Mel's Place

Sizzling Hot

2012-01-28T09:19:00.001+08:00

Boy are we having a bit of a heatwave here in Perth atm!!! Today we expect to reach a maximum of 42C (107F) after having a hot night with an overnight low of 27C (80F)!!!!! Thank goodness we have a COLD pool just out the back door rofl! It has been well used... We also put up some misting sprays on Australia day which is awesome - really cools the place down!!!!! Week ahead is all 30+ as well - just in time for school to go back as per usual!

So as you can gather we have spent a fair bit of time hiding at home hanging around in the pool.

Went to Adventure world on Monday and was pleasantly surprised - last went there 2 years ago and felt it was a bit tired.... But they have updated a lot of the area's - put in extra shade for whilst you are waiting in line and have the new Kahuna Falls.... awesome water playground.

In the meantime I received some of Graphic 45's new releases for CHA and spent a mad few days creating so I could get it back to them in time for them to be displayed at the world's largest convention in what I believe on of the best stands possible!!! :) Shhh sneak peak of my fav LO....

If you haven't checked out the latest releases by Graphic 45 you should pop over and

check them out!!...

And lastly a LO I did last year that I taught for Printblocks back in June when I was in Brisbane :) It is in this month's Scrapbook Creations along with another one of me!!

Blink and we are already nearly half way through January!!

2012-01-12T09:59:00.001+08:00

I hope everyone had a great Christmas and New years!! We most certainly did. This Christmas was a lot quieter than previous years and tbh I liked it. I know atm there is a big debate about online shopping etc....but I must say I did a fair bit of online shopping this year including majority of the food and alcohol and presents....and loved how it was all delivered to my door. A couple of things arrived late however that's life!

Santa was very kind this year - I did have doubts whether the girls would be getting a present or a lump of coal....

We then headed up to Dongara for New Years staying at the Caravan Park tenting it with the D'amico's :) Lots of kids.. lots of fun! Port Denison beach is beautiful!

Then a busy week back at home washing washing and more washing lol - now it is time for some creating - My Graphic 45 DT Kit arrived this morning with the latest releases hot off the press (lol or should I say Diane's own printer!) You should hop over and check out the sneak peaks of the latest 2 releases - Little Darlings and one more which is right up my alley - just in time for CHA :)

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas :)

2011-12-21T08:15:00.000+08:00

YAY - all the presents have been bought.... (including mine - a kindle touch YAY!!!!) Food shopping is done (apart from the fresh seafood and fruit on Saturday but that is just down the road - no big shops!) Alcohol (yes essential!) delivered yesterday :)Fridges are cleaned out and ready to go even Chionia's room has had a clean out Phew!!!!! and my scrap room!!! I am ready - bring it on!!!!!!! :) Although this Christmas will be quieter than previous ones I am really looking forward to it - no where near as much stress or $$$ - my lot are coming over Christmas eve and Christmas day is being spent with good friends and the pool! Today's plan is to cook up the Choc Chip Peppermint Pavlova (recipe below - so easy and yummy trust me!) and I have even made some special homemade Christmas cards.. :)

A few weeks ago Jen Crossley came to Perth and taught some pretty cool classes - I went along to the Etched metal book class and I LOVED IT!!!!!!! So much so have bought all the chemicals and when I got home I wanted to play a bit more - so using up my scrap pieces from the class I created some very special brass Christmas Emporium tags :)
using Graphic 45

Christmas Emporium stamps and stazon :)

You then neutralise them, sand them and I swiped some paint paint over the top to highlight certain area's

Then all I had to do was pop them onto some cards - using the Coredinations Graphic 45 Core dark card sets and some yummy Nestabilities I created some special cards for family this Christmas (Riss - yours will be in the post today rofl!)

and yes I have been busy hehe - another project for you today as well - Advent calendars come in many forms nowadays and I have at least 7 in the house rofl but had to make another using the new Twiddleybitz Christmas Countdown kit

and yes I did cut and sandpaper that fence!!

Mel’s Peppermint Choc Chip Pavlova

Tips

just turn the oven off and let it cool in the oven - I make mine at night and leave it till the next morning

Eggs at room temperature

Meringue ingredients
6 egg whites (at room temperature)
2 cups of caster sugar
2 tspn white vinegar
1 tspn vanilla essence
0.5tspn peppermint essence
1 tbspn cornflour
200gr chopped chocolate (I use the Nestle choc chips that don’t change shape when cooked!)
300ml whipped cream

Instructions
Preheat oven to 140degrees celsius
Place egg whites in a large mixing bowl and whip with an electric beater until soft peaks form.
Gradually whisk in 1 cup of sugar and beat until the mixture is very stiff and glossy looking.
Gently stir through the remaining sugar, vinegar, vanilla, peppermint essence, cornflour and chocolate.
Line 2 baking trays with non stick paper and draw a circle on each about 20cm in diameter on each sheet.
Heap the mixture inside the circles and place in oven - after 5 minutes turn oven down to 120degrees celsius and bake for another 55 minutes (total of 1 hour cooking). Turn off oven and leave the pavlova to cool completely INSIDE the oven WITHOUT opening the door (otherwise it will crack and flop!)
Once cool place one layer on a serving plate - top with half the whipped cream place strawberries or any fresh fruit on top, place next layer on top and repeat

Now EAT YUMMO

Have yourself a Merry Little Christmas

2011-12-13T21:00:00.000+08:00

Isn't it just crazy at this time of year!!! Just back from helping at the school for the umpteenth time in the last few weeks - I hope you can all take a little time out to sit back and enjoy the feast that Graphic 45 and May arts have for you this week :)

Graphic 45 and May Arts are teaming up for a super fun blog hop December 12-16th! There will be tons of inspiration, fabulous prizes, incredible crafts and so much more! Behold the magic that happens when Graphic 45 vintage-inspired papers and embellishments join forces with gorgeous May Arts ribbons! Our design teams are going all out to bring you the most enchanting crafts! You'll discover lots of fabulous new ideas to inspire your holiday season! Have fun and get inspired every day of this fantastic blog hop with Graphic 45 and May Arts!

Want to learn more about Graphic 45 and May Arts? Here's some fun information about these two fantastic crafting companies!

Graphic 45 an award-winning scrapbook and paper crafting company— owned and operated by a mother and her two daughters. Together we create vintage inspired crafting products that capture the flamboyant style of the 1920's and 30's - with vibrant color, irresistible texture and imaginative design to create products with decades-old appeal that's both fresh and familiar. Let our products inspire your next scrapbook layout, card, album, altered art project, or home decor DIY project.

May Arts is a ribbon wholesaler, based in Riverside, Connecticut, serving over 16,000 customers worldwide. We offer an exceptional selection of ribbons, including sheer, satin, grosgrain, silk and a variety of patterns and prints. We also maintain a steady stock of inventory so that orders can be fulfilled immediately. As one of the country’s leading wholesalers of decorative ribbons, May Arts has been providing superior products and the highest level of customer service for over 25 years.

And finally my project for you all :) Enjoy - and happy scrapping - may you all have a very merry christmas and have the time to spend with those dear to you. Stay safe :)

There are lots of exciting chances to win terrific prizes! Graphic 45 is giving away this wonderful prize pack that contains a Tropical Travelogue 12x12 paper pad, coordinating chipboard die-cuts 1 & 2, and some gorgeous May Arts ribbons! Check it out! It's easy to enter to win this awesome prize.

Each day Graphic 45 will be featuring a sneak peek image from one of our design team member's blogs. Just hop on over to their blog and leave a comment! You'll discover some super inspiring crafts, learn some fun crafting techniques, and maybe even win a great prize!

A random comment will be chosen from one of our design team member's blogs and announced on Monday, December 19th! There's also an exclusive Facebook prize! Check out the Graphic 45 Facebook page and leave a comment for your chance to win!

May Arts is also offering gorgeous prizes on their blog and Facebook page! So you'll definitely want to check it out! Just tell them that Graphic 45 sent you! So much inspiration! So many chances to win prizes! This is going to be a great week!

May Arts Blog: http://www.mayarts.com/blog

May Arts Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/mayarts

This weeks scheduled hops are

Monday, December 12th
Lynette Carroll
Jane Tregenza
JackandCat Curio
Candy Rosenberg
Latrice Murphy

Tuesday, December 13th
Ellen Sosnoski
Laura Denison
Charlene Driggs
Melanie Forbes - ME!!!!
Jen Shears

Wednesday, December 14th
Robin Shakoor
Yuka Hino
Jenifer Cowles
Gloria Stengel
Jingle

Thursday, December 15th
Jinky Kowalski
Sherry Cheever
Britta Swiderski
Hilde Janbroers
Karen Baker

Friday, December 16th
Tara Orr
Kimberly Jones
Nancy Wethington
Peggy Cain
Nicole Eccles
Vera Yates

PS I would love to say a HUGE THANKYOU to May Arts for their wonderful ribbons that have been hiding in every one of my DT kits - so very generous and absolutely LOVE their range :) Check them out :)

Material List
Graphic 45
Botanicabella – Garden Suite
Christmas Emporium – Merry & Bright, Christmas Emporium
Graphic 45 Colourbox Decades Dark Cashmere

May Arts – Organic Cotton Stripes – red (385-58-14) & Green (385-58-46), Double faced faux suede red VX-14, Soft silky DC-66, Sheer SC25 1/4inch, Satin reversible SB06 3/8inch.

Twiddleybitz chipboard tag and numbers
Tim Holtz distress stain peeled paint
Gold embossing enamel
Florist – small berries, pearls, mini leaves
Mica Flakes
Tim Holtz paper rosette Die
Canvas
Helmar 450 glue & Scrap dots

Have you been naughty or nice this year??

2011-12-07T06:13:00.001+08:00

Well the year is flying past - I don't know where November went! And it is already one week into December with one week left of school before the summer holidays start.... Hopefully then time will slow down and we can enjoy summer!

Every year I tend to create something for Christmas for my home - before I discovered scrapping I would search the stores for the perfect piece! I have a beautiful collection of snowglobes...and candles.... and naughty elves tumbling down my stairs but it is the pieces I have made I do love the best so this year there was no way I could go past Graphic 45's new Christmas Range - Christmas Emporium LAtely I have also been trying to cull my stash and finish off those UFO's - yes un-finished objects!! hehe - I have had this Twiddleybitz house and frame sitting around my desk for a good 8 months or so just waiting to be inspired with the right idea! So I started with covering the Floating frame and then moved onto the house - now normally I cover the pieces before I assemble most OTP items - this one was given to me to do something with already assembled! But it wasn't until I saw Kelly Creates blog post with some Graphic 45 inspired cards that really got me going!! Follow the link to her blog to see how to create the gorgeous tree and wreath - I have used this technique a few times since too!! Thanks Kelly :) Add some mica flakes - some gorgeous snowflakes and berries from the florist along with a beautiful swirl from Flourish with a Bling and you now have my latest Christmas holiday piece :) Enjoy :)

My Life atm = a bit Crazy as it always is at this time of year - for the first time in 8 years I think we don't have any dancing concert or rehearsals or costumes or that stress - Quietly I am loving it and not missing it at all!! End of year always is busy - we have had presentation night for Chionia and her acro where she was awarded the Coahces award for most improved and a club champion trophy for her win in the Spring State Championships back in September - go my bubbalucha!! :) Very proud - Jess is working hard at school and doing so well - such a shame the first half of the year was a write off - we had her Yr 6 Farewell dinner on Sunday night - majority of the friends she has gone to school with since kindy are leaving and going to private high schools - this means they leave Primary school a year earlier - end of Yr 6 so they all had a wonderful dinner and night out on Sunday - the kids were so well behaved and looks gorgeous/handsome :) Good luck to all of you - you are a terrific bunch of kids :)

Today's job - includes getting another drivers licence and chasing up insurance etc - stupid me left my purse in my car accidently on Sunday night and of course it is the one time the car got broken into - the only thing they took was my purse but it has meant hours on the phone cancelling cards etc and reorganising paperwork sigh - just what I need at this time of year!

Happy holidays everyone - stay safe and love those special to you :)

me @ 37

2011-11-23T06:57:00.001+08:00

Going back to an old favourite with this LO - Renaissance Faire range - normally I am behind the camera but took the chance when at Camp mojo back in July to get my photo taken by the very talented Lyn from My Lens and Me Photography Everyone deserves a good photo of themselves!

Aunty Tup

2011-11-20T11:09:00.001+08:00

was a very special lady.

I saw this photo of her at her funeral not long ago and had to do something special with it to remember her by. I have so many special memories of her - she made my wedding cake I remember helping in her kitchen - she made sure I did my bit and the dishes! The smell of her house - the back room, Uncle Don's back yard and strawberries - the little things like the toilet roll cover!!

Using Tiwddleybitz and some Tim Holtz Lost and Found papers I wanted to focus on the beautiful photo. I have added since an old gold nameplate as well just to finish it off properly but forgot to get another photo!

Every once in a while you get a comment from someone who loves what you have done because of the meaning behind it - that is why we scrapbook - to help preserve those memories and to leave a lasting legacy for future generations to know about us and our ancestors - so glad that this LO is loved by those it is special to - it is a beautiful reminder of why I scrap :) xxxx

More recycling with ABC Primer :)

2011-11-15T12:24:00.001+08:00

OK it is after lunchtime here and I have been trying to get this done since first thing this morning... forgotten school books and bowls for twitterbugs (don't ask = I have no idea - science project) and lost orders all = a bit of a chaotic morning :)

The last couple of months we have all been battling a flu/cough thing - when one person was getting better the next one came down with it which does help much in the creative department!! So using the new ABC Primer range of papers which I utterly love I decided to continue with my theme of storage etc for my desk!! Also continuing the recycle theme by using an empty tissue box and and old Prima wooden box I created some yummy storage for me :)

FOr the tutorial on how this is done - please head over to G45's blog (you can also check out a stunning printer tray by Robin too!) but here are just a few photo's to show you :) Enjoy

also just a wee bit excited - I am off to next years Escape 2 Create retreat :) Can't wait to sit back and chill and scrap and be with some good friends :) Phew was lucky - my registration for 2013 has been typed ready to go for next years registration!!

