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I'm so excited to be teaching at Stitch, Craft, Create Live in Charlotte, North Carolina at the end of October this year!
I'll be teaching two classes. My fabulous "3in1" which is 3 single layouts in one class, plus my 'from scratch' smash album/mini album.
Here's a look at each one....
and
I can't wait to see you there!
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Hi there everyone, today I'm putting on my Spellbinders cap to show you the cutest little project I've made in a long time. And it's easy too.
Using the Spellbinders square petal top box die, I cut out the above box on some 7Dots Studio papers. Then its just a matter of folding in the right places, adding a bit of glue and the box is complete. It really is that simple.
However, I don't really do 'simple' that well, so I had to add a few things to 'trinaafie' it. Using more paper from the 7Dots collection "All I Ever" I also used another couple of Spellbinders dies and cut out some leaves and a gorgeous scalloped border.
Adding them around the bottom of the box, gave it a little more interest and of course texture which I love.
On top of those I also added some flowers from Prima. Gotta love me some Prima flowers! And the box was complete.
Then I decided the box needed something to go inside it. And yes, chocolate would have been nice and fitted well. But I was thinking along the scrapping lines, so completed a little mini album made from one sheet of paper....
Yep, just one sheet of 12x12 paper, a few embellishments and it's done.
I made it to fit inside the box perfectly, and it does. Whew.
So a couple of pieces of paper, a couple of extra embellishments and you have a great little gift set to give to someone, or keep for yourself.
Spellbinders products used: Square petal top box, Foliage, A2 Scalloped borders one.
7Dots Studio papers from the "All I Ever" Collection
Prima flowers.
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Hello everyone! I'm a bit late with this one. I've been thinking about it since last week when I was looking through my thousands of photos for one perfect one to go on a layout. The dumb thing is that amongst all those gorgeous photos, there wasn't one that suited the layout I had made. Anyway, as I was trawling through years, I kept seeing old layouts I'd made. I couldn't help myself and kept looking at them too.
It was wonderful. I got to remember things that I'd forgotten. Laugh at my silly ideas. Nod my head in agreement with some of my thoughts. And cringe at the designs I'd made.
But at the end of the day, when I still hadn't found a photo. I was thrilled because I'd been inundated with memories.
So my challenge to you this week is to do the same. Take a walk down memory lane as you pull out your photograph albums or scrapbooks, or both and revisit your life.
Dare ya.
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In our family, when we all sit down to dinner we go around the table telling each other what we are grateful for that day. It's interesting to hear each others variations on what's been good in their day and often leads to other great conversations.
A little while ago I created a layout about it....
I thought a nice sunset from a recent trip to Bali would make the perfect photo. Something I'm grateful for every time I see one.
I don't often use purple, but I LOVE it in this context and it works really well with the photos.
I've used lots of glorious Prima product. This is stuff that I've had sitting around after new releases come out, so don't tend to use as I'm often promoting the 'newer' product. But I love all the items on this layout. Old or not. I've often said, it's not always what's newest thats necessarily my favourite. And it's true in the case of this layout.
Have a wonderful day.
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I created this layout using Prima's BAP for July. It meant I didn't have to think too much about design as the base was already there for me, and I could concentrate on what I was trying to say.
Because this layout had a message I wanted to have in my albums. I fear that my children will one day feel the same way and I want them to know it's ok. That life isn't all roses. And perhaps if I've battled something like this, they can too.
A friend saw this layout and asked me how I can teach feeling as I do above. And my answer was pretty simple.... I refuse to let my fears get the better of me. It's like travel. I LOVE to travel. I would almost go as far to say that I'm addicted to it. If I don't have a trip on the horizon, I feel all jittery. LOL. But flying scares me (so much so, that I've even done a course on flying without fear!). Especially if it's just me. But living at the bottom of the world means to get ANYWHERE I have to fly. So I do. Because if I didn't, that would be worse. And I guess teaching is the same. I love Scrapbooking. I love to teach. To not teach would be worse than someone seeing me 'fat'..... But it also doesn't mean that I don't feel embarrased about how I look.
Andy couldn't believe the layout when I showed it to him. "T, that's a terrible photo, can I take another one for you?". And he's right. It's not pretty! Grin. But I think that was all part of what I wanted to convey in the layout. And besides I've 'actioned' the photo so that it's not even that clear anymore! Grin. And as I say in all my classes and 'preach' about. This was me. Right then, at that moment. So if I don't like it, then I need to do something about it. And if I can't then I need to accept it and love me for who I am.
Because at the end of the day, it's not what we look like. Really it's not. I know that's not what society tells us, but believe me when I tell you that it's whats inside that REALLY matters! Trust me on that ok?!
