Chillin' - Australian Scrapbook Ideas #25

I love this photo.  It was a quick snapshot I took of us just chilling out together in the lounge room.  Kel reading a book on his computer, Coco half asleep on the couch.  It was one of those wonderful quiet relaxed afternoons!

{click on the layout image for a larger view}

For this layout I used a stencil and UTEE to create my own background.

I'm also enjoying tucking in little 'banners' as accents lately!  And look... no flowers!!

A closeup of the stencilled UTEE background...

Full Step by Step Instructions, including materials used, can be found in Australian Scrapbook Ideas Magazine, Issue #25.

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Project Life 2014 - Week 3

Here's my Week 3!  I drew out the yellow tones on this one, love the yellow teamed with grey lately, even though it does remind me of my old school uniform!

Left Page

Right Page

Full Spread

I've added some Digital Elements from the Just Add Color Kit to this one, loving them!  I've also use some label stickers from Simple Stories Snap, I'm finding these very handy!!

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Believe - Australian Scrapbook Ideas #25

Today I have a favourite from Issue #25 of Australian Scrapbook Ideas, this one is of my beautiful god-daughter.

She's such a photogenic girl, and I love that Facebook makes it easy to keep in touch, visually as well as 'writtenly' {LOL yes I know that's not a word}.  It allows me to nick photos she puts on her timeline so I can have a girly scrap fix!

{click on the layout image for a larger view}

This article was all about using UTEE... one of my favourite embossing powders.  It's always served me well with the things I put it through on chipboard, but this feature helped me discover all the other wondrous things I could do with it!

The little grey flower above is made from UTEE... how cool!

And this chipboard was dressed with layers of inks and UTEE - there are Step by Step visuals on how to do this in the magazine.

Thanks so much for stopping by!  I hope that you find inspiration here... for more fabulous layouts, with step by step instructions, pick up a copy of Australian Scrapbook Ideas at participating newsagents, or you can subscribe online HERE so you'll never miss an issue!

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Project Life 2014 - Week 2

Here's Week 2... it already feels like it was so long ago!  There was lots of hot temperatures which led to lots of nasty fires, with quite tragic endings.  I hate summer here in Australia for this reason.

 Left Page

 clicking on the images will give you a larger view

Right Page

I love the little half pages, they are perfect for when I don't quite have enough to show or say to fill a double, but have more than what would fit on a single.

Full Spread

I have used Becky Higgin's Slate Core Kit and have added some cute epoxy stickers from Heidi Swapp, some Washi Tape, Cloth Tape, Staples, Tabs and Hand Stitching.

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Christmas Blessings - Australian Scrapbook Ideas #24

I am so far behind 'sharing' all my work I have been doing!  I am forgiving myself though... but it's time to get back into it and start sharing with you all... so over the next few weeks I'll be catching up with my Australian Scrapbook Ideas commissioned articles as well as my Project Life pages.

Here's one from Issue #24 of Australian Scrapbook Ideas, there were a couple more in there, but this one I adore and want to share even though it's old now.  Those 2 cute little munchkins are Natasha's children - I just want to scoop them up in a big hug!   Thanks again for saving me with the perfect photos for this page!

This article was all about using gorgeous velvet, loved it!  

For this layout I made cute little bows and stamp embossed some leaves.  There's a step by step visual "how to" for the stamp embossing in the magazine, it's so easy and so very effective.

I made a paper ruffle from glittery chevron paper - I really love how the chevron looks once 'ruffled'.

For Step by Step Instructions on how to create this layout - look for Australian Scrapbook Ideas Issue #24.


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Project Life 2014 - Week 1

Finally I'm sharing my Project Life pages!!  I started last year, and I even did pages for each week, and at the beginning I have shared some... but getting them photographed and blogged was just too much for me at the time.  

So here we are 9 weeks into 2014, I've just caught up the weeks {did 4 weeks worth this weekend} and I thought I'd get into the routine of sharing them again... 