Twiddleybitz RAKAMANIA winner :)

2011-11-10T09:34:00.000+08:00

Good morning everyone!!!!!!!!!!

Just a quick one this morning to announce the winner of my RAK for the TBZ blog hop last weekend :) I am a few days late sorry - but been dealing with 2 grumpy daughters and cat!! And on top of that the house cleaning was calling so now all of that is done I can create in peace!!!!!

Thankyou so much for all your wonderful messages and posts on my ANGEL :) She is so quick and easy to make and once I had seen Lyn's knew it was perfect to start off RAKAMANIA :)

So without further ado the winner is

Judie Willoughby :)

with her comment

"So I guess i had better TAKE that empty bottle out of the recycling and give this a whirl.. it really looks fab, thanks Mel"

Hope you did take it out of the recycling and have made something stunning!! Send me a message via the NING site and I will pop your RAK in the post :)

My mini Art cupboard is on todays Graphic 45 blog post - love altering things!! The little cupboard I picked up from a garage sale for $2.00 and was a pine colour - so out comes the black gesso and one of my favourite ranges of G45 papers - Communique!!!!!! Match that with some modpodge and voila :) Enjoy :)

For more images pop over to Graphic 45's blog :) and see those yummy bits and pieces on top - Scraptivate carry them :)

Hippity Hop Graphic 45 blog hop #2 for me tonight!!

2011-11-04T23:00:00.000+08:00

lol busy busy girl here!! So much hopping is a happening :) Earlier tonight I started off the weekend with the Twiddleybitz RAKAMANIA blog hop which everyone is invited to join along so see my post below for something interesting made out of a dishwashing liqud bottle!!

But just stick around to check out some more of this weeks G45 & Core'dinations blog hop :) When I received my G45 DT kit a few weeks back I instantly fell in love with the extra goodies included from Core'dinations - there are ink pads, cardstock, embossed card, card sets everything I needed to go with G45 papers and embellishments :)

The card stock matches absolutely perfectly with G45 papers as does the inks - I even love the sanding block (so easy to hold!) and the dust buddy which if you distress a lot like me is perfect for collecting up all that "snow" that gets over all your work and clothes!!!

I will be honest and say I felt like I was cheating - Core'dinations teamed up with G45 made it all so easy to create!! I went with some simple cards - Ask anyone and I will tell you I am not a cardmaker - you just have to look around at the simply stunning cards there is!! But I do like making my own which I give to those I know who appreciate the effort that goes into them so with the aim of being organised this year I have created some thankyou cards for my daughters teachers :) Being in Australia we are coming up to the end of our school year and the wonderful summer holidays :) These are something anyone can create :) Teamed up with some May Arts twine and voila they are done - this set honestly took me about 30 minutes to create and as the cards etc were all ready boned with envelopes and the cardstock embossed - all I had to do was sand and stick!! :) I hope you enjoy :)

Material List
ABC Primer – Tags 1 & 2
Core’dinations Core Impressions – Clocks & Houndstooth
Core’dinations Colorcore Cardstock G45 Signature Series Heritage Kraft
Core’dinations G45 Core Cards Darks Red Rose & Nightfall
Core’dinations – Sander block
Core’dinations Colorbox G45 Decades Ink – Photogenic
Core’dinations Dust Buddy (LOVE THIS!!!!!!!)
May Arts Ribbon

Happy scrapping everyone :)

Hippity Twiddleybitz Hop # 1 for the night :)

2011-11-04T16:00:00.000+08:00

A huge big welcome to all of you joining in on our Twiddleybitz RAKamania Blog hop!!!!!!!!!

And what a hop we have - I have seen some absolutely mind blowing sneak peaks of the projects the wonderful Twiddley Angels have come up with and you are in for some fun and loads of inspiration :)

Now we have a HUGE hop planned and my blog is only the very start!!!!!! From here you will hop over to TRUDI HARRISON (9pm AEST, 11pm NZ, 8:30pm SA, 6pm WA) where she will have the link to the next Angels blog :)

Remember along the way you MUST collect the secret words - these will be highlighted in each angels post and when you put them together (they will be given in order!) it will create a sentence :) Then you must send a personal message with this sentence to Sandra Wallace on the Twiddleybitz ning to be in the running for a cool prize!!!! Every Twiddley Angels has a RAK along the way as well and keep checking back to both our Facebook page and the Ning site for more RAKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Told you we have a lot of fun in store for you all :)

Right - now I have done the business side of things lets have some fun and start off the Inspiration - first up

TAKE

( ^ ;) hint hint!!!!)

an empty Palmolive dishwashing liquid bottle......and cut off the very top bit you open and shut to pour out the liquid.

and grab a paintbrush and some modpodge :) Tear up your chosen paper (here I have used Graphic 45's New Christmas Emporium A Christmas Carol) and ink your edges :)

You then simply modpodge your bottle stick on the paper and modpodge over the top :) Easy - Cover the whole bottle - your fingers will get very messy here!!!

Then it is simply a matter of popping an old zip up the front and embellishing your Angel :)

I have simply embossed the Twiddley wings large with copper before gluing to the back of my Angel. Some lace down the bottom and either side of the zip with a vintage button or two and I was done!!!!!!!! (Helmar 450 glue is the best for applying ribbons and lace!)

and a close up :)

Now I do have to say this wasn't my idea but a dear friend of mine!!!!!!!!!!! Hers are beautiful and I am hoping she will email through some pic's for me to pop up as well for you soon! It is very quick and easy to make and Lyn's have been mounted on a long screw through a block of wood and into the bottom of the bottle (I am still trying to organise this on my end!)

Here is our schedule for the weekend

RAKamania Bloghop Schedule
(Blog links are on the Right of my blog under Twiddley Angels :) )
Friday 4th November
MEL FORBES
7pm AEST
9pm NZ
6:30pm SA
4pm WA

TRUDI HARRISON
9pm AEST
11pm NZ
8:30pm SA
6pm WA

Saturday 5th November

SANDRA WALLACE
9am AEST
11am NZ
8:30am SA
6am WA

TIFF SAWYER
11am AEST
1pm NZ
10:30am SA
8am WA

JO KINDER
1pm AEST
3pm NZ
12:30pm SA
10am WA

TRACEY HENLY
3pm AEST
5pm NZ
2:30pm SA
12 noon WA

CAROL THOMPSON
5pm AEST
7pm NZ
4:30pm SA
2pm WA

RACHEL WALSH
7pm AEST
9pm NZ
6:30pm SA
4pm WA

GERALDINE PASINATI
9pm AEST
11pm NZ
8:30pm SA
6pm WA

Sunday 6th November

TRACY LAMOON
9am AEST
11am NZ
8:30am SA
6am WA

KAREN MCLAUCHLAN
11am AEST
1pm NZ
10:30am SA
8am WA

ANN-MARIE COX
1pm AEST
3pm NZ
12:30pm SA
10am WA

LISA KAMPHUIS
3pm AEST
5pm NZ
2:30pm SA
12 noon WA

LOUISE WILLIAMS
5pm AEST
7pm NZ
4:30pm SA
2pm WA

JENNIFER HODGES
7pm AEST
9pm NZ
6:30pm SA
4pm WA

FINAL WORD OF THE SECRET QUOTE WILL BE
GIVEN AT 8PM AEST on SUNDAY ON THE NING

Now for the first RAK of our hop - simply make a comment on here using my secret word...... and I will draw out a winner on Monday morning (7th November) .... remember to collect your words for the secret sentence and enjoy :)

Last but not least if you are planning on visiting the Sydney Papercraft Festival on Sunday well we have another special for you...

Be the first of 20 to go to the Twiddleybitz Booth and say these Secret words..

**TWIDDLEYBITZ ROCKS SYDNEY!!**

and we will give you a piece of Twiddleybitz! Too Easy!
BUT
(of course there is a but, lol)
you must be a member of the Twiddleybitz Ning and it is only on the Sunday. ;-)

Enjoy your hop :)

Just clowning around :)

2011-10-25T11:44:00.000+08:00

Busy times here - School holidays have come and gone and we are now into our final term of the school year in the lead up to Christmas which will be here before we know it :) Unfortunately I got the dreaded flu half way through the holidays which then meant a few boring days at home for the girls :(

But before that we did the Royal Show thing and we even caught the train into Claremont which was great but we were packed liked Sardines going home with nowhere to sit and tired feet. It didn't help that we had to change trains not just once but twice! Next time I will take the car hehe!

We then went to Dunsborough to check out mum and dad's new house - whilst it certainly isn't Views of the Bay (miss those coffee's on the balcony overlooking the bay) it is warm and cosy and we had a ball!!!!!! We are always busy when we go to Dunsborough and this time was no exception - lunch in Busselton followed by the 2km walk out to the end of the jetty which has just recently opened again - we even beat the tram back to the shore. Would you believe though that after walking all the way out there you could not buy an icecream at the shop!!!!!!!! Now there is a wasted opportunity if I ever saw one!!!!!

Next day was the flea markets in Busselton followed by a yummy lunch with the Curry Van - a wet and windy day so the curry went down a treat. Then we went to Wonnerup House to show the girls what it was like in the olden days :) Followed by a quick pitstop at Bunnings on a Sunday afternoon which then resulted in an hours wait for the RAC to come and jump start my car as the battery decided to go just like that!

THe first day there went and did the obligatory food shop for bits and pieces whilst staying at mum's and dad snuck in a packet of glow sticks for the girls to play with that night....unbeknown to me he had ulterior motives.....Out came his camera for some glow stick fun!!! The girls had a ball and Chionia was so excited that the next night she wanted to start early in the day - it all went sour after one of the glow sticks spilt on her hands and she had a panic attack lol! Check out dad's blog for the end result

Home again the next day and that night the flu visited the Forbes household again which then meant hubby caught it by the end of the week and Chionia has had a day off school as well... So over it atm - roll on summer and healthy times lol!!

Been busy with scrapping deadlines..Loving playing with Graphic 45's new ABC Primer range of papers.. Graphic 45 have also just released some sneak peaks of their newest range to be released next month - Tropical Travelogue - I can so see this with my Bali photo's - isn't it awesome!

Finished off several projects over the weekend for an upcoming article in Scrapbook Creations and projects for more G45 blog hops...keep an eye out for next week! But I do want to share with you my family of Clowns :)

I bought these in Bunnings a couple of months ago with the intentions of creating something.....and I took them along to the retreat Camp Mojo back in July on the other side of Australia. Well they lived on my desk and each night they got up to some naughty stuff so I figured that I had best scrap them and put a chastity belt on her!! The challenge for the day was creative stamping so after painting the clowns and decorating them with G45 Le Cirque range of papers (which are so bright and happy - love these!!!!) I decided to use the new G45 coordinating stamps to create clothes for them :) I love them - it depicts my lot lol hubby me and my girls :) I must say a HUGE big Thankyou to the talented Deb Godley for painting their faces - she simply made them come alive - there is no way I could have done anywhere near a good job :)

Naughty naughty Miss Sherry - do you know anything about this!!!!!!!!!!!

Hence her chastity belt rofl!

Our State Champ - Blog hop with G45 and Scrapbook Adhesives

2011-10-15T08:36:00.000+08:00

Good morning everyone :) For the first time in a couple of weeks I am feeling better YAY!! Dreaded lurgy flu finally came and visited me :( So I am behind in posting sorry!!!!!

A few weeks back when I received my G45 DT kit I was overwhelmed by all the extra goodies!! Scrapbook Adhesives were very generous in supplying loads and loads of tape and runners and my favourite - 3D foam dots WOOHOO even better was they were in BLACK!!!!!!! I love using black as I find it tends to be more discrete - not as obvious to see. If you look at my work I use lots of layers which means lots of 3D foam tape - until I got hold of these Foam DOTS - LOVE LOVE LOVE them!!

Today is the last day of the blog hop with Scrapbook Adhesive and Graphic 45 - there have been some awesome projects go up so if you have missed a day or so please go and have a look at everyone's work for some wonderful inspiration. Robin has made a beautiful cupcake stand in today's post and I did a LO - I only had a couple of days between getting my kit and getting my project in before the deadline. That particular weekend my youngest daughter had her first Acro competition - she was selected for squad 2 Acro back in July so has only been doing this a couple of months before entering in the Spring state Championship at the start of September.... Needless to say the LO says it all - perfect combination of ABC Primer with loads of foam dots!!

Hopefully blogger plays nice for me and I can load up all the photo's I took as I constructed the LO....

Our State Champ

Now fingers crossed the photo's are loaded in order....

Pop dots around the edge border

Next to make the title pop!

Then time to assemble the layers :)

If an embellishment is the wrong colour - simply change it with some ink to suit like I did here with the My 2 Angels hatpin

And finally some close ups to try and show the layers for you!!

Happy scrapping all ..

oh and PS SSHHHHHHHH but a little birdie told me of some sneak peaks happening towards the end of this month on the G45 blog - I wonder what it could be of...........

Final day of "Magic of Oz" hop :)

2011-09-30T18:26:00.000+08:00

And WOW wouldn't you say!!!!!!!!!

( EDITED TO ADD AT 9pm my time - lol PS my cold has got the better of me and I am off to bed - so this is posted at what I believe 2 hours prior to Graphic 45 's post!!!! )

From Hilde's Candy Time bag yesterday along with Yuka's Green and purple themed bag where even the sides were embellished!! Laura's depth in her window featuring Dorothy and Jane's see through middle of the bag (to check the level of your treats of course!). I have been inspired :)

And what has it all been about... well...

