Tuesday, September 23, 2008

Sandra's new stuff






Here is my entry for the latest challenge.
I had a bit of a chuckle when I saw 'something new'
This is my first board book.
Also first time in using dimensional magic... and kindy glitz.
quite happy with the result.


oooohhhhhh. nice stuff Sandra. You have come a long way in such short time. I just lurrve dimensional magic and kinderglitz too.
note...permission given from the recipients to show this on the blog!!

Marika's page


I love the tones that Marika has chosen here - that teal/aqua is just so eyecatching and WOW.


The new stamp looks fantastic as well - I love a good flourish! You go girl with your stitched border too......for those that have never machine stitched onto a page - give it a whirl, the effect is well worth it and the thought is scarier than actaully doing it!
What a cutie patootie too! I am thinking she looks a lot more like your side of the family this time Marika!>?
What a great response to the retreat newsletter........i am absolutely certain you will all have a great time and I am just quietly getting excited (already) about it all!

BOOK NOW

what an amazing, mind blowing response for the e2c Retreat in March 09.

we have ONLY 2 seats left for the Retreat.

So when these 2 spots are filled, that's it.

All spots will be taken and we wont be able to release any for day trippers. So book now for your retreat or you will miss out.

I will be compiling a wait list so if there any seats that have been booked and but not paid for by the 10th of October, these will be re-released. Please scroll down the page to the post 'GO!!!!!' for all the details.

Play - Challenge 17

At last i have scrapped a page!! I have been itching to get to these photos of Eli playing. For this challenge i have used my NEW Kaiser alpha stamps, at last they came out of their package, and so easy to use!!!

And while i was on a roll, i put together another page, that i have been wanting to get to, that i sort of scrap-lifted from a 'creating keepsakes' magazine, and once again i used some stamps that haven't been used. A mixture of Kaiser stamps & inque boutique stamps. Arn't little shoes just so adorable!!!

Monday, September 22, 2008

GO!!!

Hello scrappers :)

Yes it is that very exciting time of the year. Time to think about our retreat and act upon securing YOUR seat at our next getaway in March 2009.

DETAILS
March 13-15 2009 at the Lions Hostel at North Shields (same venue as 2008)
Price - $120 (includes accommodation, nibbles, and 5 meals)
Deposit - $50 - NON REFUNDABLE
5 scrap shops under one roof!!!!!
freebies, goodies and give aways
at least 4 separate scrap workshops *



REGISTRATIONS
will be open from the 22nd of September through to end of business Friday 10th of October FOR ALL WEEKENDERS ONLY.

To register and confirm your position you will need to contact Tiff Firth via email katmfirth@bigpond.com .

You will then be given instructions on how to secure your spot by full payment of $120 (preferred) or a deposit of $50. At the very minimum, your deposit of $50 is required by the 10th of October.

If you have not paid by this time, your name will be removed from our list and your position is forfeited.

Please note that full payment of $120 is preferred.

THERE ARE LIMITED PLACES AVAILABLE SO ACT NOW TO AVOID DISAPPOINTMENT.

If planning to pay by direct deposit please allow for the 24 hour bank transfer delay.
Please note that school holidays fall during this registration period - so do not put this off as you may forget/ go on holidays / go mad.

NO BOOKINGS/ REGISTRATIONS/ POSITIONS HELD PRIOR TO THE 22ND OF SEPTEMBER.
LIMITED NUMBER OF SEATS AVAILABLE (50)
NO PAYMENT ACCEPTED UNLESS PREVIOUSLY ARRANGED WITH TIFF VIA EMAIL
DAY TRIPPER REGISTRATION ONLY ACCEPTED AFTER THE 15TH OCTOBER PROVIDING POSITIONS ARE AVAILABLE.

Don't forget to stay up to date with the latest news from the escape team on the blog http://escape2create.blogspot.com/

We hope to hear from you soon!


Sue, Meredith, Tiff, Val and Amanda


* please note classes and kits are not included in price this year. These will be extra. More details on what exciting projects we have to share with you, photo requirements, teachers, sneak peeks of the classes on offer and registration will be sent to you in an email in November.