And so I'm going to challenge you to pop on over to the Prima blog and take a look at the sketch and give it a go. But do what I've done. Make it about yourself. Make it real. Dare ya.
PS: And just by making this layout, I felt a whole heap better. So it was therapeutic too. Funny aye?!
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I've been making cakes again. So much fun. And one of them was my first 'commissioned' cake. So exciting! I'll show that one first hey?!
It was for a pirate party and they showed me some cakes they liked the look of. This is what I made. I'm pretty proud of it too. Grin.
I had so much fun making the waves out of fondant and things like the anchor out of chocolate.
In hindsight, I could have done this differently. And I've learnt a lesson from it. But still looks pretty cool.
But my favourite part was the teeny tiny little canon balls. So cute!
The next one was a car cake. It and the next one were made for the kids I make cakes for each month. I loved making the little cars, and the road was super fun too.
The little trees were fun too. But I need to work out a better way next time, and make sure the colour is much more different to the grass.
The last cake was more of a quick and easy, fun cake. I wasn't sure what the child would want, but did know their age. So thinking about kids my own age, I decided to fill it with chocolate and lollies. It turned out ok.
A couple of flakes over the top of the cake. Yum!
They were so much fun to make. I sure hope they were enjoyed.
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The kids and I have decided to spend some time in the last week of the holidays doing some charity work. We're not sure what yet (open to suggestions!!!), but want to do something that involves time rather than money. When I was telling the kids about my idea, I thought it would make a great Sunday Shake up, and so it's here.
My challenge to you this week is to spend some time helping someone else.
Dare ya.
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I love the palette. Such gorgeous colours all together. Would be perfect for the blokes in your life, but I couldn't help myself with lots of flowers and a layout about myself. Eeeek. What's my mantra? Get IN your scrapbooks!
I created my own 'ribbon' by colouring/painting some Prima tape with coloured texture paste, and once it had dried I then added more colour to the texture paste (yes that right, you can colour it too!) and used a Prima stencil to get lots of dots all over it.
This is what the tape looks like when you buy it from Prima.
It's a really fun technique and could be applied to anything. Paper, doilies, flowers. Whatever you can paint over.
And that blue above, is a texture gel which I've coloured with the same paint, just less of it. And of course I've used a gorgeous Prima stencil to create that cool design.
If you want to see some more inspiration using these colours, pop across to The Colour Room.
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I just read on Oprah Winfrey's website something about a phone free day and thought 'self, this would be a fantastic challenge for a Sunday Shake up'.
Now, I can't remember if we've already done this or not? But even if we have, perhaps it would be timely to do it again.
Do you remember the days before mobile phones? I do. We talked to people, really talked to them, not texted. We were involved in our day rather than hanging on every beep some piece of machinery makes.
I saw Oprah's idea and thought this is a great idea. And so I challenge you to give it a go.
Dare ya.
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Our tutors have outdone themselves this time around. Would we expect anything less?
Let's take a look at glimpses of what you'll be completing in classes in August at Scrapfest by the Sea....
Lyn and I discussed how we should release these several times. In the end we decided that while this is an event and theoretically we 'should' release things all the same, that each tutor has their own unique way of scrapbooking and have been chosen to teach for that reason, so why not show it off in the way they present their classes also? I hope you like what you see!
An email will be sent out in the next few days giving full 'bring lists', the photos again, and of course what classes have sold out and which you can still book into (we know you want to!). If you were waiting for the class sneaks to come out before you chose a class....I hope you like what you see. If you have seen a class that you love and just have to do, but have booked into another class that is on at the same time, then don't forget we also have kits available for sale. It's all good!
And as I said in a comment this evening on facebook, if you have realised what you're missing out on by not coming and you need to come, I just wonder if Lyn might be able to free up a spot if you twist her arm?
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Two weekends ago I was in Napier working with Scrapbook Corner on 'Create for a Cause'. It was a magnificent event (which you'll see in the photos). Janine and Roger were amazing hosts and I had such a fabulous time. It was also a bonus getting to catch up with some friends aye Rae, Nicki, Linda, Sandra and Tana?! And meet a ton of new friends. We even had quite a few people new to Scrapbooking there which is brilliant!!!
Here's a wee look at what it was all about.
A hall filled with people to raise money for Michelle who is going through cancer treatment right now. A very worthy cause.
My class was my trade mark 'Texture Throughout'. I used a gorgeous kit of pink PRIMA which turned into this.....
We used papers, flowers, vines, alphas, doilies, tags, crystals and packaging to come up with a sweet layout perfect for any girl.
We distressed, and chopped and pulled flowers apart, only to put them back together again in a new formation. It was so much fun!