These are just little snippets of our life this year, most likely boring little photos, some out of focus, some of the oddest things... but that's life!!

Like last year, they are still the polar opposite of my usual scrapping style.  I'm fine with that and have now settled into a uniform style that I'm comfortable with - simple, uncluttered with lots of white space and a splash of colour.

Last year I used the Midnight Core Kit by Becky Higgins, this year I have started with Becky's Slate Core Kit, which I love; but I'm finding a little harder to balance.  Likely because it's so bold and simple, but that's what drew me to it.  I'll get there!  

So this is Week 1 and even though it was a short week, I managed to fill a full spread.

Right Page

Left Page

Full Spread

If you click on the images you'll get a larger detailed view.
This year I'm doing the week by week title cards, with a journalling card summarising what happened that week, and then specific journalling where needed.  It's all from my point of view as I find it hard to write in the third person... I guess it's become more of a visual diary for me!
Sorry about the glare from the plastic... I photographed a whole pile at once and didn't have the light or the patience {or quiet pets} to take the cards out and photograph flat.  But it gives you the gist of what I've done!


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Random Ramblings - Weekend Scrap Retreat

This weekend gone I was lucky enough to get away for the weekend up in Toodyay with a group of beautiful women, some I have known for many years.  This was my third time going, but for these ladies it was their 9th annual get-together... which I think is amazing, especially for a private group of women who meet up instead of a shop or profit run scrap-booking retreat.

Looking back to the same weekend last year... that was the weekend just before my life started to unravel.  So it was nice to go there a year on, feeling so much better and surrounded by people who are so caring and thoughtful.  It really brings home the saying "a year from now, will this matter"... because now, less than a year on, yeah what happened mattered, but it was over and wonderful new things are starting for me.  There's still a journey ahead of me, but it will be so much easier than the journey I was on!

Each year we make / buy little gifts for everyone, so collectively we have a fabulous array of goodies! The last times I made flowers, this year I was time poor so I made little bags up with matching flowers, ribbon and trims.  I loved the little bags that Kim found for me, it's handy having my own personal shopper LOL {thanks again Kim for getting these for me though, saved me some precious time}!

 

I went up with no expectations of creating anything... if I just relaxed, slept and talked for the whole retreat I was going to be satisfied.  So I started creating a reverse canvas... thinking that I could potter over that all weekend and feel like I did something.  Aside from adding a title and a bird, it was finished within a few hours! 

I then created a little page for my art journal...

... and then the mojo flowed!   I created 5 layouts after these... ahhhhh bliss!

But I still did lots of this... sitting down outside, watching the birds, chattering to friends, drinking huge mugs of earl grey tea and relaxing.  Perfection.

I'll share full images etc later.. once they have proper photos done.

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You Are... - Donna Salazar Designs

Hi everyone!

Today I have another sweet layout to share showcasing my gorgeous god-daughter.  I love that even though she lives so far away from me, I can see her each day on Facebook {and nick her photos LOL}.

It's a simple little layout, but packed with some favourite bits... my ruffles, some crocheted doilies, butterflies, polka dots and that wonderful corrugated board!

The cut out titles in Donna's paper pads make finding a title so easy!

And I created a new flower tutorial for you!  I wanted something that didn't need a million layers, but still looked 'full'... I'm loving the outcome.

For the Worn Rose Tutorial download CLICK HERE for a printable PDF {4Mb}

DSD Materials used: GCD Studios Family Jeans & Natural Beauty Papers GCD Studios Mix'd Media Stax 2 Want 2 Scrap 8x10 Corrugated Board GCD Studios Family Jeans Chipboard Alphas Colorbox Mix'd Media Inx - Truffle, Honey Spellbinders Rose Creations Die Spellbinders Grand Calibur

Older and Wiser - Australian Scrapbook Ideas #25 Designer Gallery

Hiya everyone!

