Live in the Dream

Fiji Photos

2011-01-02T10:22:00.005+10:00

I'm just a little overdue for uploading some snaps from our holiday to Fiji. We had some glorious weather for our week, especially seeing what's been happening at home.

The resort was lovely and the Fijian people very friendly. I would really recommend a trip to this part of the world to unwind and relax. Everyone referred to the time of day as Fiji time. To cut a long story short - their version of being on time is anywhere up to an hour late.

We litterally walked from our room to the sunlounges for a few hours, then up for a shower and some lunch before a bit of a snooze before the happy hour started. Very, very relaxing and exactly what we needed.

A special mention to this fellow. He would only take a few steps before he had to take a rest and would stay in the water for a hour or so each time he ventured down to the ocean. We started calling him Katie's boyfriend.

Travel Album

2010-11-28T15:39:00.005+10:00

Just in case you were thinking I'd been sitting on my laurels, well mostly anyway, I have started my Travel Album.

We've been on some amazing journeys in the last 18 months and with more to come, it was time to start officially capturing our holidays. I had purchased the 4x6 page inserts over a year ago at one of the Craft shows and thought these were great to encase my photos without having to go overboard with 12x12 pages.

This is my opening page and I just love the idea of layering my patterned paper which I have used a different border punch on. I'm so addicted to these border punches... I just can't get enough.

This page I like to say was the start of something grand for DH and I. It was our 25th Anniversary and although we only travelled to Cairns for a long weekend, it was the thought of further travel that fuelled our future desires.

The idea of being able to capture so many snapshots of our travels by using these 4x6 photos was a great idea. Although I'm a digital photographer, I still can't help myself by getting far too many photos printed then not putting them on layouts. It is rather a waste and now I feel that at least they've come to good use.

Stay tuned for some more holiday pages.... they may not happen overnight but they will happen, I promise you.

Just for Me

2010-10-31T15:39:00.009+10:00

You know how it goes, one minute you're in the groove and creating away, then the next, full stop. I've been like this now for far too long and I feel that the pressures of two design teams is playing with my head a little. Not that I don't appreciate the opportunity to create for both Scrappit and Scrapapple but sometimes you don't seem to be doing anything just for yourself.

So, I've stepped back and decided to take a bit of me time to create when I feel like it and to enjoy the process of using those paper lines that I have collected over the months.

Here it is, finally a page that makes me happy to just create.

This image was from a holiday last year to Norfolk Island and the photo is one of my favourites. With both DH & DD sharing a cozy moment whilst waiting for others to join our bus tour.

Scrapapple October Project

2010-10-17T10:41:00.005+10:00

I had a couple of ranges to complete for this months challenge from Scrapapple. The first was from the new 7 Gypsies range Butterfly and these were some truely beautiful papers. With papers that could suit both male and female layouts, I chose to complete a page on my wonderful husband.

I used the reversed paper side as my background and complimented this with some strips from the bird paper. The birdcage diecut from Tim Holtz also complimented the theme.

To complete I added muted paper flowers, a metal hinge and raffia piece and with a bit of distress inking around the edges, my layout was complete.

This paper range was from the Be Merry Collection from Kaisercraft. My mission was to create a simple layout that could be replicated over and over for similar layouts. It really is so easy to create a simple block style layout and with some machine stitching and sticker phrases, my quick and easy design was done.

Scrappit Pack - October

2010-10-05T10:07:00.001+10:00

Can you believe it's October already?

I'm no sooner back from Hawaii and I've got two lovely Scrappit Packs to create with. The first is from Prima. Although I love patterned paper, I thought I'd make the cardstock the star of the layout this time. I've added a few tags punched from the patterned paper and a strip to hold my tiny flowers to compliment the layout.

If you look closely you'll also noticed I've used a couple of my glimmer sprays on the hearts and the background white cardstock.

The second pack was from My Little Shoebox and the colours were so fun to play with. I decided to follow the theme on the reverse of the blue paper by trimming strips and attaching these to the cream cardstock. They were all tied in with inked edges and a row of machine stitching around the border.

I've used my favourite technique of punching a few shapes, wetting them and scrunching. Leave to dry then assemble them on top of each other for dimension.

ps I even got to use up some of my old rubons that have been gathering dust. Gotta love that.