WOWSERS

what a amazing response.
there are only 10 spots left.
Quick
Make up your mind now or you WILL miss out.
r u coming to the Retreat.
then email Tiff to reserve your seat.
:D

housekeeping

PLEASE INCLUDE YOUR NAME WHEN DEPOSITING FOR THE REFERENCE, otherwise I have no idea who it is from.
thank you
Tiff
get set.....

Sunday, September 21, 2008

on your marks.....

get ready,

Challenge 17

Since we have had a few changes around here and there is something exciting in the wind (hint hint) i thought for this challenge we could do 'something new'.

Sooooooooo you can do a page on anything - any subject at all, but you must use something on your page that you haven't used before - something that may have been in your stash for a while waiting to be used or something that is brand new. Think stamps, flowers, an alpha set that hasn't been used, some papers that have been waiting to be used...............

For the digi girls you might have a new font you would like to try, new brushes, kits, elements or actions.

PS. please let us know what you are thinking about our new blog look! I like how clean and fresh it looks......hmmmmmmmmmm escape 2009........must mean something is going to happen soon!!? ;-)

Friday, September 19, 2008

Maryanne's mag stash

Its not quite my wardrobe, but it is my little cupboard in my room which houses a lot of my crap, and I did clean it out yesterday before I took photos![and did get rid of some junk too].Was lazy and did a digital, mind you still have scrap crap all over the floor, as Im having a clean out there too.

wow. i love this. love the cupboard esp. is it really blue glass. that is just gorgeous. and of course perfect place to hide the indulgences (choccies I mean).
what a fabo digi. well done

Karen's dining erm scrap space.

Karen says: Geez it seems to take me ages to get organized ATM. Here is my scrap space, also doubles up as our dinning table!! Often it all just gets pushed up to one end and we eat around it.
And the other pic is my "storage system". Ahem, not much of a system I must say. I would love a room inside to claim for my own, I could have the room off the garage. But it is cold in winter, stinking in summer, the light is really bad, dirty and dusty and it is away from everyone. I will continue to dream.....


thanks for sharing Karen. Did u wash the floorboard esp for the shots? they are so shiny!!!!

Thursday, September 18, 2008

Oooohhhh!!

I can feel a rumbling in the paddocks





... something is on its way.

thank goodness

Sandra says : I am not completely happy with this one and would love to ask all the girls how it could be improved.... Open Slather... I have got thick skin!. Can't put my finger on it... more embellishments? not balanced?? I would be interested in the feed back!
by the way.... Love the new look blog.. I have to get used to the white.. very fresh!

how about some red straight stitch around the photo block or red buttons for a little splash of colour. erm i'm a bit partial to red atm on Sean's stuff so I looking with one eye.

Thank goodness SOMEONE has done the challenge. Was wondering if u all felt it too personal. Think out of the box. Does hubby have a wardrobe to store stuff in the shed, do u had a wardrobe (cupboard) to store your stash, a wardrobe some where else than in the bedroom. how about the linen closet.

edited by Tiff to include a tweaked version

tweaked it a bit... what do you reckon...work in progress. I am going to see what other people think, try to use all their ideas and see what the end product looks like ;)
couldn't do the red stitching.. haven't got any in my digital stash!

Tuesday, September 16, 2008

Sue's Scrap Space

And here is my scrap space - thanks to my cabinet maker son - i have a beaut little nook that is just all mine!!


Bench top with with 3 work stations, one for computer, then scanner, spare work space, then mine at the end by the window. Above -head box shelves - just varnished MDF, serves the purpose perfectly!

Looks like mayhem, i know, but everything has it's special spot - well, usually!! And if nothing else, i can sit and gaze out the window at the beautiful view!! ...and be inspired :)


Sue's Mini album

Sorry I haven't been very active on the blog lately...it's not that i haven't been scrapping, i have, but just working away at a couple mini albums....which neither is finished yet. But i am gonna give you a sneak peek at my Cairns album.....which i am loving, the colours and the memories of our recent trip up north. My other album is for a special someone for a special occasion.....stay tuned i will show n tell at a later date.
Hope you all enjoy....

