Anti-Scrapbooking?

Time is short, we all know that. Fitting everything into my day doesn't leave a lot of time for creative pursuits.That's why this year I've started a journal/list/grateful book, in the style of smash books. I can quickly put a page together with whatever I have on hand, in quicker time and without the usual paper shuffling or pursuit of perfection. 

I call it anti-scrapbooking. Just stuff that's important to me and my family. Milestones, lists, thoughts, odd pictures and photos, bullet points, letters, notes, bits and pieces from the junk drawer - our life.

Here's the latest: 

Be Brave and Shave

It reads:You have an inner beauty, a generous heart and are always thinking of others. Taking up the challenge to color your hair was brave, raising funds for charity was challenging and watching you do it all is inspiring! 

Photo 11/3/2015

Journal 23/3/2015

My plan is to complete 52 spreads during the year. This feat would be impossible for me if creating 12x12" layouts - I know, I've tried before - but is perfectly achievable in this format. 

Thanks for looking xx

Bedroom transformation

My children are getting a little older (my son starts Secondary school next year, eek!) and wanted their bedrooms to reflect a little more personality. So, while we are painting the house we put a little effort into tween-ing up the kids' spaces.

CJ loves orange, and we were concerned when he said he wanted an orange feature wall. After dawdling through the color chips at the paint store, steering him toward terracotta oranges or cinnamon neutrals he decided he loved Taubmans Orange Relish.

The results speak for themselves. A splash of orange feature wall: 

After: 

Now, I am no interior decorator but I think the results are exceptional. Knowing how long it took to fill every nail hole on his walls, or removing the greasy mark left by blu-tack before painting, I wasn't going to have to repeat that task any time soon. Instead, I purchased a sheet of reo (concrete reinforcing) from Bunnings Warehouse, sanded it down with a wire brush and used methylated spirits to wipe away the grease and grime. A couple of cans of black spray paint later and the reo was transformed from grungy metal to modern industrial. 

Painting and screwing some timber supports the same color as the wall eliminates ugly fixings and the reo looks suspended and like it belongs on the wall. Using hooks he can change his wall display as he likes - skateboard, photos, medals, games, caps.... add a couple of simple black shelves above to proudly display his trophies. An ebay bargain couch - serious bargain $100 brand new, folds out to a bed -  rug and cushion from Ikea complete the look.

Opposite his cool chill out zone is another ebay bargain, his loft bed. Plenty of storage for books and stationary, again hooks are used to hang his bags and there's even space for homework!

My daughters space was a little harder to complete, and is still a little work in progress (her taste changes weekly!) Again we hit ebay looking for a bargain or two and stumbled upon a tubular bunk bed. After removing the bottom bed supports and spraying a fresh coat of white paint the bunk was transformed into a funky loft bed. Further ebay-ing netted us a comfy couch, Ikea provided the handy table and shaggy rugs (2 lined up next to each other) and the paper lanterns and artwork were 11th birthday presents.

Painting the bunk bed: 

Now its a loft bed: 

 Comfy hang out, complete with paper lanterns and fluffy rug underfoot!

Kids rooms complete, now onto the rest of the house.

Selfie - Show us your stuff

This month Show us your stuff set a mood board challenge for inspiration. 

I took inspiration from the colors - teals, blues, orange and pink. I also designed my layout using a graphic style, like the mood board. I found some paint color chips and cut them into squares using a punch, rest assured all of the colors worked together. Some are mounted with foam tape to give a little dimension and I've incorporated some circular elements, much like the vases and spots in the mood board.

This is one of my favorite photos! You know the kind, you are scrolling through your camera and have to do a double take because there are a dozen or so selfies of the little people in your life - snap, snap, snap, selfie!

Surprisingly Vanna had a blast at Motorfest with her dad. She liked the roar of the engines, the burning rubber and the loud music. It was such a hot September day, I think she liked it most when the CFA hosed the kids down to cool off. You guessed it, selfie time again!

My handmade element is the D'lish Scraps flair button, and I made the rosette the flower is mounted on.

Thanks for looking xx

Capture the moment

This month Let's get shabby set Challenge #59 all about transparency. 

