Catching up...

Looking at the date before this post I promise it hasn't been that long since I popped in here, I just deleted some of the older posts that I didn't think worth hanging onto...it's called rambling I believe... and some of the older photographs.


Here's what I've been up to recently. 

My take on Prima's July BAP
"Proud to be part of the AE retreats NZ Group"

I used a Prima word stamp, mask (it really is there in the background :D), canvas mistables and the packaging it came in as well as all the gorgeous embellishments! 

This was my take for Prima's June BAP. 

Sorry the colours of these pics are a bit dark. I had to take all these pics again for today and it's  cloudy out there 'cos rain's coming....not that I'm complaining. We need some rain! 

Do you remember the red denim pocket bag I made for a swap? This is what I received back from Jude Young. Wow! I was blown away! I'm not sure how many doilys Jude used to embellish this pocket with 'cos there are layers and layers of doilys and beautiful vintage lace. Really gorgeous!! 

AND it was packed with extra goodies. I knew straight away what I was going to do with the strands of pearls too. I will show it to ya's one day. 

Just a quick one....I'm off outside to clear some space for the strawberry plants I haven't bought yet, lol. 

Cheers!

Catching up

 Altered Matchboxes. I heart Pixie Hill!! Totally inspired by Nichola Battilana at Pixie Hill. 

A cute matchbox made for me by Lynda Manning. A swap at NZ PaperChase. I sent items to Lynda as well as using her own stash. It has the cutest wee book nestled inside. 

Jean pocket bags swap @ Artistic Creationz. A lot of umming and aaahing and searching the net for ideas. My sewing machine got a good work out too, it's been a long time since it was used for fabric and not paper! 

Big Picture Festival

I had a fabulous time at Big Picture Festival. I gained so much from every challenge.  WOW. What can I say, it was just mind blowing and freed me up to scrap in a way I haven't before. You won't necessarily see it in what I create but believe me I'll feel it while I'm putting my pages together. A big huge thanks to all the teachers for giving us Big Picture Festival and an extra big hug for the transcripts provided!!  LOVED it and I'm looking forward to next years already. Awesome. 

I didn't complete all of the challenges that called for a layout. There was no way I was going to be able to create a page a day. I mean are you kidding me? With all the moving of our various scrap stash around on a sheet of paper and the ummming and aaaahing that goes with it, uh huh. No way. Couldn't do it. But I'm happy with what I have done which is more pages than I've completed in a while. 

Big Picture Festival!

I'm having fun with BIG PICTURE!  From the 4th of September to the 17th there's a Festival Happening. A prize everyday, give aways and looks like to me some very cool prizes and it's not too late to register so come and visit!!

Today is #2 Day and we need to take a fun pic. I was worried about it for a little while 'cos I'm at home alone so didn't know where to draw my inspiration from (and hadn't read the details thoroughly so it seems!!).  But hey, it's my birthday today and I had a couple of visitors to help me out. Thanks Taryn and Kruize.

This is me with my birthday happy Apron from Taryn. Taryn has one and I've always loved it, such a cool design! Her Nan does lovely needle/sewing work. I'd asked  Taryn a while back if her Nan had one I could buy for a friend? "No" was the answer ..."and there will  be no more 'cos they're too fiddly and I bought the last one for your birthday!" Lol.  Does this count for a Fun photo? I just love the bright colours. And Louise, if you ever visit here....please note my shoes! Haha.

PaperChase Challenge

I haven't completed a layout for PaperChase in a long while but when I saw some of the entries it inspired me to give July's sketch challenge a go. Although this started out looking similar - truly... I ended up taking things away when I felt they didn't sit together nicely.  

Another photo taken at the beach in the middle of winter.

 I still can't get over how much a beautiful day it was.

Three layouts for Challenge Me Happy's 1st Year Anniversary Hoopla!
I haven't been in the mood for scrapping and my scrapspace is sooo cold during winter I hate going in there for longer than is absolute necessary, usually just to dump something or find my shoes!  But I received some Washi tape from Nic Howard this week and it inspired me to create a few layouts.


Hannah's Recipe Challenge

Michelle's Word Challenge - Happy

Marie's Sketch Challenge (photo taken on a very wet day - today!)