Each day you'll see a sneak peek of a fantastic Graphic 45 trick-or-treat bag designed by our design team members. Just click on the link to their blog and you'll be transported to a magical world of craft bliss! See the full unveil the trick-or-treat bags on our featured design team member's blog each day and get inspired by their amazing projects! We are offering two awesome Magic of Oz gift packs as prizes this week!

Want the opportunity to win? Just click on over to our featured design team member's blog each day and leave a comment. We will choose two random winners from our design team member's blog comments and announce them on Friday, September 30th! Sound like fun!? You bet it does! Check out this amazing prize! A Magic of Oz 12x12 paper pad, Chipboard Button Staples, 3 chipboards from Imaginarium Designs, and some beautiful bling by Want2Scrap! Remember, there's two chances to win this week! Wow!

In case you couldn't make it every single day this week, here is the schedule for our featured design team member blogs. This shows you who will be featured on what day so you can check out all the fun! Don't forget to leave comments for your chance to win!

Monday
Lynette Carrol:
Jane Tregenza:

Tuesday
Laura Denison:
Robin Shakoor:
Tara Orr:

Wednesday
Sherry Cheever:
Jack & Cat Curio:
Nicole Eccles:

Thursday
Nancy Wethington:
Hilde Janbroers:
Yuka Hino:

Friday
Melanie Forbes:
Gloria Stengel:

So without further ado - my Magic of Oz Treat Bag :) which along with a LO was proudly on display at the CHA back in July - still pinching myself my work was there on G45's display! Also please remember to pop over to Gloria's Treat bag as well today!!!!

PS - If anyone can tell me - I am waiting till 11pm tonight (unless my eyes tell me otherwise!) to post this - just so I can time it with Graphic 45's post at 8am Pacific Standard TIme which is 15 hours behind me :) so last time I tried to schedule my blog to post it didn't - what is this computer illerate blog person doing wrong lol?????

Also

A little bonus project I worked on a couple of months ago at Camp mojo - I will be creating a home for them next, out of, of course the Le Cirque papers :) SO enjoy your peak at my Family ;) I must say a HUGE big Thankyou to the gorgeous and very talented Deb Godley for painting their faces - she made them come alive!!!!!!!

There is a little story about these clowns - but if you are interested and come back and leave a comment for me when I update this post in the next week - I will send out a little RAK to one person. International comments welcome! :)

And last but not least EVERYONE CROSS THEIR FINGERS AND TOES AND HOPE TO HIGH WHATEVER GEELONG WIN TOMORROW"S AFL GRAND FINAL :) We will - big party plans here :)

As we have done for 4 out of the last 5 years - GO CATS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Graphic 45 + Fiskars =

2011-09-22T09:29:00.001+08:00

a whole lot of fun!!!!!!!!!!One of the perks of being on the Graphic 45 DT is the companies it teams up with for blog hops and promotions!!!! It is so exciting to not only receive a huge box of G45 goodies but to also have a play with new products and old favourites... Just like Fiskars!Ever since I started scrapping I have used the Fiskars trimmer - light and compact - easy to get new blades etc.....Their scissors I love as the rbight orange never gets lost on my desk and the border punches.... well they are just too easy to use!!!!!!!!!This week we are hopping around with Fiskars :) Each day you will be inspired by new projects showing you how versatile and easy it is to use Fiskars and Graphic 45 together :) In fact don't forget to swing on by the Graphic 45 Facebook page and the Fiskars Facebook page to see more wonderful crafts. Leave a comment on both pages for your chance to win a spectacular prize this week! Just write "Graphic 45 + Fiskars=______" Fill in the blank with your own words and you'll be entered to win! Two random winners from Facebook and our blog will be chosen and announced this Friday! So what are you waiting for!!!!!!!!OK So today is my project - along with stunning Layouts from Jane and Yuka With the arrival of Graphic 45's new ABC Primer range and some devine Fiskars Border punches it was a perfect match for a sporty LO on my daughter who took out Yr 1 School girl champion and her state acro Level 1 trio championship all in the one day!!!

Fiskar's tweezers - great for little alpha's

Border punches - Leave it to Weaver for the ribbon threading, Notebook and postage stamp to help create layering on your LO

Twiddleybitz feather and swirl

Scrapbook adhesives 3D foam dots are great for adding dimension!

Simply line up the punched area with the border punch and voila.... beautiful edging!!

My good old trusty Fiskars trimmer :) Having tried several brands and expensive ones... this is my favourite

Graphic 45 PapersABC Primer – Happy go Lucky, Grammer School, School Days, Jumping Joan, Calico Kids, Primer Chipboard diecuts 2, Cling An ABC Primer 3 stamps.Core’dinations Signature Series – Heritage KraftColourbox Graphic 45 Decades – Venetian Lace, Dark Cashmere, Photogenic, Triumphant RedFISKARS – Border punches in Leave it to Weaver, Notebook & Postage Stamp, trimmer, scissors & tweezersTwiddleybitz – Feather & swirl FLOR021May Arts – 3/8” Metallic Velvet Black ribbon 377-38-10Scrapbook Adhesives – black and white 3D foam squaresBasic Grey – Delilah White Choc Chip alpha’sCarolee Creations Adorn it - Buckaroo alpha’sTattered Angels - Glitter Glam Blue Suede ShoesWhite GessoThanks for popping by and Happy scrapping :)

So many exciting things :)

2011-09-12T13:24:00.000+08:00

where do I start...

Obviously first up is how proud we are of Chionia :) Back in June she was asked to try out for both gymnastics squad and acro squad. Being new to all this we tried out for both and were told we could pick :) So we went with acro - the other girls were wonderful to her and the coach Alida made her feel at home - it was a small group which we thought would be good at letting her settle in... Fast track a month and whilst I was at Mojo we were asked if she could compete in the Go for 2&5 Spring State acro championship at the beginning of September so we signed yes and the last 6 weeks has been learning all about routines - dynamic and balance etc - then came the leotard and all its sparkles...all set for Friday 9th Sept....

Last week was also sports week at school so it was a huge week for Chionia - she did well in her jumps and throws - she surprised us all by coming first in cross country and shaving 3 seconds off the school record for her year. (Jess also did really well coming first by 100m or so in her cross country!) Then Friday was sports day - we decided that as she had the states that night that we would let her stay at school till lunchtime when I brought her home for a rest... She came first in her running race and then disappeared before receiving her ribbon or standing on the dias...she said her feet were cold from running on wet grass and that she already had a first and someone else could have it! How cute!!! Fast forward to pick up time for Jess where we arrived early to see the results from the day and Chionia got named School champion for Year 1 girls :) A trophy :) YAY thank goodness I brought her back to school with me and managed to get a photo this time!

Off to states - it was interesting to see it all first hand - Chionia did so well and the scores reflected all the hard work her and her 2 friends had put in - They entered at Level 1 trio so they work as a team :) At the end of the night they were named winners overall and also took first place for their dynamic routine and their balance routine - we have a state champ in the house rofl!!!!! :) Well done gorgeous - we are very very proud!!!!

And in the midst of all this I was asked to join the Design team for Scraptivate Of course!! Can't wait to start creating :) Thanks Nat! Keep an eye out from next month!

Also Graphic 45 are having a rather cool comp.....

"Graphic 45 is pleased to announce our Halloween Rejuvenaiton Challenge! Fall and Halloween are definitely on the way and we thought it would be fun to have an altered art challenge that's inspired by this colorful season. We're asking you to take an old object and bring it back to life with Graphic 45! We've all got stuff around the house that could use a little dressing up. Maybe it's something you found at a garage sale, thrift store, or even an old item that's been sitting in the basement since forever. We want you to create a beautiful Halloween or Fall-themed altered art project from any old, random objects you might have using Graphic 45 products. It's the perfect craft challenge to jump-start your holiday crafting!

The submission deadline is September 25th. Email submissions to charee@g45papers.com. On September 26th all of the submissions will be uploaded to our Facebook photos and you will get to vote for your favorite submission by "Like"-ing it! Voting is from September 26th to 7am on Septmeber 30th. The TWO projects with the most likes win! Winners will be announced on Friday morning at 8am on our Facebook and on our blog.

The prize? You could win our entire Christmas Emporium collection! A 12x12 and 8x8 Paper Pad, both coordinating chipboard die-cuts and one of each cling stamp! That's a $76 value! Wow! We can't wait to see what you create!

We hope you are all excited about this great challenge! We certainly are!
Happy Papercrafting!

So what are you waiting for - off you go and rejuvenate that project!!! I have a few special ones up my sleeve to share with you soon :)

hhmmm What else is there..... need to find my list!!!!! Too many things - will be back :)

Le Cirque

2011-08-31T09:38:00.000+08:00

Who doesn't love the circus.... Over the years we have been too many a different circus and loved them all - Cirque du Soleil is one of my favourites!! Will never forget the first time we saw Saltimbanco!!!!!

Anyway I digress lol!! When Graphic 45 brought out their new Le Cirque range I couldn't wait to get my hands on it - it is bright and fun and full of character... some have even said it is scary!!!! But no - once you start playing with it is makes creating so much more fun - the papers simply work together so well that despite a few of them being very busy in design they work together!!!!!!!!!

For something a bit fun and to go with a few of my Cirque Dusoleil items I made this mini village tent!! The minature houses, shadowbox and circus tent are all by Twiddleybitz and work so well with the Graphic 45 papers I had.

Add in some smooch'es and the new VIVA precious metal colour paints I have just discovered (available from Rachel Greig at Darkroom Door ) and voila!!!!

Material List
Graphic 45
Le Cirque range
Le Cirque 4500303
Circus Parade 4500305
Manifique 4500306
Extravaganza 4500310
Dazzle and Delight 4500309
Greatest Show on Earth 4500311
Le Cirque tags 4500314

Twiddleybitz
Circus Friends CIR001
Circus Big Top CIR 003
Rectangular Shadowbox SBR004
Miniature Houses TMH001

Flourish with a Bling – Rhinestones Black and Silver
Smooch – Moonlight, Sundance
VIVA Precious Metal Colours #603 & #404
Tim Holtz Distress ink – vintage Photo & Black Soot

Thankyou all for your kind words and messages left - I do love reading them all :)

Magic of Oz

2011-08-25T11:31:00.000+08:00

My spook!! Love this photo of Chionia - she started out as a ghost but had to have her face painted at a friends Halloween birthday party :)

So when I saw the papers in Graphic 45's new collection Magic of Oz I knew exactly which LO I was going to do - add into the mix the stunning Staples - metal flowers, doorknobs and buttons and voila!!!!!!!! I just LOVE the metal staples! Check out Graphic 45's blog to see some world wide inspiration from Jane and Hilde as well using this magical range of papers :)

Material List
Graphic 45
Magic of Oz – Journey to Oz #4500343
Emerald City #4500347
Chipboard Die Cuts 2 #4500355
Staples Ornate Doorplate & knob #4500297
Metal Flowers #4500300
Paper Flowers #4500 230
Alpha Stickers #4500235
Envelope Tag #4500233
Twiddleybitz Vintage overlay (OV001) with Crafty Notions Black Gold Jewel Enamels CCE15D
Curved Name plate (NP002) with Crafty Notions Apitie Jewel Enamels CCE17
Thickers Alpha’s
Flourish with a Bling - Jack Vine Olive
Gauze
Tim Holtz key
Twine
German Scraps
My 2 Angels hatpin
Prima flowers

G45 and Want 2 Scrap Winners and Thanks to....

2011-08-16T12:40:00.000+08:00

woohoo what a week!!!!!!!!!!

First of all thankyou to everyone who has stopped by my blog and either had a squizzy or left a message - it is wonderful!!!!!!!!!!! AND if you left a message both on one of our blogs or on facebook you were entered into a comp for some awesome G45 goodies and Want 2 Scrap items :)

Without futher ado.....drum roll....

The winners of the Graphic 45 prize pack are Manhatan Mandie who left a comment on Tara Orr's blog this week, and Patti Goodding Swartz who left a comment on the Graphic 45 Facebook page. Congratulations ladies! Please email us at info@g45papers.com with your shipping information so we can send you your prizes!

Had a quiet weekend just gone - it was nice to not go anywhere or entertain and just relax at home :) been a busy few months lately and fingers crossed another busy few ahead work wise!!!!!!!! Just waiting on an email or two with those - very impatiently too I might add!!!!!!

Sneak peak....cause I so want to share!!!!!

And last but not least a big thankyou to Lynette at My Lens and My photography. At the Camp mojo weekend I had a mini session with her - now normally I am the one behind the camera in this house and there aren't too many photo's with me in it...hence the photo session..... and she has worked wonders with that camera and computer of hers - I do love it :) ..... another sneak peak of one of the photo's - the rest are winging their way to me as we speak from sunny Queensland - if you are close to her and want some awesome shots - look her up :)

Blog hopping time with Graphic 45 and Want 2 Scrap

2011-08-11T00:00:00.003+08:00

Welcome from all the way down under :) I am so glad you could join us for the Graphic 45 and Want2Scrap blog hop! The hop kicked off earlier this week and runs until August 12th, 2011. So sorry if you visited earlier and this post wasn't up - not sure why blogger didn't do it as scheduled - I obviously didn't hit the right button lol.

Today from the Want2Scrap Team, we have their design team member Terre Fry and from Graphic 45 join Gloria and Nancy and myself for some inspiring projects!!!Make sure that you stop by each designers' blog, the Graphic 45 Blog and Want2Scrap blog for your chance to win a bunch of amazing goodies!

Want2Scrap and Graphic 45 will both be giving out two prizes. One prize on each of our blogs and one prize on each of our Facebook Pages. Want2Scrap will be giving out two $25 Gift Certificates and Graphic 45 will be giving out two prize packages valued over $25. For the blog prize winner, we will pick a random person who comments on one of the designers' blog posts. For the Facebook prize winner, we will pick a random person who leaves a comment on our Facebook fanpage.

