It's Giveaway Time at Purple Pumpkin

Sam has put together another awesome pack for the August Giveaway at Purple Pumpkin.

Check out all the info...HERE.

xx

I'm MAD...

Mad about Scrappin, that is!!

I applied for the design team a little while ago, and I found out last week that I had made the team, but I wasn't allowed to say anything until the official announcement was made tonight.

I'm so grateful to Leanne for giving me this opportunity, and I'm really looking forward to working with, and getting to know the other ladies on the DT (some of whom, I have been a long time blog stalker of...but shhhh!!)

xx

Sketchy Thursdays 8.11

I actually finished this layout on the weekend, but I was waiting for a parcel from Sue, of Lovelybug Bits n Bobs to just add the finishing touch to the layout.

The Sketch:

Gerrie:

Details:

The giraffe button is from Lovelybug bits n bobs - it was originally white, but I inked it so it matched the papers better.

xx

Cyber Cropping at SBT50

The Cyber Crop for August is well under way at Scrapbooking Top 50 Australia, and so far I have only managed a measly solitary layout! 

Sue's Scrap Bingo Challenge:

We had to do a layout based on the criteria in the following grid, we either had to pick a horizontal, vertical or diagonal line and use all mentioned criteria.

I chose the very bottom horizontal line; Mixed Alpha Title, Strip Journalling, Paint and Fussy Cutting.

Just like Mario:

Another one for the KL album. I have actually had this photo printed for ages, and ages (I think it was one of the first that I printed once we were home), but have only just now gotten around to using it.

Details:

A mixture of Jillibean Soup (Spotted Owl Soup, and Blossom Soup), and Three Bugs in a Rug (Dawson).

Speaking of KL, my twin sister and I just (as in yesterday) booked a holiday for next year on our birthday. No Husbands, or kiddies - just Vanessa and I. I feel a little guilty, but at the same time I'm really looking forward to it already...pity it's still like 10 months away!

In honour of our upcoming holiday, I made (well really, decorated), these little books, which I plan on using as my travel journal - a place where I can write everything I book/plan on doing over there, and then once we get there, I will also keep a record, so that in years to come we can see how much things/prices have changed or stayed the same.

This will be my third trip to KL since 2009, and I expect that it won't be the last.

The pink one is mine, and the white one is Vanessa's:

I used a couple of the gorgeous Asian Doll buttons, which were released in the last sale that Sam had, at Purple Pumpkin. 

Everything is stuck down with my new favourite glue - Helmar 450 Quick Dry adhesive - so hopefully everything will stick down, and look just as pretty once we get back from KL.

xx

Once Upon a Sketch

First time I have ever played along at Once Upon a Sketch, and of course I only saw the challenge right at the last minute.

I started this layout last night (the photo I used was only taken yesterday afternoon at the park), and finished it this morning.

The Prompt:

Journalling Criteria: Finish this line "A PERFECT DAY IS....." . Your journalling has to be at least 2 lines long, and with the theme of a whatever a perfect day for you is or a perfect day that you have had already e.g.  a birthday, a holiday, a childhood memory, a wedding day, graduation day etc. Your journalling can be ANY type : handwritten, typed, etc...

You MUST combine our journalling criteria with this sketch...

A Perfect Day:

It's not the best photo of the layout, but that's what happens when you leave things until the last minute...there's no time to try and get a better one!

Details:

The journalling reads:

With you, is spending time doing the simple things. 

Watching you learn and explore the world around you.

I just realised that I forgot to put the date on it...will have to fix that up!

xx

Sketchy Thursdays 8.04

I finally found the time to play along with another awesome sketch from Sketchy Thursdays - I always love the sketches, and this one was no exception!

The Sketch:

Bim:

I kinda kept to the sketch, I obviously left out the circular element on the top right side of the sketch, and I also decided to forgo the misting, in favour of splatters. 

I finally pulled out my mists, and actually did something with them - I like the effect (not bad for my first attempt), but I learnt some lessons along the way. If I want small splatters, I have to stop procrastinating, and do it quickly, otherwise you get the big splatters above the title.

Details:

xx

Purple Pumpkin August Sketch

This month is the first month, that I have gotten the Purple Pumpkin sketch finished early enough to get it photographed and uploaded in time. Every other month, I have last it until the last minute, and then didn't have enough time to upload it before the deadline.