Each double page covers a day of our holiday. And i have added tags behind one of the main photos to record the highlights of the day, and on the back of the tags is either a map, or entry tickets or some memorabilia of the day.

I have added lift up flap pages, using ribbon as hinges, so i can add more photos on those wonderful busy days!My photo of the train ride at Kuranda wasn't that good, as we were at the back of the train, so i scanned a photo from a tourist brochure, printed it out, and zappo - the memory is still captured...just how it was.

Just 3 more days to finish.:)






Monday, September 15, 2008

*sniff sniff*

Can you smell it?

A change is in the air..........and i am not talking about weather.

Stay tuned ;-)

skeleton's out

had a bit of fun with this one.
This is Annie's wardrobe. to get it all in (sort of) i took 3 shots and 'stitched' them together. Then i cropped it into a panoramic.... ie twice as tall as wide, so this is 30cm long and 15cm wide. Ish!!

I put the cropped photo onto a A4 size document in PS and fiddled with some brushes. Used the eye dropper tool to grab the pink off the bag in the bottom of the wardrobe for the text colour and 'justified' all my text (like columns in the newspapers). Flattened the layers. Open a new document in PS, 30com x 30cm. Moved the flattened LO onto the blank document and moved it around to where I wanted it.

A3 printers are so wonderful. Gives u the chance to create anything onto anything up to A3+. If u ever get the chance to get one, DO IT. Cant say enough about the freedom of it.

Printed a draft grey scale onto A3 paper to make sure everything is as it should be. Used this as my template and attached my white bazzil on it, re fed it into the printer and printed a colour copy, this time onto the bazzil. Still set up the printer for photo quality.

Had some clothing labels that were perfect for this one (think about what tags are on the new clothes and how u can use them before u chuck them in the bin.). used some heidi swapp rubons for the title and the good ol dymo with the changable font wheels. (love em)

And of course a butterfly. (my signature)

ta da.

Friday, September 12, 2008

hybrid help (PS)

check out these VERY helpful links on hybrid scrapping from Ali Edwards. Easy instructions to follow for beautiful resutls
well worth printing each of the tips out and keeping for your reference.
http://aliedwards.typepad.com/_a_/2008/07/ae-weekly-featu.html
http://aliedwards.typepad.com/_a_/2008/07/digital-life-ar.html
http://aliedwards.typepad.com/_a_/2008/07/hybriddigital-s.html
http://aliedwards.typepad.com/_a_/2008/07/working-with-la.html

these tips are for photoshop. you can apply the same principles to nearly any photo editing program.
Those chicks new to PhotoShop go for it. I would love to see what u can do.
;D

jenny's lifted

edited 16.9.08 to add the card that Jenny lifted for this challenge.


lovely lovely lovely. embossed papers are in atm. and all our favourtie colours too. no way could u go wrong with this one. just loving bg.

Lisa's Room.


Pics of my scrapspace for the blog.
I am very grateful that I have this space - I really need to have my own area and there is so much stuff stored in here too - not just crafty things.
I would like to say that it doesn't always look this messy - but...........mmmm, yes it does!! LOL - I do tidy every now and then when I can't find things! The cupboard doors are always open cos there is usually piles of stuff in front of them waiting to be put away. Hey, it works for me!! LOL.
The girls are pretty good - and I do make sure there is nothing dangerous on the floor or within Halle's reach. Halle does have her own keyboard, but would much prefer to play with mine.
Above the desk is 2 shelves - my printers are there along with other stuff. Next to the chest of drawers is my old teenage desk (that my dad made for me), so I do have another desktop if anyone visits me to scrap.

