Living my dream

Final SENZ bits - and a couple of kits still available

I was lucky to have the lovely Becks help me out in 4 of my classes.

Thanks for the photo Lianne!

Becks and her Mum also helped me set up some classes, and the initial 'decorating' of the room. Again, thanks so much guys!

I've taken to creating little bags to put my prizes in. This time round they were made from canvas, then decorated with Prima goodness....

It doesn't take long to put these together, and I adore the feel they provide that a little extra love and care has been put into the prize.

Of course they're not built to last, so any of the yummy product could be pulled off and considered part of the 'prize'. Love it.

And I think that just about wraps up SENZ for me this year. I know there was lots of upheaval for some this year. Trains derailing, ash clouds stopping travel. I hope that it was all you hoped it to be.

Oh, before I go, I've still got kits available for "Men are from Mars", The Bo Bunny jigsaw mini album/LO and my cards classes ($52 per class). Sorry, but the other three were completely sold out.

If you're interested in any of these, please flick me an email and I'll get them out to you.

Have a great evening!

SENZ day 3

I got a bit bogged down yesterday so didn't get a chance to share my last two classes. They were FUN!

I must admit I was a little worried about this first one. It was a different concept. But we gave it a shot and the ladies were INCREDIBLE!

Ok, so the class used Bo Bunny's awesome Jigsaw pieces. We took it apart and created a LO on one side.....

I love that the jigsaw is already decorated, so you don't have to worry about adding papers to a chipboard base. LOVE it.

Then we turned it all over, and made each piece of the puzzle into a page in a mini album.....

These are the pages all joined together, but individually they look like this...

or this...

 
And then together stored as a mini album, they look like this....

Then I went on to my card class. We created a few cards all in the one class. They were fairly 'quick and simple' once the prep was done, but looked more than just a quick card.

The kit was filled with gorgeous product. Including lots from Prima (talking about Prima, have you seen they've started sneak peeks of their new lines on their blog? Check it out!).

Card one used a gorgeous napkin, Prima vine, Prima birds, and a lovely Prima stamp which was part of the kit.

Card two also had a ton of Prima used on it, but also a cool brick wall embossing plate, kindy glitz and my beloved seam binding.

Card three. We punched and stamped our own tags (cause we all know how much I love teeny tiny little tags!), and cut a doilie from a Cherry Lynn die. I love them so much and use them allllll the time! Grin.

Card 4 was actually a series of cards. They are teeny tiny and perfect for in lunch boxes, or to pop ontop of a small pressie.

Love this card. Very easy, but elegant looking. And of course lots more Prima!

I also started following a blog called "I am baker". If you're into baking, cakes, other wonderful goodies, then please please check it out. It's incredible! Seriously incredible!

Anyway, as I was looking through I saw the most incredible flower pots. She had baked a cake in a little pot (so more like a muffin), then made marshmellow flowers and stuck them into the cake, so it was like eating a little garden. I mean wow! where do you get such incredible ideas???? STUNNING! So I thought 'self, you could make those flowers (just the flowers! grin) and they could be your 'treat' at SENZ. And I did....

To make them, buy some chocolate, marshmellows and sprinkles.

Heat the chocolate. While chocolate is heating/melting, form flower shapes with the marshmellows. Once the chocolate is ready use it to adhere each petal to the middle of the flower. To finish off, I added chocolate to the centre of the flower, then sprinkled with 'sprinkles'.

The kids LOVED them and I've been asked for the flowers every day since. I think they'll be great for birthday parties.

Ok, that's enough for now. One last post later today to finish off my SENZ wrap up....

SENZ part two

On Saturday I only had one class, and a demo.

The class was my 3in1 class where we created 3 LO's in one 2 hour class. It was totally sold out and if I'd been able to get more product I'm sure it would have sold through double. Sorry to those of you who missed out!

Last year we struggled to get through the class with all LO's finished, so this year I really tried hard to ensure the class was not only fun and had 3 great LO's, but that they would all be finished. And I'm proud to say that I think everyone did finish all three! How cool is that? So here they are:

The seam binding was a huge hit. I've talked about how gorgeous it is to anyone who would listen since I first found out about it. It was wonderful to share my passion for it with other scrappers.

This kit was made from mostly Prima goodness. So pretty. So easy to use.

You can see there is room for some journaling on that Prima Notecard.

Ah yes, my youngest child trying his hardest to get his own way.