Hawaii Highlights

2010-10-03T11:39:00.004+10:00

It's time to tantalise you with some quick snaps from our Hawaiin Holiday. I'm working my way through quite a few images and retouching as I go. Just thought I'd share a few images so far.

These photos were taken from our sunset dinner cruise ship. This gorgeous sunset was snapped from the far side of Diamond Head heading back to Wakaki Beach.

This was one of the first images I captured from our balcony overlooking Wakaki Beach. Absolutely breathtaking isn't it?

Scrappit Now Kit - September

2010-10-01T12:57:00.000+10:00

I just love this kit from Scrappit for September. We had some lovely papers from the new Echo Park Paper Company to use and boy were they great.

From some bright and cheery colours to the reverse side with a real vintage feel. This layout took me back to my youth with a great photo of my brother dressed as a scarecrow for our school fancy dress and of course the washing on the old clothes line in the background. Very 60's hey.

I love the idea of creating a keepsake to hold my DD's birth cards and this is a great idea. Using strong chipboard, cover and embellish to suit your theme. The size will depend on the largest item you want to include inside.

And, finally a sketch page to complete my three items. I just love this photo of my three children taken while we were on our cruise last Christmas. Finally a photo where they actually look like they are enjoying each others company.

100 Creativity Starters

2010-09-28T16:29:00.000+10:00

This weeks challenge was to combine patterned papers that are all the same theme eg dots, flowers etc. I had a range of Dream Street papers I hadn't played with yet and low and behold they were similar with the dot or circle background.

I've actually reused a design I did previously for Scrapapple entitled She Is.... I really loved the simplicity of the small photos raised on paper to create a photo strip. The Scrapware Gates were added to represent the old gates of the Port Arthur prison.

100 Creativity Starters

2010-09-07T15:37:00.000+10:00

Our challenge this week was to paint the edges of your photo for a handmade, artistic frame. Me being not that arty when it comes to paint, chose to use a digital brush to frame my photo. Not that I'm a whiz in Photoshop but I did manage to create this image and I'm pretty chuffed to say the least.

These papers were so pretty to use from We R Memory Keepers that I really didn't have to do much to my layout but add a few minor touches and it was complete.

Scrappit Pack - September

2010-08-31T13:46:00.000+10:00

September's Scrappit Pack had some really bright and summery papers from the Sweet Summertime range from Crystal Wilkerson. I really loved the idea of fussy cutting the clouds from the reverse and adding these flat and raised for some dimension to the layout. I'm really into doodling on my pages too and surrounded all the edges with a bit of a squiggle.

100 Creativity Starters

2010-08-24T10:18:00.000+10:00

I know, don't fall over but I've actually done two weeks in a row now with this challenge. This week we had to choose one colour and create a layout where every element is in that colour family.

I had this fabulous photo from the sixties when we arrived in Australia and headed to our first beach - Margate just out of Brisbane. Well, these days you wouldn't call it a beach as such but we thought it was great.

We couldn't work out where all the people were though until it came to us that it was August and Queenslander's call this beautiful weather winter and too cold to swim. Not for someone who just came from cold climated England, get a load of those lily white bodies. Oh, and if you look really carefully you can see my Dad wearing socks and sandals, his favourite.

ps. that's me on my Dad's lap too.

100 Creativity Starters

2010-08-17T10:10:00.000+10:00

This weeks challenge was to journal about an available theme. Well, I know you're all going to say, well she got herself into this then she has to scrapbook the vast array of photos from our recent holidays.

We've taken something like nine vacations over the last 18mths and the photos are really starting to stack up - so you see it was a no brainer as to what I had to scrap. That, and the fact my DD has totally shut down any prospects of any more photo sessions with her in them.

Anyway, on to the photos. I didn't do a lot of journaling, in fact none at all. The photos really do say it all from the crazy looking moss covered concrete head to the gnarly looking roots and the handwriting all over the tree trunk.

This is one of the most spectacular gardens we have ever visited and loved every minute including the persistent light rain that fell.

Scrapapple August Project

2010-08-12T17:40:00.000+10:00

Now this August pack from Scrapapple was a doosy. With two new ranges from Kaisercraft + rubons + clear stamps, I certainly had a huge range to choose from.

This layout would have to be one of my all time favourites and I just love the idea of using repeated photos in a small size on a layout. The papers from the Hippy Girl Collection were so much fun to use and the ideas were just popping from my head.