I take that last comment to be a big hint lol
u have massive storage room. Lucky duck. can see why tubs wouldn't work for you.
tfn

Challenge 16

howdy. Your challenge for the week.
how many skeletons in your closet.


pick a wardrobe. (Doesn't have to be yours)



open the doors



hold your breath and REFRAIN from touching anything



shoot it (try different angles ie get on a ladder/bed or look up from floor level)



print it (gotta be in colour) BW would be just tooo easy now wouldn't it.



scrap it.



email it to Tiff or Amanda



we'll post it

Sandra's answer to Amanda's challenge

I love it. LOVE the cluster of embellis in the right corner. Esp the fanned (?) PP and the foled lace. Great balance.
Isnt the photo just awwwww.....just goes to show that G does have a soft spot in him..... just don't tell him (LOL)

Sandra's spot to scrap in

this is Sandra's current space of creativity. Scrapping only gets done when the dining table is not in use for each meal...... no wonder digi is the way to go for you atm, but.......

This is the potential creative space. LOTS of shelving all round for embellies and displays, southern window, heaps of potential. I have seen it IRL. cant wait to see it coverted in Sandra's Sacred Spot.
ps there is also a lock on the door.
She says......
and the other photo is of the room (outside!!) that I hope will be my scrapping room soon!.. just need to work out how to approach the subject with Garry!!! lol should be fine.


Maryanne...



Here is Maryannes page for the card challenge. This looks fantastic Maryanne - the card you picked to lift from is awesome!!!! and love the boots lined up in both yours and the original. The odometer stamp? on your page is perfect!


LOL at your colour choice. I would wish your boys good luck but I am in a bit of a tricky situation LOL.........let's just say - i hope it is a great game with no injuries!


Check out Tracey's space


Attached is a photo of my scraproom. Frightfully tidy at the moment as I have completed the three mini albums that were clogging up my space. I also haven't scrapped anything for a while, hence its tidiness - very abnormal!! On the other side of the room is a two door cupboard, rocking chair and a magazine stand. I am one lucky chic to have this space but at this stage in my life it is not used to its potential at all - this must change!!
Wow Traey. You even have a window. U can swing a cat in there. Looks like a kids free, my sacred space. Lucky you.

Wednesday, September 10, 2008

an apology and marika's page!

First up - an apology from me. Things have been VERY hectic lately for me and i have barely had enough time at home let alone catchup on computer/internet stuff. When i have been on the PC it has been flat strap doing grant stuff so as much as we all hate the B word....well things have been rather busy for me.
Hopefully by this time next week at the latest things should have calmed down somewhat and i can get back to my normal programming. LOL.

Anyway onto more interesting stuff - here is Marika's page and the great card she lifted from which was a Becky Higgins creation.


card from Becky Higgins Creating Keepsakes July 08
I just love how you interpreted this Marika. All the white spaces are so beautiful. Fabulous photo of Noah too - the black and white is absolutely stunning against the white cardstock.


Well done! Beautiful!!!


I did recieve another entry earlier in the week but some last minute changes were required before I can pop them up here ;-)


Finished this last night. Amanda made a beautiful card for Sean for his birth a couple of years and a bit ago.
So with this in mind and limited co ordinated PP i did this. Wanted to use red to take away from the pink bed cover and highlight Sean but keep some of the floral look. As you can see it has changed a lot on its way to being finished. In fact, it now really looks nothing like the card.
ah well... rules were made to be bent a bit.
The red dymo says 'caught red (little metal hand) ed. thought that was cute.
the metal thingies on the PP strip are from a belt that Annie grew out of a long time ago. Have been hoarding these for ages. LOL

my space

This is our office. I have taken over this room and call it mine. Straight after tea I disappear into here. I don't watch any TV at all because I am in here. Luckily it's big enough (sort of) to house another desk in there. So I am able to have stuff out on it and leave it there. But it does have the very important bar fridge. (Another device used as shelving)
I am very aware of the kids tho, I don't leave any sharp things on there or anything that may tempt them too much. They are good tho. Both of them have only touched my stuff once, and I roared at them enough to not touch it again. And they haven't.