I was still wanting to complete a few layouts today but a visit to SENZ in Hamilton won out hands down! 

The remaining challenges have given me ideas for other layouts I plan on completing one day, maybe even this week :D 

I've got some layouts to share. Three of them, count it: one, two, three! Wow!
Sorry about the crappy photo's. I'm still using the same photo manager software.

I started this one for Scrappin Patch comp but I found it difficult to channel Missy Whidden and put it aside, picking it up a few days later - not wanting to waste the cardstock and all the GlimmerGlam.  I love it how Missy uses  smaller photo's so this is what I tried to do here. I completed the layout after the deadline date and that's a good thing 'cos it was looking a bit more of a lift than anything else don't you think?

The pics were taken before I asked Dd to remind me about the journaling - when she saw these lollipops for sale she exclaimed it would take days to finish one but it didn't after all....figures.

 And this one was just for me - AMAZING! Normally I need a challenge or a comp to get me going. I visited Missy Whidden for inspiration to complete the torn top edge. I love how she fills those babies up!  Yeah I know, more sugar! After the Christmas parade we visited a couple of stalls along the road. I have no idea how she ended up with sugar in both hands! Journaling's  going to go on the lined paper below the photo.

Another layout using a Basic Grey kit and look at the similarity to the one above! I went along to Aussie Scrap Source for a visit and they had a sketch by Becky Fleck up for a challenge. 

There's a readers design challenge happening over there and I'm learning stuff! :D 

Stars in their Eyes with Scrappin' Patch!

Scrappin' Patch has another comp going. It's similar to the television program but you're scrapping (obviously) another scrappers style rather than singing :D

That bit of Mojo hiding under the dust bunny the other day snuck back there and I didn't think I was going to submit an entry this week but it (she?) popped out for a few minutes on the final day and I gleefully grabbed her!

For the first week we were to use Jenny Evan's style and this is my result. I would've liked to do something with black matting as to me that is Jenny's signature but as there's only one sheet left  in my stash until I dunno when, I didn't want to use it up so soon in the competition. I've used brown instead with one of  Basic Greys kits that I've had a while.

This is a much better photo than the one I loaded to Scrappin' Patch's Gallery which was taken at night 30mins before the deadline. Yep, leave it to the last minute Me and that dang mojo :P

This week our Star is Missy Whidden. It sure looks like lot's of fun! I just need to go practise some paint flinging  - a lot. I'm not too hot on that technique. 

CUL8r :D 

#22 Challenge Me Happy

Wow, it's been so long since I've blogged posting a new post (if that's the term one uses) has changed. I think I like it!  Anyway, I've tried to scrap this pic quite a few times but nothing seemed to gel until I saw #22 challenge over at Challenge Me Happy. Finally done! The tiny script beneath the red tickets say's "..and two embarrassed cousins" Lol.

There are more layouts to come. Thanks to Sue at The Crop Room for setting up a little crop for NSD, I found some mojo hiding under a dust bunny under my scrap table :D

March photo a day 1, 2, 3

March 1st UP
Our cat's love the cabbage trees....I do too except for the leaves that end up over the ground - in the garden and especially on the lawn. We have four cats, Peanut is too old for climbing but the other three are frisky, not yet 2 year olds and chase one another UP and down our two cabbage trees. Gizmo was looking straight at me but was easily distracted when I clicked the shutter. 

March 2nd  Fruit

 A bucket of Pears we collected the day before at friends of my Mums. Going back for more this week :D This is the first time EVER I've collected a pear from the tree it has fallen from. When I was much younger they would come from the many fruit sellers around Henderson or further out in the country, wrapped in tissue paper or in a moulded tray similar to what egg cartons are made of today but  in wooden boxes. These day's it's from the supermarket. So quite a novelty for us to collect them ourselves.

March 3rd  Your Neighbourhood. 

Lol. What neighbourhood?  This neighbour is behind us. I love the view when I hang out my washing anytime of day. I've taken many pics of this home over the years. One of my favourites is when a rainbow appeared over the house, perfectly framed. The background was dark with grey clouds and the sun shone full onto the front. It looked amazing....but that was last year not yesterday. In my dreams I have a new home and I paint it black so we will have a sign next to theirs.  Their sign says The White House and ours will say The Noir House perhaps...in my dreams.