Right now onto my project for today!!!!!!!! A few weeks ago I went to an awesome retreat known as Camp Mojo and had a ball!!! So what better to scrap than a weekend away with good friends :) I always grumble a bit about mini albums as I don't like the getting it all together ready to scrap bit - but print out a bunch of photo's - cover each page with different paper and start at the beginning!!!!!! I ALWAYS fall in love with it as I go and by the end of it - discover it is so worth the effort and love how mini albums turn out :)

Graphic 45's Le Cirque papers were just perfect for this album and if you take an extra close look you may discover another one of my projects in the making... ;)

Enjoy

Graphic 45 – papers all used from the 8x8 Pad Le Cirque – 4500316
Paper’s used include : Bohemian Floral 4500304
Greatest Show on Earth 4500311
Le Cirque 4500303
Circus Parade 4500305
Extravaganza 4500310
Wizards of Wonders 4500307
Dazzle and Delight 4500309
Under the Big Top 4500308
Flying High 4500312
Magnifique 4500306
Le Cirque borders 4500313
Le Cirque tags 4500314
Graphic 45 Staples – Flower staples 4500230
Want 2 Scrap – Scalloped album, Pearl flourish, Pearl brackets, single black pearls, black pearl name tags
Imaginarium Designs chipboard – leaf
Various ribbons including May Arts
My 2 Angels – date hatpin
Nestabilities – Floral Doily Motif S5-041
Tim Holtz – Doorknob, film strip, Kraft resist paper, vintage photo ink, tag
Making Memories mini alpha’s
Gauze
3D mount tape
Hambly screen prints transparency and rubons (crown and wings)

Hints / Tips
• To add extra pages into album trace around scalloped chipboard page onto cardstock/transparency and cut out. Page maybe folded in half and stuck together to give a different size page in album.

• Chipboard pages were traced around onto G45 paper then cut out and adhered using Mod Podge Matt. Ink all edges once dry to give a professional finish

A Jolly Good Cause

2011-08-10T09:14:00.003+08:00

Why do bad things happen to good people....

A few weeks ago I met Helen Jolly IRL!! at the Camp mojo retreat and she is simply a gorgeous person - speaking with her you had the sense that her family was everything to her and that life was good.

On Monday her husband was killed in a motor vehicle accident on the way home from work - just like that her life has been turned upside down. With 2 young boys she is facing this with incredible strength and determination. Watching another close friend go through this over the last 15 months I know how much heartache there is ahead and the struggles this family will face. The lose of a spouse or loved one is one of my greatest fears of mine and don't know how I would cope in this situation. My thoughts and prayers are with you Helen and your boys.

Some wonderful friends of hers have set up a Facebook page (with her knowledge!) called A Jolly good cause where you can make a small donation that will be forwarded onto the family to help where it is needed. Give up that cup of coffee today and make a donation - all donations above $2.00 are tax deductible :) Please LIKE the page and follow the link - it is the least I can do..

The scrapping community here in Australia has once again shown how wonderful and supportive it is and that is comforting to see.

Thankyou

Class Photo's True Blue Claremont Showgrounds Aug 2011

2011-08-07T07:58:00.011+08:00

For those ladies who wanted photo's of the classes they did over the last 2 days at Claremont Showgrounds here you go :)

Fridays card class

Saturday Card Class

Mini house in Shadowbox

Timeless Layout

Also - the photo I have used in my Timeless Layout is of a good friends daughter and was taken by the very talented Sandie Mallon Pop over to her website and have a squizzy at her stunning photo's!!!! :)

AND Jennifer Hodge's very clever mum hand crotcheted all the beautiful flowers for our class too - thankyou!!!!!! Pop over to Jen's blog (Twiddleybitz sidebar) if you wish for more info on them!!

Happy scrapping :)

To those wonderful ladies who have completed my classes in the last couple of days

2011-08-06T19:48:00.004+08:00

lol to top things off the computer is playing up - first the keyboard battery dies so hubby xx changes it over for me! OK

I am in the middle of downloading and editing photo's - I will post a lot more tomorrow morning - particular those of today's impromptu class due to the original one selling out yesterday.. WOW Thankyou

Everyone of you who a class did an awesome job - I was really pleased with how every single project turned out!!!!!!!!!! You all had fun and played in the glitter storm or inks and colour sprays todays with of course CHIPBOARD! I am so sorry most names are a blur - but one little message - LARISSA your house in shadowbox beat your mum's - it was cool and loved your bold choice of colour :) ;) cool name too .. Leave me an email and I will be touch with a little giveaway for you :) Either through Twiddleybitz website or here - :) Thankyou :)

My little one is calling for cuddles - nite all - photo's tomorrow for you - HAPPY SCRAPPING :)

Sold out classes, Christmas projects and craft shows!

2011-08-06T06:28:00.003+08:00

What a busy couple of days and back at it again today - so just a quick post for you all!!

Graphic 45's post today is all about Christmas..... I created this wallhanging which I love - lots of TWIDDLEYBITZ houses on a special wreath kit....

and guess what.....

You can buy the kit at the True Blue Craft Fair at Claremont Showgrounds this weekend!! How's that for timing lol!!! Pop by the stand for a visit this weekend - I am teaching classes between 10am and 2pm which are great

fun - sold out of the card one yesterday before lunchtime so stayed up late last night creating a new class :) Less glitter in this one!! And yes that's right it was the card class I sold out of! lol

Gotta run - busy day ahead!!!!!! Thanks for popping by :)

Stay tuned for an amazing Blog Hop

2011-08-03T09:55:00.002+08:00

Graphic 45 and Want2Scrap are teaming up next week for a fabulous blog hop!!!! Join us from 8th August for some amazing creations :)

Where to start!!

2011-07-31T09:09:00.008+08:00

What a busy month - can't believe it is the last day of July already - Christmas will be here before we know it!!!!

OK - start at the beginning of the month so grab a coffee it is a long post!

Girls have had school holidays which unfortunately I came down with a head cold on the very first day which toned things down for the holidays lol! That still didn't stop numerous sleepovers, movies and friends :) We also got some great news on the teacher front - after not being given school reports nor a three way interview to discuss Jess's progress so far this year we have now got 2 permanent replacement teachers in the classroom for the entire term three with rumours this will continue until the end of the year. Reports will be redone and assessed and handed out at the end of August so it is a good step in the right direction :) I am though disappointed with the legislation in this matter where the children are not taken into account - the only way to change the process is to change the legislation - surely the children need have the support and encouragement to learn in an environment free from all the negativity we have had without it taking this long or fighting so hard for them...... School went back this week and we have had real homework for the first time since March and the attitude of the children in the classroom has improved out of sight - funny what the difference a good teacher or two makes!!!!

Anyway - lets move on from that. July also meant CHA and Camp Mojo for me :) CHA for those of you who don't know is one of the biggest Craft & Hobby Association's expo's in America and is held twice a year - it is THE place to go and see all the newest and latest releases......One day I may get there lol.....Anyway Graphic 45 always have the most magnificent stand and I was lucky enough to be able to get my projects to G45 in time to be used in their display!!!!!!!! YAY!!!!!! I had a 2 day turnaround to create 2 projects (not enough time for more or I would have :( ) before posting them express back to G45.... silly volcano ash cloud held up my DT kit which on that note was beyond what I ever would have believed!! A Huge THANKYOU to Hampton Art, Spellbinders, Want 2 Scrap, (KEEP an eye out for some yummy DT work and blog hops in the next week!!! sshhh!), Clear Snap for yummy spritzes and Smooches , and Imaginarium Designs by our own Jane Tregenza G45 and Studio G - the box was chock a block full of amazing products on top of the new G45 Magic of Oz papers :)

Here is sneak peak for you of one of my projects - will show more once it has been shown on the G45 blog...

Chionia has been very busy too in the last month - when I got back from Brisbane show last month I had an email asking for her to come to try outs for Acro at her Gymnastics club - I also then got a letter from them asking her to try out for their squad teams in gymnastics as well - she couldn't do both though - too much time so we tried both and she has happily settled into acro squad 2 so much so she has now been entered into a state competition with her trio of girls at the beginning of September!! I think it is great for them to try and see what it involves - the other girls are more Jess's age so she is the baby of the group and is spoilt as such - great tuition with a handful of girls with 2 teachers and twice a week for 90 minutes has improved her fitness lol!! She is loving it :) Phew!!

What else!!!! Ahhh that's right - Camp MOJO hehe was held last weekend - a group of us flew over to Sydney last Thursday for 4 days of creative fun :) We arrived in the rain which did not stop for several days but the sun shine on our last day there! Bus driver had us worried going there - 2 hours into the trip he asked where we were going!!! So 3 and a bit hours later we finally arrived at Camp Mojo to the screams and yells that the WA girls had arrived rofl. We settled in with runs between our villa's and the hall due to the rain (which just kept coming and made everything extremely wet and damp) - so glad I took my coat!!!! The creativity side of it all was great - some wonderful people had booked into this camp - you could easily say some of the best scrappers in Australia - many masters and well known names :) The classes held by Jane Clark, Sherry Mendoza, Sarah Gladman and Rachel Greig from Darkroom Door were fantastic - particularly loved Rach's class on the last morning - also discovered her VIVA paints she carries are FANTASTIC!!!!!!!!! Must get some more - only got 6 whilst I was there rofl! The place itself though did disappoint me - sorry to say - the food was very hit and miss - the first night the steaks looked like a hacksaw had been used to cut them and quite a bit of it hadn't been cooked properly :( The desserts though were a winner and very well received :P Our villa whilst it appeared to be clean and tidy smelt overpoweringly of mould/must - even with the door kept open it gave us all headaches etc and things did feel damp..... :( I can understand it had rained a lot but it still was not healthy and many of us developed headaches etc.... maybe it was just our villa :( Photo time!!!!!! Keep an eye out in the next week or so for a mini album with these ;) Blog hop time with Want 2 Scrap and Graphic 45......

Shhhh but there are many funny stories from the retreat - such as my naked clowns who become corrupted whilst I slept hence Miss Sherry being shown one of them with her new chastity belt - and I must say a HUGE THANKYOU to the talented Deb Godley for painting the faces on my clowns and simply bringing them to life - you will see them all in a few weeks as it is one of my G45 DT projects for August but thought I would show a sneaky peak on one!!

Last but not least - Next week is the True Blue Craft Show at the Claremont showgrounds where Twiddleybitz will have a stand and I will be teaching 3 classes :)
If you see my last post you will find a number to call to book into my classes - if you do it prior to the show you will receive a bonus goody bag so why are you waiting!!
Classes for Craft and Quilt Fair - August – Claremont Showground

Twiddleybitz Early bird special – PREBOOK and Pay for your class and you will receive a FREE Twiddleybitz goodness package VALUE @$15

PH 08 9206 3667 Credit card Accepted over the phone.

Hope to see you there - pop by and say hi even if you can't do a class :)

Busy Busy Busy - CHA... Classes... craft fairs and scrapthon days :)

2011-07-04T09:12:00.005+08:00

Busy times atm - can't wait for next week - SCHOOL HOLIDAYS :) Been a long and tiring term this time - mostly due to one major PITA but we won't go there.....

My Graphic 45 DT kit arrived late last week - Phew - I was getting a bit worried about it - I reckon that volcano ash cloud has a lot to answer for!! and what a kit to get!! I was honestly overwhelmed at the amount of product we got not just from Graphic 45 but other companies such as Hampton Art who make the most gorgeous stamps, Clearsnaps and their smooches and spritzs, Imaginarium Designs and their intricate chipboard pieces, Nestabilities (OMG I love these!!!!!!!!!!!!) and a few other surprises which we will reveal on the blog soon enough :) Add to that the latest release by Graphic 45 - The Magic of Oz....

So I spent Saturday cutting up this for some very special CHA projects which I need to post off today so it gets half way around the world in time!

Now Saturday I went to a special scrap day - I wish I could have stayed longer but mum duties called lol! But I did get done majority of my LO and CHA projects as well as my upcoming classes at the True Blue CRAFT Quilt and stitch show where I will be running ongoing classes for the Friday and Saturday :)

Here is a little run down as per outline submitted to organisers....

Classes for Craft and Quilt Fair - August – Claremont Showground

Twiddleybitz Early bird special – PREBOOK and Pay for your class and you will receive a FREE Twiddleybitz goodness package VALUE @$15

PH 08 9206 3667 Credit card Accepted over the phone.

Come and meet & complete a Twiddleybitz Class with one of our finest – Melanie Forbes. In the industry for over 7 years Mel has

a natural friendly flavour to teaching. One of Australia’s finest, Mel is currently on Twiddleybitz and International Graphic 45’s Design Team.

You will often see Mel’s work combined from both manufactures in some of the most fantastic layouts and off the page projects around.

One of WA’s best in the industry, you will feel right at home doing one of Mel’s classes. (insert photo)

Come and see the COMPLETE range of Twiddleybitz products, with new products being manufactured monthly, you need to get your booty down

To our booth to see and feel some Twiddleybitz goodness in your crafting rooms. Ongoing demonstrations will be held at the booth.

More information can be obtained from our NEW LOOK website: http://twiddleybitz.com.au/blog.aspx

1. Kids Classes – SUNDAY all Day – Twiddleybotz PRICE $10 and $15 - insert photo

Kids come and make your very own Twiddleybotz a combination of chipboard and anime.

Twiddleybotz come in large and small and they are a fun creation for you to make.

Classes will be run on the hour every hour and cost $10 for 2 small and $15 for a large. All material supplied.

Ages 6 and upward – parents need to be accompanied for under 10yrs.

See images http://twiddleybitz.com.au/blog.aspx

2.Heritage Layout using Twiddleybitz Overlay. PRICE $25

Friday and Saturday Class duration 1.5hrs Class timetables One the hour every 1.5hrs

These classes will be ongoing, so you can come and create when you have the time.