I LOVED this class. Loved it. The ladies were awesome. The kit was filled with goodness. It was just a fun class.

More on Sunday's classes later....

SENZ class pictures

Well this SENZ I created and taught 6 classes plus did a 20min demo.

Golly it was full on. But I love this type of full on! Grin.

So thought I'd show you some of my classes and treats that come with the classes.

First off on Friday morning I taught 'Men are from Mars - a Masculine Layout'.

I have to say this is not my normal 'style'. I usually use a lot more flowers. But I LOVE the Websters pages papers and labels that we used. I also love that we got 4 standard sized photos onto a page (even if they are a little crazy! Grin).

Here's a couple of close up's....

Following that it was 'Texture Throughout'. I ADORE this class. Full of lovely little bits and pieces for embellishing and making lots of divine texture on a page.

I used the most gorgeous Pink Paislee papers and pebbles, some Prima (lace, bird stamp and vine), Gorgeous Glitz paper layers. Fabulous Dusty Attic Wall chipboard and of course a little bit of muslin (medical guaze works just as well!) that we inked over to change it's colour. 

and a couple of close up's.....

And then the final class was 'Lets focus on the boys'.... which I also taught in Ch/Ch a few weeks ago.....

It's a fun class, using total Prima product, including packaging! Lots of techniques like using the Prima masks, a bit of stitching, some Cuttlebug / Vagabond cutting, punching, inking, distressing. And of course my usual layering. Lovely!

I'll come back with the next few classes later.

Just heard my Prima box has arrived at Andy's work. Yay!!!! I was going to rush up and get it, but it's nearly pick up time at school. Bother. Will just have to be patient (yeah right! Grin) and wait til Andy gets home. I CAN'T WAIT to see what's coming out at CHA soon! Ooooh hurry up Andy! Grin.

Later.

Latest Prima

Here's a wee LO I did the other week for Father's Day over in the States....

Gotta love those doilies huh Mandy and Heidi! Grin.

Had a great day at SENZ. My 3in1 class was a huge success. Always nice to get 3 LO's done in a couple of hours! And I have to say that they are quite pretty. Over the next couple of days, I'll come back and show you what I taught.

But for now I need to get some shut eye.

Later.

SENZ update

So I'm home. Been to the kids disco, and now about to head to bed....what a fabulous day.

But thought I'd share some pics Becks and I took today (BTW, huge thanks to Becks and her Mum Rosie for their help today! Gosh I appreciated it!).

Some of the lovely ladies in the last class of the day... lets focus on the boys...they sure know how to have fun!

And to those of you who didn't want to be in it.....chickens! Grin.

Thanks to all the ladies who took my classes today. You made it so special.

One of my classes....

And a display table I set up.....

I think that's about all for now. I really do need to hit the hay.

See you tomorrow.

T

 

SENZ is here

The first day of SENZ is here. I'm all packed. Gear ready. Voice ready. Hugs ready. I can't wait. I'm going to be teaching all day, so won't get a chance to look around much today. But if you're there and see me, make sure you come and say hi!!!!

Catch you there.

Yum!

Those of you who have attended one of my classes/events will know how I love to spoil you with something yummy. This weekend will be no exception. Here's a wee sneak at what I have in store.

Only 1 more sleep.

Yay!

SENZ rak Winner/s

Hi guys,

Thanks so much for all the awesome comments about why you like SENZ. I too love it. I love the atmosphere. All the shops! All the people. Getting to hang with old friends and new. Meeting people I've only ever talked to online. Teaching (of course!) and well, just the whole thing. I really learn so much every year I go.

So I haven't announced the winners from my rak giveaway have I???? Here goes....

I had been putting each comment into a separate folder on my computer and today was sitting here thinking what is the best way to choose a winner? Random generator? Write all the names in a hat and draw one out? ..... ? And in the end decided that since they were all sitting there in front of me, I'd close my eyes, wave my hand around and point to the computer screen to choose the winner.

As it turns out my fingers are quite plump, so it landed smack in the middle of two names.

Congratulations Mrs Frizz and Jenny E. You've both won a prize. Jenny, I think I saw somewhere you're going to be at SENZ? Seek me out lovely lady and I'll give you your prize.

Mrs Frizz. Can you please email me your address and I'll pop a little something in the post.