I've been playing... for no reason other than to just 'play'.   I just grabbed a pic, had a title in mind and then went and grabbed some new pretty paper and played.

As it was, it was perfect for a theme for ASI's latest Designer Gallery, so you can see this also in Issue #25 which is out now!

[click on the image for a larger, clearer view] 

I've used some gorgeous Teresa Collins papers... and yeah, my style is changing in little snippets, I don't know why... but it happens.  But I'm liking the cleaner look.  We'll see where it goes, because I still like to make inky messes too.

I made the little fabric button... I have made a whole pile of them, because they are fun!

The little camera is so cute... 

... and I fell in love with this ribbon with the zipper... it's from Close to my Heart, as soon as I saw it I had to have it!

So yeah... that's a "just coz I didn't have to layout".  I'm older, wiser but have realised I've still got lots of lessons the universe is still trying to have me learn.  And I guess that's what it's all about, learning, growing and changing...

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Bits I'ved used:

Teresa Collins Family Stories Patterned Paper - Family, Flower, Noted, Multi Strip

Prima Flowers Soprana - Pink

Dusty Attic Roses - Pink

Fabric Tape, Close to My Heart Zipper Lace

Little Tweet Wooden Camera

Polaroid Frame, Shipping Tag

Clearsnap Mix'd Media Inx - Chiffon

Dymo Caption LabelMaker

HOTP Easy Vintage Label Template

Couture Creations Foam Mounting Tape, 6mm Double Sided Tape

Helmar Tiger Grip

Random Ramblings - A New Start

Alrighty... here we are at the {almost} start of a new year, after by far the hardest year of my life.  And last year didn't end how I was hoping it might, and this year won't be how I was hoping it will be either... but through all the turmoil and heartbreak, I've discovered that 2014 will be an even better year {although hard}, because I am making the steps towards finding myself again, towards finding freedom, towards starting a new life.

Plain and simple... on the 15th December I ended my marriage after having been together for over 20 years.  Why?  Lots of reasons... but the main one is trust being broken in many ways, and it's irreparable.  I won't go into all the nitty gritty, but after so many things that I chose to not see, there was a last straw and I had to face how bad the last few years of our lives together really were.  Those close to me, and those I respect know what happened and they have been such tremendous support.

What has come about through all this is me realising how strong the amazing friendships I have around me are, each one supporting me through the roller coaster of emotions I've had.  When I had the courage to tell the treasures in my life what had been going on, each was understanding and so beautifully supportive, even when I did a complete change of mind overnight with my emotions.  The saying "hard times will always reveal true friends" is so very very true, those friends have most certainly revealed themselves, and I'm soooo grateful to them.  I realise now, that being with him I've likely lost many friendships in the past, and I'm so sorry to those who had to leave, but I can see now and understand... I know some of you must have tried and tried and I thank you for that.

The huge joy that came from this heartbreak is my family... I love them so very very much.  My parents, my beautiful sister and her ferals {yes, I'm allowed to call them that, because I love them}.  I can't believe how hard it must have been for them sit by and watch the reality of my life while I was totally unaware {aka foolishly blinded, in denial... all that stupid stuff}, yet they stayed with me through everything, and then took that risk of possibly losing me forever by helping me see the truth, an intervention per se.   One thing in this life I will always trust, without doubts is my family.

So anyways... next will be months of hard work to get the house into the best condition I can afford on my stretched budget before selling it and starting again, but I'm looking forward to that.  It will be hard to sell the home I was hoping to leave to my son, but he and I both need a fresh start {by the way, Kel has been amazing - this kid truly is one fantastic person}.  Once the divorce is through, I'll look for the perfect home to buy for Kel and I... so please pray for me that I can borrow enough on one wage.

But one step at a time... and each step I will be stronger and happier than I have been for a very long time.  This time... I'm wishing MYSELF sunshine and happiness!

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