On Friday between 10am – 2 pm and then on Saturday between 9.30-3.30pm

Class cost $25 all materials provided.

Size of photo’s needed will be on Ning website with other class details

www.twiddleyitz.ning.com

Teacher Melanie Forbes

Prebooked Classes are available and must be paid in full at booking time Ph 089206 3667

See images http://twiddleybitz.com.au/blog.aspx

3.My House – Miniature House in a Small Shadow Box Price $25 Age 15 upwards

Friday and Saturday Class Duration 1.5 hrs

Why not make your own house, a gorgeous little keepsake that you can display in your own home.

You will learn how to construct a small shadow box, miniature house and adorn your house with our very cute

Tweeny windows and door frames. And to finish it off with your very own house number on the frame.

When you have the time to come and sit down and complete a page layout with our fantastic Twiddleybitz range.

These classes will be ongoing on Friday between 10am – 2 pm and then on Saturday between 9.30-3.30pm

Teacher Melanie Forbes

Prebooked Classes are available and must be paid in full at booking time Ph 089206 3667

See images http://twiddleybitz.com.au/blog.aspx

4. 5 Quick Christmas Card Class – Price $20

You make 1 in the class with our fabulous and have the kit to take another 4 home to complete.

(time and seat allocation you may finish at the show depending on bookings)

You will have enough Twiddleybitz to create your very special cards this Christmas.

Friday, Saturday Class Duration 1 hr –

When you have the time to come and sit down and complete a page layout with our fantastic Twiddleybitz range.

We will be offering classes for you to attend at the time you want t attend. These classes will be ongoing

On Friday between 10am – 2 pm and then on Saturday between 9.30-3.30pm

Teacher Melanie Forbes

See images http://twiddleybitz.com.au/blog.aspx

I will upload some sneaky peaks during the week for you - Hope you can come and scrap a LO or OTP or cards with me :) I just need to take the photo's first!!

Graphic 45 has been busy this week on the blog showcasing a few of my projects - First up was the altered book in my previous post but then I also had a tutorial on the birdcage and then the box of drawers I made to store all my Graphic 45 staples in :) I am organised - the drawers are even labelled with the code numbers!!!

I hope you enjoyed them - more photo's and the tutorial can be seen on the blog pop over for a squizzy :)

Some metal magic

2011-07-01T07:37:00.001+08:00

and these doorknobs are just the icing on the cake lol :)

One of our June assignments was to use the Metal door plate and knob - Now these are great fun - easy enough to alter such as mine here has been painted with Tim Holtz Dabber Sandal BUT the DT guys have been very clever and have created bangles and clocks out of them as well - now that is thinking outside the square!!! My altered book even has the tutorial of the blog if you wish to recreate your own version - I would love to see it - let me know with a link :)

Just love the Staples range by Graphic 45

I did notice a couple of questions in the comments for how to make an altered book on the Graphic 45 blog.

How do you get the remaining pages to stay together, and stay put? When I pop in the shadowbox I make sure there is sufficient glue holding it in - all edges are covered with a PVA glue. The remaining pages I tend to dab a bit of glue in between every 5- 10 pages - also by painting the edges of the book with a glue tends to help it stay together (I haven't done it with this book though - a bit slack at 2am in the morning lol!)

How was the chicken wire attached and finished so it had no sharp edges? AHHHHH hehe - it isn't real chicken wire - It is chipboard and is made by Twiddleybitz - GREAT product hehe no sharp edges!!! It also means you can simply glue it down to the page :)

and finally, how do you cut through so many pages and retain a straight cut? TIA
I simply cut using my craft knife and to begin with a metal ruler to ensure the edges are straight - if you look close enough at the tutorial photo's (blogger playing up!) you can see my edges are straight - but by holding the book half open and checking as you go your craft knife will generally cut fairly straight - be warned it took me just over an hour to cut out the shadowbox hole and had a sore pointy finger for a couple of days!!!

Brisbane - what a blast - I had the best time :) :) :) What a beautiful city despite the very hilly roads and a GPS that took us a different way to and from the convention centre every day!!! It was wonderful to finally meet Lisa and Jen and Tiff from the Twiddleybitz Design team - I reckon our stand was the best one there - if crowds were anything to go by we won hands down!!!! The Design Team did a fantastic job and all day every day all we heard were exclamations on various projects! I didn't take my camera :( so hopefully a few that did willl email me some copies and I will load them up for you.

I also got the chance to catch up with my sister and family - we spent the day pushing the pram up and down Paddington and visiting the antique centres (I so wish Perth had some like that here!!) Little Charlotte was just gorgeous and full of smiles despite being a catnapper!! And my Little Ben :) Hugs from Aunty Mel - you are growing up so quick!! :) Will post some puzzles once I get to them!!!

Nearly school holidays here - only a week to go and it can't come soon enough - hopefully things at school will settle down next term and the kids can get on with actually learning something.

I can hear dripping from the kitchen - meaning that it is raining inside - better go and get the bucket - we have had the wettest week in June for 6 years!! Lots of torrential downpours and storms come through - gutters just aren't coping despite Gary cleaning them all out a month ago :( Down south near mum and dads several mini tornadoes went through on Tuesday - check out dad's photo's here These trees are so old and beautiful - as my sister said the old toilet block will never be the same again!!

Come and visit me at the Brisbane Scrapbook & Papercraft convention this weekend!!!!!!!!!!!

2011-06-07T09:57:00.006+08:00

YEP - Finally I will be able to say I have been to it!! I will be working at the Twiddleybitz stand all weekend - Booth 60 :) Come and say hi to me!!!

Also working alongside me will be some more of our fabulous Design Team - Tiff Sawyer, Jennifer Hodge and Lisa Kamphuis :)

It is starting to sink in that I will be meeting a whole lot of people that I have chatted to for a few years on line but never really meet - it is going to be AWESOME!!!!!

Also you will be able to not only see all of the DT's stunning creations but purchase kits which will include all chipboard pieces and instructions (with a list of papers etc if you want to create exactly the same!)

Here is a sneak look at some of my kits - of course my papers I chose were Graphic 45 but you can easily adapt it to your favourite papers......limited supply only..

or perhaps this for Christmas in July....

I know there will be some from our talented Carol as well as some of Jen's amazing cards in kits as well :) :) :)

Following the show I will be teaching an exclusive class for Graphic 45 and Printblocks at Printblocks warehouse itself!!! Contact Printblocks for more details if you didn't receive an email last week about it - Jane Tregenza will also be demonstrating use of chipboard.

Off to start thinking about packing.......

Magical Moments

2011-05-27T09:37:00.008+08:00

After what seems like forever my first DT project for Graphic 45 is up on their blog More projects I and the rest of the DT have done are coming up over the next week so keep checking back for more wonderful projects!!

and some close ups

Swimming with the Dolphins in Bali was truly a magical experience and one that if you get the chance to just do it! I have also used a bit of Twiddleybitz chipboard on this particular LO and if you are chasing it and can't find it - just leave me a message and will track down a stockist near you :)

Graphic 45 also have just released a new range of papers in their own wonderful style - the Magic of Oz - can't wait for it to arrive in my next DT kit!!!! :P

Life here has been keeping me busy - Jess is still at her school although it did come down to a matter of 24 hours where last week was going to be her last at this school. After a few meetings and confirmation that extra resources are being put into the classroom we have decided for the moment to keep her there.. Time will tell though. It has been a few weeks of frustration and tears and worry about what we are doing is right. When the situation in the class is as it is atm it is a poor reflection on the Education systems legislation. Enough said!

Winter is on its way here and the ugg boots are out as is the heater...roll on summer!!!!!!!! I am not a winter person rofl :)

A few busy busy weeks ahead.....

Exciting times - I am off to Brisbane with Twiddleybitz to be part of the Scrapbook & Papercraft Convention from June 11th - 13th - pop by our stand and say hi!! I would love to meet you all - I have never actually been to any of the major craft fairs on the East coast and can't wait!! My Graphic 45 DT projects will all be on display as well in our stand.

I will also be teaching a class for Printblocks following the show - once I have more info I will let you know ;)

Store owners - I am available to teach if you wish - just contact me and we can go from there!

Not looking forward to

2011-05-04T10:18:00.011+08:00

the next couple of weeks....

and it has all to do with Jess and school. :( I don't want to take her out of her school and relocate her. I am hoping with everything crossed that her teacher does not come back to teach her class. If she doesn't Jess can stay which is what we all want. I don't want to be purchasing new uniforms and running between 2 schools. I don't want to be doing this!! I shouldn't have to either......

After emailing our Member of parliament, education office, school and everyone else I haven't heard anything back from anyone :(

So do I take it the next step and contact the paper.....I don't know - I don't want to do this either but if it means it would result in what I am after then do I do it??

These holidays have gone toooo fast.. Easter break seemed to take forever but then all of a sudden I only had a few days to squeeze in a visit to mum and dad's in Dunsborough and tonight is a school night lol!!! Back to a routine I hope..... but only if the above happens I guess otherwise I will be juggling a whole lot more!!!

Dunsborough is wonderful to get away too... nothing like spending a few days in such tranquil surroundings.

The girls got dressed up in my mum's wedding dress (Chionia) and my nanna's wedding dress (Jess) - we did their hair in curlers and a little makeup before making an impromptu bouquet all in honour of the royal wedding.

We then went to a new maze just past Margaret River called....wait for it.... A-maze-n lol!!! Beautiful place - lots of thought and very Alice in Wonderlandish :)

The actual maze itself has 1.5km of paths.... and can be confusing!!! Lots of dead ends and it took us a little while!! THe cedar trees (walls!) were planted way back in 1994!!!

Once you find your way out of the maze you can then visit the gardens - there is a playground and more mazes and intriguing statues.

I also had a few photography lessons with dad. Dad takes the most stunning landscape photo's and he taught me a few things once I had worked my camera out and stopped hitting the wrong buttons to get my histogram!! Lots of long exposures and different shutter speeds to get different effects. Remembered to place the horizon not in the middle, get my "sweeping lines" and camera level with the horizon and then the processing part of it as well....I am still getting my head around Lightroom but dad also combines another program which then combines photo's etc!!! Lots of editing but the results are stunning and I am quite pleased with what I got :P These photo's I have just done in Lightroom - not the rest of editing that dad does lol First lot with the jetty is at Quindalup beach on sunset - busy beach ramp with people continuously coming and going - not good for long exposures lol!!

and then the next night we headed off to Meelup beach - once again busy!! Girls love going to the beach - searching the rock pools and playing - Mid Autumn here and the girls are in bathers at sunset!!!

And yes I have done a few projects over the break for Twiddleybitz and Graphic 45 - here is sneaky peak!!

Off to make sure school uniforms are ready, bags are packed etc etc.......

Quality of Education.....

2011-04-23T09:13:00.003+08:00

Feeling the need to vent a bit....

Out of 32 kids in the class - up to 9 of them are being taken out of the school by concerned parents....need I say more????

Oh my - I just may get a big head :P

2011-04-21T08:40:00.006+08:00

Over the last couple of weeks Graphic 45 have been introducing the new design team. I have loved all the wonderful eye candy in the projects that have been submitted and can see why these wonderful people have been chosen. Today it is my turn to be introduced YAY!!!!! Pop over and have a look :) hehe Also If you are on Facebook - Graphic 45 has a new Facebook page - like it and leave a comment on the Graphic 45 blog and you go in the chance to win this weeks blog prize :)

As per usual I tend to create and then think about how to post them.....same this time lol - My clock has a huge glass front to it and I was so worried it wouldn't arrive in one piece (:( It came back with one corner broken - silly post people certainly don't take care with glass!) The clock itself was all white background with 3 big butterflies on it - looks very different now! My eldest daughter is trying to snavvle it up for her room - I don't think so!!

The LO I framed with a 12x12 Twiddleybitz frame - some good old texture paste and black gesso and metallic rubons which suited the G45 papers so well :) I love the photo of Jess in this - I am learning how to take my camera off automatic and have been experimenting with flashes etc hence the title are the settings I used!). A mix of ranges here from G45 as well - they are so versatile with each other as well as on their own!

My third entry is my fairy card - for those of you who do know me I claim not to be a cardmaker - so many of you out there can do it so much better than me and quicker lol!!

And I also sent a project over as a little bonus - Miss Charlotte - her skirt did not travel well and most certainly needed some fluffing so here are a couple of shots :)

I hope you like my projects - as a little celebration of me making the graphic 45 team I have a little goodie pack here to send anywhere in the world!! Just leave a comment and what project you like and Next Thursday will draw a winner :)

Happy scrapping all :)

A little bit of Timmy and TBZ

2011-04-16T08:33:00.003+08:00

just whilst I edit our Bali photo's :) Lightroom program arrived yesterday so I have just downloaded all 300 +photo's and now to work out which ones to edit - love the sync section in Lightroom - saves so much time!!

A project I completed a couple of months ago for Twiddleybitz with their new minature house collection. Colours are a bit different for me but love the subtle effect it has overall :)

Busy week - went to Twiddleybitz and got my projects for Brisbane. My first Graphic 45 kit arrived yesterday and all I need to do is clean up my desk so I can start creating away!!! Pop over to the Graphic 45 blog and have a squizzy at the design work the new DT have created in their applications - the detail is absolutely incredible :) My intro is next Wed (Thursday aussie time!!) so keep a look out :)

So much has happened....

2011-04-11T11:16:00.005+08:00

what a whirl wind of a few weeks we have just had!!!

Bali is such a magical place - love going there and after a few days you get into the swing of it all - the bartering and cocktails and humidity and RAIN!!! Rofl it rained nearly every day we were there and the first time the girls saw the rain commented how pretty and sparkley it was!!! Goes to show you how much we have had here in Perth in the last 6 months!!!