Sensitive Soul:

I snapped this photo of a pouty Lily at the park a couple of weeks ago, and I did think about doing a layout bout how life can be sooo hard when you're 4! But instead, I decided to document the sensitive and caring little girl Lily can be, where her friends are concerned.

Details:

I really love this layout, and that cute Little Girl button was the perfect accompaniment to the layout. 

xx

Retreat Layouts Part 2

Here's the rest of the layouts, I managed to do at the retreat.

Benjo and Ty-Ty: 

My friend Emma, and I are lucky our girl were born months apart, and our boys are less than two months apart too....friends for life!

A nothing layout really, I just wanted to record the nicknames that the boys have been given (by me).

Details:

I used an awesome Lovely Lollipop by Charms Creations, and a pin from Marg.

Daddy's Boy:

Details:

Another layout using the June 'He's Savvy' kit from Scrapbook Savvy. It was based on the current (at the time) sketch from Creative Scrappers. Unfortunately I didn't manage to get the layout photographed, and loaded in time.

No Play No Fair!

I really wanted to document this, Lily was less-than-impressed when we walked to the local park, only to find that she wouldn't be able to play because, the playground had been all fenced off. I, on the other hand was over the moon!! You see, all the new playgrounds within our shire/area are being built with the rubbery bases, and all the existing ones (with sand), will be replaced. Yay!! No more bringing half the sandpit home with us, and no more having to worry about what may be lurking within the sand.

Details:

That's it for now

Ant's monthly challenge - Scrapbooking Top50

Ant challenge use this month, to do/use three of her favourite things on a layout. They were: 1) Pin(s), 2) Stitching and 3) Spots.

Just so happens, that I also love these three things, this layout came together so easily for me, and I love the end result.

Lily and Elle:

Details:

I used Echo Park - Country Drive, and the colours in the papers matched the colours in the photo perfectly - the paper with the flowers, looks almost identical to the pattern of the little blankie that Lily is wrapped up in (except the blankie has birds on it).

The love heart pin is from A Little Bit fANTsy, the pink spotty button, and pink doily are from Purple Pumpkin, and the big pink flower is an oldie (although I'm sure that they are still available in the store?) from D-Lish Scraps.

xx

Some retreat layouts

At the retreat last weekend, I managed to finish 8 layouts...for anyone who knows me, that's heaps!! I spent a lot of time chatting to both old, and new friends...isn't that what it's about - preserving memories, and making friends along the way?!

Dream Big - this one isn't actually from the retreat, I did it before I went, but only got around to photographing it today. This layout it actually based (loosely) on the Purple Pumpkin sketch for July.

Details:

On your Bike:

Details:

Funtime Dance: Lily and her one of her little friends, getting their certificates at the end of dancing second term.

Details:

One in a Million:

The actual photo on this layout is dark, its not just the way it photographed. It was a crappy iPhone photo, but it was too funny not to use!

Details:

The last three layouts were done using Jillibean Soup - Blossom Soup. I LOVE this range, I actually still have one more layout with this range that I did at retreat, but I will share it, and the rest of my retreat layouts next time.

xx

I've been retreating

This past weekend, I was extremely lucky to have been able to attend a scrapbooking retreat up at Yanchep. It was hosted by the awesome Tamara from Scrap Away in WA. I was lucky, because I hadn't actually booked into the retreat until Wednesday morning, there was a cancellation, and it was just the kick up the bum I needed to book in. I've always wanted to, but with two kids, and one of them being a baby - my list of excuses about not being able to attend has always been endless. 

But this time I didn't have any time to talk myself out of going, I saw a vacancy, and said yes...and then the panic started.

I managed to pack everything I though I might need (isn't that how you're supposed to pack for a retreat....pick up anything you find, and chuck it in the back of you car!), I even managed to have enough room to bring some spare clothes LOL

It was so nice to spend some time with my friends, and get to make some new ones. One of the ladies, even lives just around the corner from me, and our kids go to the same school...small world!

Here's a few photos from the weekend...I haven't managed to take photos of the layouts yet, as some of them aren't quite finished, and it's been raining here since I got back.

My scrap stuff all packed up:

Wally (the retreat mascot), and I

Me, hard at work

Room full of dedicated scrappers

My roomies, and besties

The car, all packed and ready to go (that's just my stuff, Christine's stuff was on the back seat)

The lovely bunch of ladies I spent the weekend with

Now, it wouldn't be a retreat without some late night stupidity!!

I bet Wally wishes, he could hold his alcohol as well as me!

I will be back soon with some photos of my layouts

xx