Have a good day all. Just 2 more sleeps til SENZ

Teeny tiny little photos

I often use little photos on my layouts and I know that people can be a little nervous about how to get their photos that small for my classes. So today I thought I'd explain how I do it....

I use Photoshop.

Open your image, then click in the top tool bar Image: Image size then change the width and height to the size you want the photo to print in.

I usually change the resolution at this stage to ensure they will print well enough, to 300 dpi.

Now that you have the picture the size you want it, open a NEW file that is 6x4".

Now all you need to do is drag your small photos into this 6x4 file until it is full.

You usually can fit 4 3x2's in it, or lots more smaller photos.

Then you just need to save it, and take it down to your local print shop and print all these photos as one single 6x4. Don't forget to cut them all up once you're home again! Grin.

EASY PEASY!

If you don't want to go to this trouble (or don't have photoshop, or similar), then the kiosks at the printing shop will usually have a 'passport' photo size that you can print your photos in. This is usually around 3x2" so will work for your photos just as well!

If you have any questions, please just fire them through. I'll try and help answer them.

3 more sleeps!

 

What my house looks like when packing kits

Ok, so it's not pretty. Really! And Andy and I have just had a discussion about how he hates this part of my scrapping life. But really what can a girl do? Take a sneaky look into how we're living right now.....

Piles and piles of seam binding....

One part of the lounge floor.... that bit in the middle with nothing on it, is where I sit as I kit things up....

A few boxes packed. Some totally ready, others needing more product. How exciting!

So you can see, it's a messy messy time.

Only 4 more sleeps.

Another cool tool I'll be using at SENZ

Anyone know what this tool is?

It's a new one from Imaginisce called the D-Stress. And I LOVE the name cause it works both ways. Not only does this tool destress your pages, but it causes less stress for you. So destress's you! Grin.

I'm going to be using it in my class "Our Family - Is it a mini album or a LO?". This mini / LO needs lots of sanding, so this little beauty is going to make that job a LOT easier.

Especially since it gets right into the tight and tricky corners! Gotta love that.

Now I know that we don't always have to buy the latest tools out, but that's the beauty of classes. You can come along, test things out and then go away knowing if it's something you want (or need, grin) and how it works, so whether it will fit your style.

Join me on Sunday morning 9.30-11.30 and you'll get to test not only this, but the Sizzix/Tim Holz Vagabond as well! Double bonus.

PS: And you know that pile of felt from yesterday, well it's all gone now. Made into pretty little things as part of some of my kits. Ahhhh, I love this part of kitting!

Just 5 more sleeps! hehehehehehe!

6 sleeps to go....

And yesterday this pile of felt was sitting on my desk ready to be made and put into kits.... how exciting!

I now have two class kits fully packed and ready to go. Only another 4 to do.

So tell me, what do you love about SENZ? What are you looking forward to? Leave me a message and I'll put a rak up for grabs! Drawn next week.... hopefully I'll give to the winner in person at SENZ (otherwise will post, can't have those disadvantaged by not going!).

A wee bonus for those taking my classes at SENZ

Have you seen this? The Vagabond from Tim Holtz.

Hmmmm, how do I describe it? Ok, as a very clever, very easy die cutting machine. Think Cuttlebug but without the handle to turn. And strong! It's going to cut those very intricate, gorgeous gorgeous gorgeous Cherry Lyn dies much easier, much better. Plus does much thicker items, like grungeboard! Check out this utube video.

And I have one in my hot little hands. I'm so excited!!!

I've got it out. I've put it together but, I just had to stop what I was doing to let you know that I'm going to be using it in 4 of my classes next weekend at SENZ!

**Jeepers, only a week to go!**

So if you want to try it out (and the Cuttlebug), check out the classes below and come and join me.  There are still spots available in some of them.

My Masculine double LO 'Men are from Mars' Friday 9.30am-11.30am

Lets focus on the boys Friday 2.30-4.30pm (class full, but kits available)

"Our Family" Is it a LO or a mini album? Sunday 9.30-11.30

Cards for Scrapbookers 2 Sunday 12.45-2.45pm

Also I'm going to be doing a little 'count down' each day right here, leading up to SENZ. Visit my blog each day to see what I'm going to be up to and little sneaks that haven't been seen before! Ahhhhh the excitement!

7 sleeps to go! Can't wait!

I LOVE my new button storage

Cheap and delightful from The Warehouse. So much easier to store, see and USE!

So good.