Chionia turned 6 whilst in Bali and her wish was to spend the day at Waterbom Park - what a hoot! They even got me on the Boomerang (I did it - once and once only - I am not a ride person), climbed the 100+steps at least 12 times to take the Maccoroni ride or jungle river :) Gary even did the Climax :) All on video - now I just need to work out how to get it from the camera onto the computer and youtube rofl!! Photo's are coming - waiting on Lightroom to be delivered so I can download all my RAW photo's so only have a couple atm!!

Lots of shopping and bartering, drinks at Roy's Bar on the beach and of course Billy's 69 cocktails :) Yummo - waited 2 years for one of those and now have the recipe :) Gin Contreau Midori lime and sugar syrup. Gary and Helen's birthday do at Billy's was a roaring success and fabulous night.

Also went swimming with the dolphins and omg - they are such beautiful magical creatures - worth every cent and will do this again next time we are in Bali :)Our dolphin was called Peter and we had loads of kisses and hugs and tricks.

Also received some awesome news whilst in Bali - I made the Graphic 45 Design Team YIPPEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE - a wonderful dream for me and can't wait to start creating for them :) Thankyou to everyone who believed I could do it as I was surprised to see my name on the finalist list let alone making the actual Design Team as there is some serious talent in the list!!! :)

11 more sleeps

2011-03-20T08:20:00.013+08:00

but I'm not counting!!!

Bali - simply can't wait!!! It is coming up so quick so now in the process of dwindling down food etc in the fridge, ensuring all passports etc are ready and I have the visa entry $$ etc... Next week will drag out the suitcases, organise Chionia's pressies as it is her birthday whilst there as well as DH 50th (the whole reason we are going!). So looking forward to NOT cleaning or cooking or food shopping or mums taxi service - so looking forward to sipping cocktails by the pool and CHILLAXING. Suggestions for books please :)

In the meantime though we are kept busy - a few guest DT spots YAY!!!!!!!! And a chance to sit and play has been nice :) Last weekend I completed a mini album for Donna who turns the big 40 today hehe - will take her pressie across later as everyone signed tags at last nights dinner for her which go inside. All Donna needs to do is to pop some photo's on each page and voila!! I am sure Candice will help ;)

Using some of my favourite things - Graphic 45 and something new - Flourish with a Bling - a fabo new company here in Australia - keep an eye out for more from me using their products ;)

I also did another one of these back in January for Gordon's 60th!! This one I completed straight from a class kit - nice when you don't have to think just copy!! They are quick and easy to make and very eye catching I think :)

Also found a beautiful old photo of my nanna back in her hey days at the Yealering ball.

sneak peak

oops and another card I did - yes a card lol!!

A little bit of me

2011-03-12T09:30:00.005+08:00

is now on an airplane on its way to the Graphic 45 headquarters :) - was very nervous handing over my 3.7kg parcel to the post office - all out of my hands now lol - can't do anymore!! Good luck to the other 24 finalists too

1. Amanda Phillips - Goose Creek, SC
2. Laura Denison - Maple Valley, WA
3. Jane Tregenza - Australia
4. Karen Wilson - Prescott Valley, AZ
5. Gloria Stengel - Oceanside, CA
6. Tara Orr - Canada
7. Michael Jack Putman and Lesley Fisher - Mesa, AZ
8. Sherry Cheever - Jeffersonville, IN
9. Jamie Dougherty - Ramona, CA
10. Hilde Janbroers - The Netherlands
11. Tracey Locher - Escondido, CA
12. Leica Forrest - Canada
13. Karen Bearse - Fairfax, VA
14. Lynette Carroll - Braintree, MA
15. Natalie Dever - Sheboygan Falls, WI
16. Nicole Eccles - Springboro, OH
17. Robin L. Shakoor - Fredericksburg, VA
18. Melanie Forbes - Australia
19. Nancy Wethington - St. Louis, MO
20. Jade Moore - Belleville, Il
21. Tonya A. Gibbs - Keystone Heights, FL
22. Tomoko Takahashi - Japan
23. Jason Jones - Whitesboro, TX
24. Jenny Svensson - Brakne-Hoby, Sweden
25. Yuka Hino - Japan

I have been blog hopping and OMG some of their work is out of this world! It will be tough to chose the final 10 - glad it isn't me who has to narrow it down :P I decided to create 3 new projects especially for Round 2 - something that reflects me and my style and my capabilities :) So spent last weekend playing and then left them for a day to ponder over and give final touches to before posting off. Hope the glass front doesn't break on the way eekkk!! Anyway I have decided to share - all projects had to be sent by yesterday so there's no harm I guess rofl!! And you know me - love to share so here it goes

Layout - the photo is one I took when playing with the camera off auto at the beach a couple of weekends ago - hence the photographers talk for the title!! Lots of distressing and ink and chipboard :)

Card - I tend to overthink cards and turn them into little masterpieces - only addition to this card is I added lots of beautiful mica to the flowers

and my OTP item - I chose a clock to alter - bought a cheap one from Homeart here and it was hideous lol - pure white background with primary coloured butterflies scattered on it....well a bit of paper, 3D mount tape and lots of playing resulted in a very Steampunk inspired clock! Now to pray it makes it in one piece - it has been wrapped up very carefully!!!!

Well there you have it - all 3 projects!!! Thanks for all the special messages too - it is nice to know people are excited for me!!! Off to clear up my scrap desk and scrap some more :)

Time for it to sink in!

2011-03-07T11:54:00.005+08:00

lol Still pinching myself about making the final 25 for Graphic 45 - with the early morning wake up call it didn't really sink in that I had actually made it and what it meant!! So what does it mean to me!! An honour that G45 chose me out of so much talent in the world (not just Australia!!) And when I went looking at the names on the list etc started to quietly poop myself and then doubt whether I was up to it rofl!

But can now say that I have finished 3 projects I LOVE and I believe reflect me and my style and what I can do and will be posting them off asap to the other side of the world with fingers and toes crossed and dreaming of making the DT :) :) :) Now to sit and wait eekk!!

So other news

Dad has started up a blog for his photography stunning photo's and if you want they are available for sale - just leave a comment and dad will get back to you!

Busy months ahead...Bali is coming up fast (YAY but oh no so much to do before then) - followed by Kalbarri in Easter, a trip to Brisbane in June, Sydney in July, it goes on!!

Into week 3 of the MIchelle Bridges program - doing well - working out 5 days a week ( I know we are suppose to do 6 and if it happens on the weekend it happens - just like yesterdays bike ride and today's beach walk!) foodwise - the recipes are yummy and it has only been a handful of times I have felt hungry or just wanting to not think calories and how long it would take to burn off!! Clothes are getting looser and with 4 more weeks to Bali I hope I will be another 4kg lighter again too!!!

A couple of weeks ago Rachel and I did a photography course in Fremantle prison with Imagetree - had lots of info and can now say I understand my camera a whole lot better and now taking photo's in manual not auto and loving editing them in Lightroom thanks to a tut by dad!! Here is a few from that day where we had models and then a couple I took at the beach last weekend of the girls using dad's camera and his flashes - lots of great photo's to work with now :) hehe ;)

Long weekend here today and cause I have been head down and bum up working on my Graphic 45 entries the house looks like a bomb has gone off - heading up to Bears Rock this arvo for some fishing etc along the beach so had best head off and crack the whip!!!

OMG

2011-03-05T07:24:00.003+08:00

I have made round 2 for the Graphic 45 DT call Looking at the list of 25 finalists has me a bit awestruck - there is some serious talent there!!! Good luck and congratulations to everyone who made it :) Off now to finish creating my projects!!! You know how people have a paper company that is just them - they have to have the latest ranges of that particular company whether is be Basic grey or Cosmo Cricket or Echo Park - Mine is Graphic 45 and to have this chance is unreal!!!!! Now you all have to cross absolutely everything you have to get me through this final round - to work on their DT would be one of my ultimate dreams :0

I was going to blog this morning about a few other things but scrapping has got the upperhand and I have a desk that needs some serious cleaning on it before I can start rofl!!

Just quickly though - the Michelle Bridges 12 week body transformation program has started and even though I started a couple weeks beforehand unofficially I have now lost just over 4kgs in just under 4 weeks!! :) Feeling very happy with that - long way to go but it is working and I am enjoying getting out every day completing my exercise tasks and getting that me time :)

Off to get some milk as we have run out!! And I will need a few cuppa's to get my creative juices flowing seeing that Miss Sherry woke me so early on a Saturday morning with the news :)

February = Graphic 45 DT call :) :) :)

2011-02-22T15:42:00.019+08:00

YAY - it has finally come around again!! Now who wouldn't want to work for Graphic 45??? My favourite paper company (and now stamps and metal and oh sigh flowers and staples!!) of all time :)

Would I apply friends have asked? OF COURSE I AM :) :) :) Those of you who know me know that G45 is my first choice when it comes to scrapping especially when it involves OTP projects :) I fell in love them right back when I got my hands on some Communique range of papers and have bought every single range and paper since (sshhh don't tell DH!) Fingers crossed I have what they are looking for and I get the go ahead for Round 2. Round 1 though is maybe the hardest - I have to find 10 - 15 projects to list below with photo's as well as submit my application. Narrowing down those projects is hard lol but here are my favourites from the last year :) Hope you enjoy and keep your fingers crossed for me

Off the Page projects - a specialty of mine ;)

Roxy - My 15 inch mannequin :) Had fun creating her :)

Altered Book - What If One Day The Memories are gone..... so let's preserve them.

Fairy Collection - CHA Winter 2011 - for more details / close ups - please see post below :)

Miss Charlotte

Steam Punk and Twiddleybitz design work

Layouts :)

Keith

Enjoy Life

Busselton Jetty Circa 1954

Moi - using papers in a different way. :)

Musical Moments - scanned from Scrapbook Creations Magazine Who's Who of Scrapbooking January 2010

Another OTP item featured in article from Scrapbook Creations Magazine Who's Who of Scrapbooking January 2010 - shadowboxes in canvases

Honourable Mention Scrapbooking Memories Master competition 2010

Sample of cards made

Funky houses in floating frame using twiddleybitz

and last but not least my altered cupboard

Thankyou so much for looking if you made it this far rofl!! THere is a lot of images but with my work it is very detailed and quite often one photo would not do the project justice!! If you wish to see more of my Graphic 45 work you can check out my album on FB right here TFL and please keep all your fingers and toes crossed - this is one design team I would bend over backwards to be part of :) :) :)

Remember me saying a few weeks ago....

2011-01-30T15:38:00.005+08:00

that I had been creating some special projects...well now I can reveal!!!! Twiddleybitz is now available in America :) :) and it has made it's debut at the Winter CHA in LA!! This means my projects (and the rest of the TBZ DT's projects) are on display at one of the biggest trade shows in the world - pretty cool huh!!!! Select Imports at booth 4418 has all of Twiddleybitz new designs on display - pop by and say hello and have a look!!! You won't be disappointed.

My projects followed a fairy theme - How could I go past using G45 Once upon a Springtime with the new releases by Twiddleybitz - once again made for each other :)

A new me

2011-01-23T09:49:00.002+08:00

no more excuses and a bit more effort on my behalf this year..I have all sorts of wonderful things to look forward to such as Bali and Kalbarri Camp mojo and a wedding in Exmouth and another wedding in October where I will have to fit into a bridesmaid dress :)

So how do I go about it....well I have started this week - been very careful watching what I eat and substituting this for that etc and this morning I signed up for Michelle Bridges 12 week body transformation program

It is a start.....

Master's entries, floods and new babies :)

2011-01-17T15:46:00.008+08:00

What a busy couple of weeks. This year we have not booked anything too far ahead...it has been absolutely wonderful to hide out at home with the pool close by for that refreshing dip (we have a very cold concrete pool which most certainly retains the cold!). Girls have been busy not doing much! Sleepovers and playdates which extend from several hours to ongoing several nights in a row are the norm here atm!

I actually managed to complete quite a few special projects which I will be able to showcase in the next couple of weeks but here is a sneak peak....using Twiddleybitz and Graphic 45 of course :) One of my favourite combinations :)

We have also been to the beach - discovered a yummy fish and chip store close by (nothing worse than greasy ickky fish and chips!) - fish and chips on the beach at sunset is a beautiful way to end a hot day!! It also happened to be the day of the Lake Clifton fires down south - despite no lives being lost it is a tragedy for all involved, from the 10 homes lost to all the livestock and devastation that it brought with it all because of some stupid idiotic people who think starting fires is fun - if it was up to me I would put them on a stake in the middle of a bushfire and see how they like it...... Photo's from the beach that night at sunset were awesome and it wasn't until I got home and looked at them I realised it was due to the smoke from these bushfires that was on the sunset...

Then on the same day the devastating news of the Queensland floods started to emerge which seemed to get bigger and bigger as the week went on - I was glued to the tv in the hope for good news but it didn't - the tv footage was extroadinary to watch and although I feel very helpless being on this side of the country I am so proud to be an Aussie watching how everyone has rallied together in times of a crisis. My sister and family has delayed going home to Brisbane by a week so hopefully various services such as power and getting around the city will make things a bit easier for them especially with a 3 week old bub!!! Hopefully there isn't too much mess for them to clean up once back either....

Weekend just gone we went down to Footprints at Preston Beach (about 90 minutes south of Perth) and had a fabo night with some Italian friends before heading to Just for Fun on Mandurah foreshore on Sunday. What a crack up!!!! Great entertainment for the day and an AWESOME way to wear out the kids - both girls fell asleep within 10 minutes of going home and still went to bed at 8.30pm :) Great day with some great friends :)

lol and lucky last (keep forgetting to post these!!) My masters entries for Scrapbooking Memories last year... I was very lucky (lol or unlucky depending on how you view it!) to receive to Honourable mentions in the magazine for my Single LO and my OTP item. So close but yet once again so far!!!!

My Single was based on the Escape 2 Create retreat I taught at last year in South Australia and although different to my usual colours I love it :) so very glad it got a HM!!!