I made this cute little mini to feature recent photos of my kids from a photo-shoot. 

It really 'captures the moment'.

I used stencil template plastic to create my transparent accents, including the scallop circle on the cover. 

 The right hand page is completely transparent, with elements from the next page peeking through.

 Likes: footy, basketball, listening to music, Nerf guns

When I grow up I want to be... an AFL footballer and electrical engineer

 Likes: hockey, being creative, Lego, Monster High

When I grow up I want to be... an -ologist, marine biologist or geologist

 You 2 bring a smile to our dial every day!

 I slipped my journaling card into an envelope pocket, with a stitched transparent tab.

I had so much fun making this mini! 

Lots of messy stitching, pops of color and little notes about the kids - their likes, ambitions and quirky character traits that may be forgotten in years to come.

Thanks for looking xx

my girl - Kraft it up June 2014

Yes! Another photograph from our photo shoot last November, but I just love them all! 

My not-so-little girl is growing into such a beautiful young woman she needs to be celebrated. Every single day I thank my lucky stars that she came into our life, our family. She brightens our darkest days with her quick wit, her funny stories, her creativity and the generosity she shows to others. 

Sadly, Kraft It Up have set their final challenge this month. This is the sketch we were given to work with. Now I know that I have taken some liberties, but the structure of the sketch is there and I've met the requirements of including the colour pink and paint or ink splatters. I love creating in 6x12" format but sometimes find there just isn't enough space to fit everything, so I made it a double.

Materials used include kraft cardstock, Echo Park Everyday Eclectic pp (love this range), Carta Bella So Noted pp, Simple Stories pp, paper doily, Colorbok chipboard accent, Kaisercraft gems and brad, glimmermist, paint, cotton and machine stitching.

My journaling reads: 

Whatever happened to our tree climbing, mud slinging little tomboy?

She's made way for a pretty young lady.

You love to dress up now, choosing your outfits carefully, styling your hair and even wearing a little lipstick. That's not to say you still don't like trees of mud (wink).

Thanks for looking x 

# favorites - SUYS June 2014

This month Show us your stuff set a recipe challenge. 

Ok, here's our recipe for June:

One hand made item - check, large red button made from Sculpey clay
Sprinkling of stars - its hiding! My little file folder behind the second photo

Dash of sequins - they are there, clear sequins scattered about my buttons

Title with at least 2 different alpha stickers - old reliable Thickers in 2 varieties

3 buttons/flair -  they are red, you can't miss them

2 photos -  my  favorites!
1 arrow - its pointing to said favorites

I found I had lots of cardstock lying around that was creased, wrinkled or just a color that I would never use, so decided to randomly cover some with book pages, give it a light coat of paint and make myself a blank canvas. Products used in this layout include papercraft pp, Heidi Swapp die-cuts, AC Thickers alpha stickers, embroidery thread, paint, washi tape, polaroid frame (manufacturer unknown), sharpie.

Love, love, love these pics of my kiddos! They are both my favorites!

Thanks for looking x 

Gifts of the Holy Spirit - SEM June

This is my entry for the June challenge at Scrapping everyday miracles.

James 1:17  ^"Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows."

Last Sunday my son made his Confirmation in our parish church. He made this sacrament with our love and support, but ultimately it was decision. The first of many important decisions that he will make for himself as he transforms from boy to man. I hope and pray that he chooses to embrace, use and live the gifts that he has received.

Products used in this project include PaperLoft pp, a kraft shopping bag, Kaisercraft wood veneer branch and rub-on, Evalicious flair button, twine and cross from haberdashery. It has been so long since I have scrapped that I had to search online how to use my Cuttlebug embossing folders! 

Thanks for looking xx

Always remember - Scrap the Girls June 2014

This months challenge at Scrap the Girls was to take inspiration from their new banner. 

I have kept the embellishments of my layout in a linear pattern, added ric-rac, random pearls and a subtle background. And its super girly! Somewhat of a rarity for my tom-boy daughter who put in a lot of effort to look like a young lady when Dad took her on a movie date. 