I am a bit lucky I guess. Would love to paint the walls, get rid of the panelling and put up lots of shelving, but it wont happen in this life. So I'll just stick with what I've got

Tuesday, September 9, 2008

Maryanne's scrapspace

Maryanne says :
And just to remind you all to be grateful for your scraprooms/space, I have put up a pic of my loungeroom floor, which is my "scrapspace", and as you can see I make a hell of a mess, which is why I dont really do much of it when the kids are around!!!!Im sooo envious when I hear anyone mention their scraproom.mind you all I have to do is look up on my wall unit and see a pic of our sponsor child and puts it all into perspective really!!!can change my thinking from "glass half empty to glass half full".

Thanks for sharing your pic Maryanne. I'm about to photograph mine. And you are right, material things are nothing compared to your children and what they mean to you. I admire you for sponsoring a child. Have thought about it and that is as far as i have got. Lame excuse I know.

hmmm... its a bit quiet in here...pic of your space

so while u are all presumably creating your slant on Amanda's card lift challenge I thought of a quick pic of your creative space to post would be great.

The idea came from Maryanne's blog http://scarysstuff.blogspot.com/

Wherever you spread out your stash to make your masterpieces is where the photo needs to be taken.

post your pic to me (email addy's on right side of blog) as a small file.

take your shot.
save it on your computer.
find the file and right click on it
send to
mail recipient
say yes to make pics smaller
address it to Tiff
send
i'll post it.

cant wait to see a flood of pics.
try to limit your self to 2 pics. (good luck)

Saturday, September 6, 2008

Lisa IRL


whoo hooo.

A fair few bloggers met Lisa last night at the 5 Loaves Bakery Scrap Nite. (She's the skinny one in the middle with her hands on her legs).

Lisa came down from her home and went back the same night. 3 hour round trip. AND she had to work Sat morning, AND she had to umpire netball that arvo, AND she is going to Ceduna on Sunday.

HUMONGOUS Effort Lisa. So fantastic to meet you and on behalf of all of us, thankyou.

oh we're stepping out...

Just goes to show that inspiration can be found everywhere.

While Judy was tying up her shoe lace for her daily (i think) ritual, it broke in her hand. Being a true scrapper rather than tossing it out, it gave her a moment to pause...... and think..... hmmm I could use this in a layout.

and lo and behold

here is the layout.



awesome stuff Judy.

before everyone has a chance to say..... love the shoelace...... gives it so much dimension. stamped feet are so cute and the 'essentials' embellishments are fabo.
well done Judy.
now I reckon u should submit this.......

Spring challenge page

Hi everyone,

Great to see so many at the Five Loaves scrap night last night. A special hi to Lisa who traveled down from Wudinna - lovely to meet you Lisa, hope you wont be too tired today! Photo coming soon, hey Tiff.


Here's my page for the last challenge.


I must get a scanner, I must get a scanner, I must get a scanner!!! It would have to be easier and result in a better picture of layouts.

Hope to see lots of you sending in LO for Amanda's latest and greatest challenge! I know Tiff has an idea for the next challenge too!!

Friday, September 5, 2008

challenge 15

Ok this challenge i am stealing from Clair Bremner who originally stole it from the 2 peas website. I did this challenge a while back and loved it so much. So easy to do.

So i will pop in the link for Clairs challenges on her blog -

http://missymuh.typepad.com/whats_in_the_bicky_tins/old_bickys/

and the challenge this week is to (will copy Clairs words here as she explains it much better than i could!)


For this bicky you need to scrap a page using inspiration from a greeting card.
You can take as much or as little inspiration as you want but you must send
in a copy of the card you have used as inspiration. You can copy the color
combo, the layout, the quote, the theme...the possibilities are endless...

here are some links to some online greeting cards if you are like me and
too lazy to head down to the shops LOL

Hallmark - not a lot to be honest but it's a good place to start hmm on closer
inspection there is actually shit-loads of things you could get inspiration from
on this site LOL

Etsy - a good place for something a little bit different

Affirmations
- a card company with lots of nice quotes and things



Amanda back again - also if you google cards you might come up with a winner that way.


here is the one i did a fair while ago. I used the actual layout as the idea but changed my colour scheme. You might like to just use the colours or just the words. There are more examples of what has been done on Clairs blog link i posted above.

and the card i used for inspiration




email either Tiff or myself your page and also the card that has inspired you.