My Double LO was based on my sailing history - from when I first started on 470's in Brunei with dad to State champion racing Farr 36 foot yacht's - it included memorablia from newspaper clippings to the Ship Captains hat pin I received for sailing in an international competition when I was 10.

Lastly my OTP - a Twiddleybitz jewellry box :) This currently resides by my bed and I use it to pop my earrings or jewellry in each night - LOVE it :) and very me :) THe magazine didn't show inside of it which I love too!!

I am also an Aunty again to gorgeous little Kimberly who was a bit impatient arriving 13 weeks early and all of 1kg - All are doing very well and going great guns - means we get to babysit Alice a bit which I have no problems with - she was so cute here this morning and I even got a beautiful snuggly cuddle from her!!

Happy 2011 :)

2011-01-03T08:16:00.007+08:00

For the first time in years we have had a very peaceful finish and start to the new year. We were going to head down south for a few days but haven't made it there...instead we have been sitting back by the pool, having nanna naps and generally ignoring the rat race outside our home :) And it has been so nice just to stop and do nothing and not have to be anywhere!!

A bit of hot weather since Christmas with a few 40 degree days etc hasn't helped hehe - made the office to hot to sit in though so I have been fairly absent from the computer although having the FB app on my new ipod is just wonderful!!! Can sit and FB whilst watching Chionia in the pool!!

Looking at the above photo's I have used another app on my ipod - classic camera and the hipstamatic ones :) Having fun!!! I even cooked the yummiest seafood meal a few days after christmas using a recipe app on my ipod - yep - just plugged in seafood bbq and under 60 minutes and voila up popped a recipe that was so so yummy!!! :)

Christmas :) more subdue for us this year which looking back on it all I loved.....We got a chance to see what the girls got from who and it wasn't so stressful or overwhelming...

Girls got spoilt as usual lol - Justin Beiber tickets and Wii games, Tinkerbell fairyland, netball hoops and balls - clothes and shoes and bracelets!!! :) I tried to use the theme old fashion games for their presents this year. So they received gifts like rubiks magic and the good old rubiks cube as well, puzzles, slinky (the metal one - only the best!), yoyo's, bubbles, frisbee's Boogie boards and skimmer disks :) Just like the good old days!!

Still need to edit those photo's!!

Boxing day Ben came over for the day :) So we showed him fun in the pool with water fights against Uncle Gary and then of course seeing he now has a brand new baby sister introduced him to Barbie dolls :) Girls love having him around to play :)

As I mentioned there is a new addition to the family - Miss Charlotte Rose or Charlie as she has been nicknamed :) so gorgeous - got my new born baby cuddles on Christmas eve when she was barely a day old

I was also asked by Miss Sherry Mendoza on Christmas eve if I could do the example for this months Camp mojo challenges!! Had to be in by Boxing day night - nothing like last minute projects hey!! So using my photo of Miss Charlotte created a canvas for her :) Add some Graphic 45 and Twiddleybitz and you can't go wrong lol!! The challenge for this month was to stamp on fabric so although you can't see it on the whole photo as such the close ups show off the details..... stamping into texture paste on the canvas, the fairy wings and the butterflies were stamped onto calico :)

Well the office is getting hot again so time to go and gather up all the wet towels and hang them up ready for another day by the pool :) Stay safe everyone :)

Time to sit back and relax and enjoy the hols :)

2010-12-20T16:07:00.009+08:00

We made it :) Last week was a bit of a busy one with dance every day with 2 concerts on Friday and Saturday night followed by our Christmas do for my side of the family yesterday :) School reports, preprimary graduation and excursion

The girls danced beautifully even poor Chionia who got pushed down the stairs backstage on Friday and had a huge egg on her shin :( we just thought she was tired when she came on for her second dance but it was not long after she fell. :( The other girl didn't even have the manners to say sorry which I think stinks as she also denied it despite numerous girls who saw it...she just had a bee in her bonnet about something else...

Dancing over and done with for the year :)

Then it was onto secret santa presents - and what do you get 2 people who have everything???? Why 5 geese of course lol so Saturday morning off Jess, Chionia and I trot to pick up a cage from the quokka and then 5 geese and a quick stop at the pet shop for hay and food and settle them in at home.....needless to say we couldn't hide these from our secret santa so VOILA :) Mum and dad love them (I hope) and I do believe they have settled in well with the chooks :)

PS Have a look at the photo of mum getting her balance on the wall after the shock sets in hehe

Christmas lunch for our lot was here on Sunday - Flossie is making her appearance this week so we had it a week early :) Apart from a big bushfire not far from here which covered everything in ash and the weather deciding it was going to rain (held off till everyone left phew!) it was beautiful - not too many people so not so rushed and apart from the toy overload which happens and littlies have meltdowns :) we all enjoyed it very much :)

and then it was time to pack up the geese - get them back in the cage and ready for their trip to dunsborough... :) love the look on Damo's face as he walks away rofl and the tears in Miss Alice's eyes - a very big day for the little ones :)

Merry Christmas Everyone and ...

2010-12-12T12:00:00.006+08:00

welcome to the Twiddleybitz blog hop...... nearly there just a few more of our wonderful talented designers after me :)Haven't there been some fantastic Layouts and projects completed :) Love them all - stole a few idea's and inspiration and wish I had known those angels Rach prior to me starting my handmade items!!

:) Tiff - you have been a wonderful asset to Twiddleybitz - you have had such a difficult year and through it all have always remained upbeat and happy and keeping us organised so Thankyou!!!!!

Twiddleybitz has come a long way since it first started up - I have been lucky enough to be involved right from the start!! Just about 3 years to the day lol!!! Nic and Andrew always always listen to all our suggestions and continually throw things at us to keep us on our toes and see what we come up with. More often than not they lead the industry in their ORIGINAL designs such as the opening gates and floating frames and only just this week have had another fantastic release of goodies :) Think High Tea and invitations along with fairies and pirates - and of course with a TBZ release without some stunning OTP projects.....and with these in mind I have created some teachers presents to say thankyou!! I don't mind spending a little bit of time creating the teacher presents at the end of the year - They spend a lot of time with the girls and deserve to be thanked :)

Isn't that cupcake inviting!!! Guess what it is a soap lol!!!! As I mentioned Perth stores were invited to a sneak peak and class on the Twiddleybitz latest release on this Monday just gone so here is a little looksey at what will be hitting the stores in the next few weeks!!!

Gingerbread house is designed so that the roof will lift off and you can fill it with lollies :) yummm wouldn't last long in my house - needs a lock on it!

The single cupcake stand (which as the clever Mel C has done - turned it into a candle stand!) is simply covered with paper glued together and voila!! TBZ were even so clever as to make new borders that it perfectly around the top edge of the stand!!!!

And these treasure chest are really really easy to put together!

Hope you enjoyed the projects - leave a post at the end of this message and I will draw a winner out of a hat on Monday 20th (after my mad week ahead) and will post out some TBZ goodies to someone (yes world wide but don't expect it before christmas lol :)

Next stop along our hop is the wonderful Jen Hodge

Merry Christmas everyone - I hope you have a wonderful time over Christmas and the New Year - stay safe - have a drink for me and I Hope Santa spoils you all :)

PS - Just finished off another teachers presents - modpodge was still too wet to adhere anything else too so it had to wait till now :) Another of these fun treasure chests :)

AND - if you have time - why don't you pop into Smudge and Sparkle tomorrow where I am teaching a stunning easel and church OTP.... Starts as soon as I get there tomorrow morning whilst the kiddies are at school and this is what you take home (or nearly will!)

ssshhhhhh can you hear that.....

2010-12-11T11:37:00.005+08:00

it is silence!!! For the first time in days lol!! And this is one reason why ...

we have had a few visitors from interstate - my sister and her son Ben have come over for Christmas oh and to have a bub in 12 days time so we have had heaps of fun babysitting Ben whilst Riss has been busy with Flossie's appointments with Dr's etc!!! Girls have absolutely LOVED having Ben here and I think that Ben loves Aunty Mel's house hehe - too many fun things to do here!! All last minute as Riss was suppose to be staying with her inlaws but they came down with the flu and there is NO WAY Riss wants anyone sick just as Flossie is about to make her arrival!!! From having a full house on Wednesday and a sleepover last night we are now back to just us for an hour or so till dancing rehearsal which Jess will then be going to Paytons for another sleepover - such busy lifes for a ten year old!!!

So before that we put the christmas stuff up - not much spirit in this house this year as I ended up doing most of it which took a few days - love my elf's - most years they hide all over the house and pop up in the wierdest spots!! We bought them years ago for about 20c each due to water damage at WA Salvage but love how they are tumbling down the stairs.

Now it is time to sit back for a quiet night before the madness of the next 8 days ahead of us. Our dancing schedule is as follows
Today 1-4pm
Sun Chionia 10-12.30pm Jess 1pm - 5pm
Mon Jess 5-8pm
Tues Jess 5-8pm
Wed Dress Rehearsal at the Octagon Theatre 5-9ish pm
Thurs - last day of school :) NO DANCING!!!!!!!!
Fri - Concert #1 6pm-12am
Sat Concert #2 6pm - 12am FINISHED DANCING FOR THE YEAR YAY!!!!!!!!!

THEN

Sunday (yes the next day!) we have the Wiese Christmas get together - so a big yummy Roast lunch/arvo hehe with a Santa visit and I am sure trampoline jumping!!!!!

Must get onto finishing the teacher presents which I will be showing you all tomorrow in my post for the Twiddleybitz blog hop :) Have a look at what the DT girls have already posted starting with the very talented Miss Anne Marie Cox

See you all tomorrow :)

loving

2010-11-27T09:14:00.006+08:00

being semi organised!!!!

Most presents are done and wrapped!!!! Which is good as I only realised yesterday that the girls only have 14 school days left! Christmas lunch is getting sorted - cooked a yummy Jamie Oliver roast on Tuesday night when Dad stayed and omg it was divine!!!! It melted in your mouth along with the porcini mushrooms and pancetta wrapped around it - this will now be on the menu :)

Not long till the dance concert so am expecting lots of extra dance runs in the next few weeks as well. Got 2 out of 6 costumes - same every year - we never really know what the costumes are until the last minute add to that all the end of year / school / christmas do's etc and it can be a bit stressful rofl

Gary and I had our 15th wedding anniversary on Thursday :) xxx we didn't do anything special rofl - Gary was up early to do Damo's pool and then the final coat on Johns pool :) So we had a beautiful bottle of Moet with some prawns, haloumi cheese, asparagus, cherry tomatoes and red onion with lemon zest and fresh herbs from the garden for tea whilst watching Polar Express with the girls :) Here's to another 15 honey :) xx

Been creating a bit too - can't show though for another week all hush hush!!!! But I will reveal my advent creation I did for the G45 advent comp Would love to win the new release....would go perfect with some projects I have to do up!!! :) Check out the projects there are some stunning entries!!! So here's mine :) sshhh rofl!

35 days till Christmas

2010-11-20T09:21:00.004+08:00

and this year I am getting organised... despite the hot weather we have had this week

Yes I have actually made some Christmas cards ready to go...

Yes I have bought some Christmas presents...

Yes dancing costumes are happening - 2 out of 6 done with the tiara and dangly earrings purchased for another.....

Yes Christmas lunch has been organised! A much quieter one this year YAY!!! No repeats of last year thankyou!

Yes I have managed to get some teachers presents sorted too (thanks to the Christmas fete!)

and so you see I am getting there :) :) :)

I know that the next few weeks are going to be soooo busy - Riss comes back beginning of December with a big belly and Ben and Monty :) Flossie is due 23rd December and I already have her Christmas present :)

Dance concert time too so things are getting busy with extra rehearsals etc started to be booked in sigh... This year I have the dressmaker making all the costumes - normally mum does most of it and I manage to do the basic parts of it but I figured I can spend my time doing other things and let someone else do it this year - prices are very good so why not!!!

Calendar is getting booked up....a few classes for Twiddleybitz at Smudge and Sparkles new store YAY!!!! A beautiful 12 x 12 easel with a church (wedding in mind!) and a stunning Christmas tree centrepiece for you Christmas table :) I taught this during the week and LOVED all the trees that were completed - from the stunning black red and cream tree to the glittery shimmery blue tree to traditional colours to soft pink and green - they all looked FABO!!!!!!!

Me been busy playing with some 7 Gypsies printer trays and Graphic 45 and new moulds and handmade embellishments.....just a sneak for you - will show you in a weeks time once I have the final touches on it...

More TBZ releases

2010-11-06T14:03:00.006+08:00

Once again TBZ have excelled themselves with OTP projects - these 2 gorgeous shadowboxes are so much fun - as soon as I saw the one with the awning knew I had tot urn it into a Lost and found shop!!! It comes with the awning and fence and ground... I also added to it the TBZ chair, mirror and chandelair and mannequin :)

THen I just had to pop the beach shadowbox with Graphic 45 On The Boardwalk papers!!! As I emailed it to Mr & Mrs TBZ I had to have a little giggle to myself - the figurines on the project reminded me of them - what do you think??? hehe

You can see these projects at the Twiddleybitz stand at the Sydney papercrafts festival on this weekend :) pop over to the TBZ site for further info on where etc!!

Also fete day is tomorrow - still finishing off projects - have no idea if they will sell or how to price them - obviously it is all hand done so how do you incorporate that into the price without ripping yourself off!!!!

These will be up for sale too tomorrow :) Both will be $40.00 (considering the tree sells for $25.00 as a raw kit and the box $15.00) I think it is a good price - what do you think taking into account time and cost of paint, beaded ribbon, paper, flowers etc.......

oh dear.......

2010-11-03T10:11:00.008+08:00

poor blog is a bit neglected lately!!! Been a bit busy ;)

Ok so what have I been busy with!!!