I was incredibly sick that weekend. Totally lost my voice and I have a funny wee story regarding throwing up and carrying on (hopefully nobody noticed!!!!). I was that sick. It made teaching interesting, and fun as I tried out one trick when you loose your voice, to talk deeply. Everyone can attest to how silly I sounded! LOL.
I really do love to teach and feel incredibly priviledged to have been invited to Napier to work with Janine and Roger at their event. Thanks guys!
We had a little room to the side of the hall which was perfect for my class! This is one group of ladies hard at work. I taught 3 times overall.
I have known Raewyn (on the left) for years now, but we haven't seen each other in a while. It was so lovely to catch up with her. I'd forgotten just how funny she is! I laughed and laughed and laughed.
Seeing Nicki and Sandra was a blast too! What wonderful friendships we make in this hobby of ours!
Janine and I. Organiser extraordinaire!!! Again, thanks for having me. I hope to come back again one day.
The next day we went to a craft show and I spent far too much, but had a lovely morning before jumping back on the plane home. Eating far too much as well. Gosh they have good cafes in Napier!!
If you live in Napier or around that way, do pop in to see Janine and her team at Scrapbook Corner. It will be well worth your visit!
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Hi guys! As asked for at SENZ, here are the receipes that I baked for you over the weekend....
Chocolate cupcakes
Both receipes I found on the web. My trick is to google "Best ever......" and then try a couple that look good and have good reviews.
The cupcake base was found at www.addapinch.com, here's the direct link.
My buttercream icing is different to the one above, here's the link to the buttercream icing I use.... it is the most delicious, very sweet and divine. EVERYONE loves it. I think the secret is adding the salt. It helps take some of the sweetness out.
This time around, I added in some butterscotch flavour. It is made by Go Bake (did you see them at SENZ? So good!) and it's called Flavacol butterscotch. They make a ton of different flavours, all are good, but I think this is definitely my favourite and works soooooo well with chocolate!
Ok, so that's the cupcakes from Friday mornings class.
Here's the receipe from the Saturday afternoon class - ginger crunch.
But before I give you the receipe, let me tell you the story of how I found it.
I was celebrating a decision I made about some personal issues, and wanted to tell my kids, but also wanted it to be a celebration, so after school, instead of going home and having a 'normal' afternoon tea. We all jumped on our bikes and rode to Milford where we had a special afternoon tea at "The Swiss". It was summer and we all had milkshakes and a treat to eat. I chose their oaty ginger crunch. It was amazing. So amazing that I 'needed' to make one just like it (I'd had one at a local cafe a while before and never got to see it again and decided I needed to learn to make it in case I couldn't get anymore again! LOL). Thankfully The Swiss had a name by each item of food, so I googled...oaty ginger crunch. And I came up with a receipe from a cafe in Queenstown.
HERE it is.
Very simple to make. Doesn't take long. The longest part is waiting for the base to cool down so it's only warm before you put the icing on top (well that's what I do, can you put it on earlier??).
And again, divine.
So far with both of these receipes I haven't had a fail. So I'm thinking they are really good receipes! Also I get ALOT of comments on them. So I recon give them a go.....
Enjoy!
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Recently Spellbinders had their DT call. I decided to give it a go, and while I got through the first round, unfortunately, that was as far as it went for me. As you know from my posts here, I LOVE Spellbinders and all their gorgeous products, so I thought I'd share with you what I created as part of my entry.....
First round was this delightful little hanging heart....
I used 5 different Spellbinders dies and the paper which is (both collaged and not) is 7Dots Studio.
The heart is an MDF piece I brought from Spotlight some time ago. It is meant to be hung on your door, but in this instance, I covered the hole for the door knob and put in a Spellbinders gate.
It is now hanging from Sarah's roof.
For round two, I created this cute layout....
For this round, I used another 5 dies. Scalloped circles, banner, gate, and two types of triangles. I also used a few doilies, and of course some Prima papers and embellishments.
We also had to create a video showing how our project was created. Here's my video....
For close up's of this layout click on my post on the Paperhaus blog where I'm showing this layout.
I hope you get a chance to do some crafting today!
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I've been asked to be a guest designer at 7 Dots studio. So excited! It's a brilliant company with amazing papers and I get to have a play with them.
I can't wait!!!
As those of you who are coming to Scrapfest, we'll be selling 7 Dots paper at the shop. We can't wait! It's very unique. Made for scrapbookers, mixed media, card makers. ANYONE who loves colour and subtlety. Just take a look at their blog/website and you'll see what I mean....
Can you tell I LOVE their product? Uh huh!
To see the ladies who made the team, and other guest designers, just click on THIS link.
Thanks so much to Tusia for giving me this opportunity!!!
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