I love this quote, a little something that I found on Pinterest:

Always remember you are braver than you believe

Stronger than you think

And smarter than you seem

I hope my girl always keeps this in mind for the days when it seems too hard. She is brave, strong,smart and loved oh so very much xx

Thanks for looking.... comments always appreciated! 

SEM November - Thanks

Thankful for their service, lest we forget

Busy, busy

After literally months of having no desire to create I decided to make a special birthday gift for a special friend. She loves handbags - who doesn't? - and her favorite color is red so I stitched together this little bag last night.

It is hard to see the detail, but there are five rows of ruffles on the front, just adding a little texture more than anything to an otherwise simple little bag.

Her birthday is coming up in July so I won't have to wait long to find out if she likes it!

Finishing the project in an evening made me realise just how much I miss sewing. The feeling of accomplishment when you start and finish making something that is practical - until I decided to make another bag which is totally impractical.

This itty bitty little tote is not particularly useful as a bag for me or most women I would say. I would be lucky to fit my purse and keys into it, never mind my phone, lipgloss and all of the obligatory "stuff" that we seem to carry around. Instead I will put it away for the next time my daughter gets a party invite.

Thanks for looking xx

SEM January Sketch Challenge

Believe, grow, love, live

I used my cute new tripod to take this timed selfie - yeah, a bit more practice required, I know. But I wanted a picture with the tools that have helped me in my journey of faith renewal - my Bible, my text At Home with Gods People, my Catechism and a prayer book.

My journaling reads:

I turned to you because I want to believe, grow, love. With my faith renewed I am ready to have faith in myself and live my best life.

Enough said.

Marjolaine designed this months fantastic sketch and her twist? Fussy cutting. This is a technique that I never, ever use, and I found out why when I cut 2 butterfly antennae off during my attempt. It sure was a challenge for me!

Why don't you try using Marjolaines sketch? You have until January 30th to upload your entry to Scrapbooking Everyday Miracles blog.

Thanks for looking, comments always appreciated xx

SEM January Challenge #24

Nan

Sadly, my Nan passed away on the 1st of January this year. She was my last living grandparent, my Dad's mum and my childrens' Great Nan.

Yes, she was 88 years old and lived a long and full life, but still it came as a shock as her health deteriorated very rapidly. I took this happy snap of her on the 1st of December, just one month before her departure from this life, still smiling, so happy to see the kids and I, becoming excited about Christmas.

To reflect Nan's personality on this layout I made sure I included some of Nan's favorite things. I stitched my elements down - Nan was a skilled seamstress, even sewing my wedding gown for me,  I added pretty flowers and bling - Nan loved to garden and she never went anywhere without some glitzy jewellery on, and I included some paintbrushes - we shared a love of art and craft, and Nan was a gifted oil painter. 

I included my journalling on a tag behind the photograph, just a little note about how I feel that I am not yet ready to share with everyone who looks at the layout. This is an ideal method to include journalling if it is personal or you don't know where to add it on a page. I can't stress enough just how important it is to journal... a photo cannot tell the whole story, write it down, even on the back of the page, but write it down.

Svetlana set the challenge at SEM this month -

This month’s challenge is to scrap about a "not-so-happy" moment in your life

and the twist? * include a bird on your project

I glimmermisted a Collections chipboard bird and added it to my flower cluster. Funnily enough, when I was a little girl all of my grandparents were living and I had a special way of identifying them. My Mums parents were 'Nan and Pa with the dogs', because they had 2 black poodles. My Dads parents were 'Nan and Pa with the birds', because they bred budgies and finches, had an old galah called Billy and a trained, talking budgie called Maxie. Nan would love this little bird, chirping a sweet little song to her.

Just a little tip - if, like me, you add dimensional elements to your layouts and projects and you know that glue or tape won't do - think about hand sitching. I used stiching to add both my paint brushes and flower sprays to this layout. It was quick and easy, but best of all secure.

Now its your turn to take the challenge and scrap about a not so happy moment in your life. It can often be difficult to scrap about those times when we feel sad, upset or even lonely, but by getting it down in a project or layout can be cathartic.

Thanks for looking xx