see the “flower cluster” in the bottom left corner 🙂

4.  I still love flowers – don’t think that will ever change.

5.  and I still love layers… and a matted photo.

and proof you should never throw out any part of your stash; the last layout I did have vellum on it, and so does this one – although I have learned how better to stick it down without showing the glue!!

So, here it is…

Well hello everyone, it’s been a while hasn’t it!!

We have been away on holidays and have returned just in time for the first day of school which was scheduled for tomorrow however with this terrible weather the school has closed and we plan to go back on Wednesday, so yet another day off for me.  I don’t mind so much, it is just Caitlin who seems forever bored!!

I have had some time over the rainy weekend to scrap – yeahh!! and I thought I would have a go at the current Scrap Friends sketch, my first as an entrant since my DT term finished 🙂  I found this one a little tricky with all the zig zags down the bottom there!

Hello again,

Me and Kaisercraft go way back… I got my first Scrapbooking gig at a Kaisercraft Warehouse store where I did some samples and taught a few make and takes…I love their lines so when Nicole sent me some new Kaiser to play with I couldn’t be happier… and this is what I came up with…

Hi everyone,

One of my many new years resolutions was to participate in more challenges this year.  Last year I did very few due to my DT commitments and this year with a lighter load I am really hoping to free up some time to join in a challenge or two!!  I love all the girls over at OP&C so I thought why not make my first challenge their January one which is “New Beginnings”.

For my project I wanted to do a photo of me (because I don’t do enough of these) and I wanted to move away from my “in the pocket” style and branch out a bit… When I have a lot of deadlines and I’m scrapping a layout a day I tend to go with just what works, rather than trying new things, exploring techniques etc and for this layout I deliberately didn’t want to do that.  I took a different approach and I built this one from the photo downwards, when normally I start with my background and work up from there.  I pulled back on the flower layers too which was super hard I must say – there is still 7 though LOL!

The top pull out journalling card starts with the text.. “A lesson learned:” and I have some hidden journalling there… basically reminding myself to stop, take a breath and enjoy the little things…a real focus for my 2013.  I am letting go of all the “stuff” that goes with a busy life.  If you read my blog you will know my mum is going through Breast Cancer treatment and it’s a reminder that life is fragile, short and should not be taken for granted. She finished her treatment on the 7th Jan which was also Caitlin’s birthday.  (Strange but true she started her treatment on my birthday 5th October last year – Crazy hey!) So.. 2013 is her new beginning and I want to take something positive out of her getting sick and for me, that’s a wake up call to focus on the important stuff, not the being busy stuff because tomorrow is not guaranteed for any of us.

So, I’m not sure it totally fits with the “New Beginnings” theme and I didn’t mean to get all serious and “deep” on your all – which was why the journalling was hidden, but I did didn’t I LOL

Anyways, here is my take:

Oh, yes, forgot to mention since this photo I have decided that it needs some stitching around the hexagon shapes in the background which I did 🙂

Hi there,

How is everyone’s weekend going?  Mine has been mixed actually, shopping and chores today and I finally took the time to take my Christmas tree down.  It is Caitlin’s birthday on Monday and I ALWAYS make sure it is down before that to keep her birthday and Christmas as separate as possible!  Then time for some creating for me which is always fun 🙂

I’m here today to share what I like to call “Rainbow Cards” which I have created for Craft Queen.  These are a great way to use up scraps of paper and since I store my scraps by colour it’s a fast way to
co-ordinate a card – just open the “pink” draw and choose a couple of scraps – layer them up, add a ribbon and you are done 🙂