Just a tiny tip - if you find one on the www. print it out and have it next to your scrap desk rather than running back to the PC all the time. LOL - a good fitness routine but a real bugger for the creativity.

cant wait to see what you come up with!

how cute is this?



OMG Karen your work is so devine. The green on this is so fresh and 'spring-ish' it is fantastic. Love the little bird - looks like he is sitting in a nest with the little bits and bobs under him. The vine ...brilliant. You need to tell me where to get some of that vine rubon- i love LOVE LOVE it.
Great photo too. I love the different angle you have taken it from. Everything about this screams 'brilliant' at me. LOVE IT.

Here is mine. I feel so bad as i accidently 'stole' the title from Meredith......sorry chicken. I was going to rip it to bits and bin it but thought i would keep going and hope she didn't hate me too much for it.

Wednesday, September 3, 2008

a newbie!


Welcome Kate!


She has completed a page for Meredith's challenge which was to do a page on your work.


Kate is a dental therapist (as well as a busy mum like us all!) and she has done a fabulous page showcasing her job/career/work.


Those little handwritten notes down the bottom are so cute! Love the dymo ;-)

whoo hoo!!

http://escape2create.blogspot.com/2008/08/done-it.html

doing the happy dance.... big time.......

Tuesday, September 2, 2008

a touch of spring.

It is nice to see so many blog challenge entries coming in. This one has certainly put a spring in our step (ha ha ha)


First up is one by Marika who took the photo the same day she did the page! This big photo thing is all the rage and i think it looks fantastic. The little cluster of embellishments down the bottom are excellent and balance it all our very nicely. The canola is looking beautifully yellow at the moment so it is great to see it included here.




Secondly Sandra has gone all minimilist on us!! She says -

found a layout by Leanne Stamatellos.. and loved it.. (love her work!)
Its in Scrapbook Creations No.37 (vol5 no10) called As long as the Sky.
See you all on Friday ... sounds like a great night!





I dont blame you for wanting to lift Leannes work. It is stunning in it's simplicity and always looks classy. Your page is beautiful too Sandra...the strips of paper and the simple statement for a title. Very very eyecatching!


Thanks girls they are really inspirational!

Monday, September 1, 2008

food for thought

http://www.hp.com/products1/printpermanence/download.html?btnCompare=Free+download+%C2%BB+

this is a hewlett-packard link and of course they will plug their own products. But it does give u food for thought.

Every wondered how long your home printed photos will actually last for before they start fading. And they will fade.

download this and install. have a look. I deleted it thru control panel, add or remove programs after I had a play. Its just a demo and there is no need to clutter up your computer with it.

nothing like a little romance in the spring


OMG i nearly spat my cofffee clear across the room when i saw this LO in my inbox.



Maryanne has captured the most hilarious photo - just perfect for our spring theme! The dots, that spring time brush and your leaves are all so spring like and are excellent in this page. Wow at that peice of cardboard - LOVE IT!
How funny are those ladybirds. If only they knew that their session is now on the www! What would their mothers say? LOL.
Still trying to get over that dirty old ant having a good ol' perve as he strutted past! I be he copped an eyeful. I hope he averted his antannae.
Thanks Maryanne. This is a classic!

Lisa's job challenge

Well done Lisa. Bright and vibrant. And all that sewing by hand, wow. love the bold paint background. and the heart draws my eye straight to the main photo.
Lisa says....

LO attached for the Job Challenge. Would have been finished on Sunday if my %$#* Sewing Machine hadn't broken down. Had to manually turn the needle wheel (?) to put the holes in the LO and then sew it all in by hand!! Am really resisting the urge to add to this page, it feels a bit unfinished to me. I will be adding some names etc in the bottom Left Hand Corner when I get some Carolee Mini Alphas on Friday!


Also attached the page Tyla did today. She would really like it if could be put on the Blog too. This is from their Mini Olympics day. She was on the Ireland Team, hence all the green and orange. The things with the macaroni are the medals the kids won!

Hi Tyla

Well done on your LO honey and on your medals. Could u please remind me how old you are. I guess you may be 5.