Hubby is home YAY!!!!!!!!!!! Job is finally finished and paperwork completed YAY and Thank god!! :) Here is what he was up to the last 4 months - it is only one side of the track and extends around the corner as well as further back the other way.....Each wall along the train track had a particular pattern which was then repeated on the barrier walls along the new road up the top. It is the largest mural in the world and will be going in the Guinness book of records :) lol lots of hard work and long hours - so proud of him for doing most of it himself!! :)

School holidays in the middle of all of that - stole hubby for a couple of days break in Dunsborough as we had a trip whale watching booked in (Dad won a family pass in a photo comp earlier this year!!) and it was stunning - saw several humpback whales frolicking around and one even came and waved with his fins and rolled right near us :) such graceful creatures and so so beautiful!! Loved every minute of it :)

Getting used to having Gary home lol it is wonderful not packing and unpacking and driving back and forward to Mandurah 2 - 3 times a week :) House and gardens have had a massive spring clean - pool is nearly ready for swimming (36 today summer is on its way YAY!!!)

Got roped into doing a Christmas Stall at the Connolly School fete this weekend ( only had 2 weeks notice - very last minute!) so had a crop day here last weekend where we made cards that all proceeds will be donated to the schools P&C and I will be selling all sorts of delicious Christmas items - all handmade of course...here is just a sample

If you are interested anything (or would like to order kits to do up yourself) come along this SUNDAY 7th NOVEMBER to Connolly Primary School Fairway Circle between 10am and 3pm - would love to sell the lot so I don't have to pack it all up!! hehe

and on that note - will leave you with a scary thought (thanks to Louise W!) - time to unpack Christmas decorations in just 27 days.........

Little Miss.......

2010-09-27T18:09:00.003+08:00

have yet to name her but once again had some fun with a dress form / mannequin (she has been sitting on my shelf for about 2 years waiting for just the perfect papers etc...) Graphic 45 Steam punk and Twiddleybitz :)

TFL :)

The Bold and the Beautiful....

2010-09-26T14:51:00.004+08:00

well I think we have more drama around here than the soapie atm (lol and the last 3 months!!) The last couple of weeks

* we have had all testing done and passed with flying colours on the contract,
* Gary has been side swiped in his car with a hit and run driver - he is ok but the car is just holding in there with some gaffa tape....good news is we may have found the driver...........
* finally made it to school holidays so no more running around,
* Jess has done her Grade 4 Modern exam - now for her Grade 3 ballet in a few weeks.
* Grand final - OMG how can you just have another game.....TIME ON PEOPLE!!!!!
* only a few days left on this site variation of the contract and we may be done however they are talking more works......
* and I scrapped!!!!

This is for an upcoming class.....once I have details etc will post it up again in my class blog..

and this I created today just because I felt like....still tossing around idea's for a title....but just enjoyed playing with new GRAPHIC 45 and Twiddleybitz :)

Scrapjacked.....and a giggle for you :)

2010-09-08T08:27:00.005+08:00

what a wonderful surprise after a long few weeks!! I have been chosen along with Mandy Dodd (Loving her blog!) and Kerry Murray (who's beautiful flowery LO is just to die for) for this months Aussie Scrapjack :) I always lurk here as the work is just so outstanding and inspiring and looking at the list of previous names I feel very honoured so thankyou Louise and ladies :)

The project they chose is one of Twiddleybitz floating frames along with their nero range of borders and fern leaves. The photo is of my great grandparents wedding - over a 100yrs old and I had a play with rusting paint on the frame and made it all vintagey :) Here are some close ups for you and leave me a comment on this post if you jack me and with a link to your project (just so I don't have to go searching and miss anyone!) and at the end of the month will draw out a winner for a few TBZ goodies to come your way :)

Other news..... well can show off my Camp mojo LO now - using new TBZ cogs :) aren't they divine!!!!!

And we have been given another section of the New Mandurah Entrance Road to anti graffiti so Gary is still living and working down in Mandurah :( So we are still commuting between Mandurah and here when we can so we get to see Gary. My car though has decided to do a dummy spit..... Driving home on Monday we left Mandurah at 6am so to beat most of the peak hour traffic on the Kwinana and be home in time to get the girls ready for school so it makes it a long day BUT we get just that little bit more time with Gary the night before....anyway just as we were coming up to the Narrows bridge my dashboard controls flip out and lose power followed by a beep beep gearbox failure alarm....oh dear - better move from the inside lane )which I was in to be ready for all the lane changes not far up the road to get to the Mitchell Freeway) -- pulled over in the emergency lane to have the car die on me....bugger....Even bigger bugger was when I realised that the tow truck driver was on his way and I was still in my pj's.... very old leggings (that are most probably see through they are that old) and an old TBZ tshirt that has paint stains all over it and no bra........ scramble around the car to get my jeans and bra and attempt to put them on in the car whilst cars are whizzing by in peak hour. Girls were hanging out the car window yelling good morning to all the cyclists on their way into town and labelling them sweet or sour depending on if they waved, said hi or poked their tongue out with a smile!! Several hours later we were home and my car is being repaired..... Hope you got a giggle as you tried to imagine me - if I didn't laugh about it I would have cried I think! Not much else I could have done!!!

Alice

2010-08-29T13:40:00.003+08:00

New twiddleybitz + Graphic 45 = match in heaven :)

Had a little fun with this OTP!!!

YUMMMMMM

2010-08-29T10:10:00.003+08:00

I got my hands on some new Graphic 45 papers :) :) so for the first time in weeks (could be months!) I scrapped for me :) I just happened to be given some new Twiddleybitz pieces last weekend that match perfectly in with my new papers so voila!!

I know - not as detailed as what I normally do - slowly trying to cox back mr mojo!!! The other LO I can't show as it is for Camp Mojo's August challenge :)

Other things around here... Gary still down south but hopefully this section of the contract will be finished by the end of this upcoming week but we are hoping for more work down there.....fingers crossed. We would have gone down this weekend but Chionia has come down with a bit of a cold and sore throat so we are staying away so Gary doesn't get sick - can't afford to have him down and out! It has been nice though to have a sleep in this morning instead of getting up at 5am to let Gary out of the apartment electric gates with the keys. Also nice not to pack and unpack and packa nd unpack just for a night!! Although we are missing him so may head down sometime this week instead! There is light at the end of the long dark tunnel with this job!! Thank goodness

next project is calling me - think Alice :)

and the winners are.............

2010-08-15T09:47:00.003+08:00

posts 40 27 23

Random numbers generated Aug 15 2010 at 9:45:46 by www.psychicscience.org
if I count correctly

are

40 - Gypsylcm
27 - Scossie Jane
23 - Beckie Dreyer

Can you please contact me via the TTwiddleybitz ning with your postal addresses and I will send these goodies off this week for you all :)

Thanks so much everyone for joining in and hopping around the world with Twiddleybitz!! Unfortunately I ended up dealing with an emergency not long after posting and then it seemed to continuously happen from grumpy people on Sat to getting home from Mandurah on Sunday to find I had the keys for the apartment in my pocket so we went back down and drove home Monday morning just in time to get the girls to school - a few hassles work wise then family wise but I have stood up for myself this week and said it like it needed to be said on all matters. OK some may not like hearing it but why should we put up with the crap.

Anyway the good thing was Gary was home for a few days this week due to rain - he left again this morning so back to just the three of us here :( Was so nice to wake up with him next to me (lol and the girls!) and those simple things like making his coffee in the morning. Poor thing was so tired after working non stop for the last month or so so we kept it quiet and just enjoyed having him here.

So with all of the above I haven't actually scrapped apart from teaching a wonderful class yesterday to the ladies on the Smudge and Sparkle retreat in Baldivis (another disaster there with my car which overheated as I got there then on the way home too.....) I got them all to play with some new(ish??) techniques - coloursprays, masks, crackle paint, paint daubers and of course chipboard!!! A lot of them had never played with such techniques before and they all created wonderful LO's based on mine - I do love it when people are comfortable enough to change a class LO to suit them and their style :) THe night before Gina and Wendy managed to get photo's of their spooky dinner night and those were the photo's we scrapped - so a photo taken and scrapped within 24 hours is pretty good effort too!! Thanks Wendy and Gina for inviting me - it was nice to escape my world for a little while lol!!

and then last month I did this LO for Camp Mojo challenge. Kept it simple and as I don't do banners and I wanted the photo to be the centre of attention :)

Hopping Right along.....

2010-08-06T14:10:00.010+08:00

Good evening everyone a Huge welcome to Twiddleybitz's first blog hop!!! Now I am not sure about you but I only discovered blog hops a few weeks ago when I somehow ended up on one that took me all around the world with loads of inspirational idea's and techniques and goodies and was so pleased when we were told TBZ was having one!!!!! A bit nervous too as I know I will stuff it up (fingers crossed - I am being prepared here!!) as computers and me are not the best mix. Dad however came and rescued my dying computer yesterday and with my super dooper fast whiz bang updated version I am set and raring to go... Thankyou Carol for starting us off :)

As you all know I love OTP items so why not show you all something you could do with a book, some paint and of course some Twiddleybitz goodness Using photo's from Jess's 9th birthday do where the girls got glammed up for a photo shoot I have simply altered an old book I bought from the second hand bookstore for $1.00. I started out by tracing around the Twiddleybitz shadowbox inside the book (ensuring I had enough depth to fit it in the book!) and then using a craft knife cut out the guts of the book big enough to slide in the shadowbox. Paint your pages white with gesso so you can just see a hint of the words coming through - add a bit of tape and paint and then I glued the shadowbox together using instructions in the kit painting it with acrylic paints. I also embossed the cover of the shadowbox and painted it blue before swiped white gesso paint over the top just to give a bit of texture as I do!! Simply add a few TBZ, rubons, a flower or two, buttons and a photo and glue it into place (which also holds the book together!) and that little bit is done....

Then it was time to do the outside... Here I simply painted it all white including the page edges, measured some patterned paper to fit both the front and back covers and a coordinating one for the spine. Then I painted up some Twiddleybitz Style Leaf Twirl Flourish, the ornate name plate and some square alpha's in matching colours. I also used Kingfisherliscious Creative colour sprays to alter my white flowers to blue to match and painted up my leather vine strap. Then it was simply a matter of scrapping it all together to create a cover and name plate on the side.

Then simply finished off the inside with a little bit more paint and some journalling.

Hope you like it For more inspiration the stunningly talented and witty Anne Marie Cox is next up at 9pm AEST so jump over to her blog for a squizzy before she wows you with her inspiring work. Leave a comment for me after you have added yourself as a follower on network blogs thingy on the bottom left hand side of my blog and at the end of the blog hop (8pm Monday 9th August AEST - will give you all an extra day!) I will get Jess to draw three peoples names to win a little parcel of Twiddley goodness that I will post your way (Australian address's only please!) The first name out will win the TBZ pieces to be able to recreate my project :) See below for photo's. Enjoy the hopping everyone - I can't wait to see what else the DT come up with

Hop Hop Hop :)

2010-08-03T19:38:00.002+08:00

Twiddley hop this weekend!!

Shouting out a big hello to all our valued Twiddleybitz members, you are all invited to join us this weekend for our first ever Twiddleybitz blog hop. There will be a weekend of inspiration from our talented designers, chatting and some fabulous RAK'S and prizes to be won.

So if your stash is low, join us for a chance to win some Twiddleybitz. And don't worry, if you have never done a blog hop before, all you need to do is check out the Ning forum at 6.30pm AEST (8.30pm NZ time) this Friday, Aug 6th for all the details.

If you are not already registered just sign up on the ning site here... and please come play along... we would love to have you.

Hope to see you there for some fun and happy hopping :):):)

and please accept in advance my apologies for any stuff ups I do!

and in the meantime - see if you can find the TBZ piece on this LO.......it is there!

True Blue Craft Fair starts tomorrow in Claremont Showgrounds

2010-07-29T16:12:00.006+08:00

and I would love to see you there!!!!

Pop by the Twiddleybitz stand - we are smack bang in the middle of it all or book at the stand and come along to one of my classes running at 10am, 11.30am and 1pm :) Card class is filling up fast and numbers are limited due to space!!!! Contact me prior or Nicole@twiddleybitz.com to book before you get there as I would hate for you to miss out!

Here is the little spiel on them all

10.00 Miss Charlotte - Something a bit fun, learn how to create your own coloured flowers using Creative Colour Sprays and gauze and scrap papers and pearls. Once you have put together these fine ingredients then you will add 1 Twiddleybitz MDF Miss Charlotte and you will have one cool Mannequin.

All tools and embellishments are supplied in this class Class Duration: 1 hour Teacher Melanie Forbes (as published in notation magazines) Class kit $15.00

11.30am 12x12 Vintage Layout – make this Vintage layout as featured in both national Scrapbooking magazines. Use one of Twiddleybitz most popular chipboard pieces the ‘Skeleton Tree’ and some texture paste to add and you will have your very own layout to take home. Class Duration: 1 hour Class Kit: $15.00 – Teacher Melanie Forbes (as published in notation magazines)

Bring your own 12x12 background patterned paper or choose from papers supplied and photo no bigger than

1pm Set of 3 Xmas Cards - create a set of three cards with a Christmas theme ... start early and be prepared for the silly season when you see how quick and easy these cards are. This range of cards is also Play with some Creative Colour Sprays, Embossing plates, gauze and mirror embellishments. Class Duration 1 hour Class Kit $15.00 Teacher Melanie Forbes (as published in notation magazines)

Photo shoot time

2010-07-19T12:21:00.002+08:00

When Riss was down south dad set up a temporary studio and let Ben control the remote for the camera - she got some priceless photo's and he had heaps of fun soooooo......when we went down Dad set it up for the girls :) About 400 photo's later and lots of jumping and hair flicking we got some awesome photo's....what a great idea!! The kids loved being in control and once it was set up it was so easy to let them run riot!!!