From the images below you can see I fussy cut quite a few flowers from the specialty paper and used these to pop from the page with layering of chipboard behind them. I really do prefer this to pop dots as it helps to keep the item from squashing when you put the layout in your album.

With so many left overs I created a couple of simple cards. On the first card I used the last of the fussy cut flowers and layered these on the bottom of my card. To add a little extra I did a couple rows of simple stitching and finished off with a rub on and a die cut butterfly.

The second collection was the Secret Bird Society paper range. Again I like to start by layering my papers but to add to the vintage feel I distressed the papers edges and machine stitched them to my layout. A paper doily was used in the background and with some journaling on tags and a few rubons, my layout was complete.

To complete my pack I created a couple of cards. One for my husband for fathers day and the other for a simple message to a good friend. You have to remember that simple cards can be just as effective as a more intricate design.

Scrapapple July Project

2010-08-09T17:32:00.005+10:00

I know I'm a bit late with my July project from Scrapapple, but hey these things happen. The ladies sent me these really lovely papers from Teresa Collins Chic Bebe Boy range and they were so clean and crisp to use.

Well my two little boys are now 22 & 24 (not so little anymore) so I had to go back a few years to find some age appropriate photos. Here my little fellow ranges from 6-8 and by changing the photos to b&w made it much easier to combine the papers.

You may not be able to see too clearly but there are stitches about 2" long running around the outer edge of the page. I also wrote a bit of journaling and attached this to a tag that can be removed. (it's the one with the clock face & pearl attached).

I'm using up some scraps these days and making cards with the left overs. I was pretty happy to use up a die cut label I had for some time. I bought a couple of flower punches just the other day and loved the idea of curling the petals and layering them on top of each other. So easy to finish this off with a button centre.

Scrappit Pack - August

2010-08-03T09:57:00.001+10:00

This colourful pack was from Basic Grey's new Olivia range and the patterns were just gorgeous, as usual.

I decided to use the green cardstock as my backing piece and everything just flowed from there including this picture I had taken of this little fellow who we saw attached to a shop window whilst we were strolling through Cairns last year.

He really was the tiniest little tree frog I had seen.

100 Creativity Starters

2010-08-02T10:48:00.000+10:00

This layout comes from a few years back when we took a ferry ride up and down the Brisbane River.

I took some silly photos of my DD sitting on the backseat of the ferry and enjoying the sunshine and ride.

Our challenge this week was to round one or more corners of a photo for a softer look. The strip of photos on the top row have had two of their corners rounded and grouped in twos.

Scrapware Chipboard Frames

2010-08-01T09:40:00.005+10:00

The lovely ladies from Scrapapple sent these gorgeous little frames from Scrapware for the DT to play with.

The frames come three designs per pack and contain a solid backing piece, outer frame and centre piece.

With this design I inked the backing piece with white ink and embossed. The outer frame and centre piece I chose to keep as one and inked in black and embossed. There were then layered together before adding to my card front.

On this card I chose to ink each piece in a different coloured ink and embossed. The three colours really compliment this card I made for a member of my family.

Scrappit Now Kit - July

2010-07-25T14:07:00.000+10:00

This months kit and I had some beautiful papers from Melissa Francis to play with. I just love the look of the soft muted and aged look and they were ideal to create a couple of layouts using images from my childhood and a cute little keepsake box for all my goodies. To complete the pack I used the left over pieces to create a range of mini cards for my family birth dates.

My first layout and I used a lot of inking and a few fabric patches to use on my background cardstock. I then created my journaling in a black text box on my computer and changed my font to white. I then printed this out and cut in strips for my layout.

The rubon flourishes were added directly to the fabric patches. some of the rubons peeled off but I didn't mind as this added to the texture of the layout.

Next, I created a little keepsake box. I used a prebought paper mache box as my starter and cover the lid and sides with cardstock and paper. I used my Spellbinder Nestablilities labels to create the image on the lid and inked all sides. The lid was complete with several flowers, leaves, stick pin, stems, ribbon and gems. To finish the box I attached a fringe to the lid side to hang over the edges.

I created a range of mini cards for my family based on a pack of small envelopes I had purchased some time ago.

All the cards have the same theme; base card, matted patterned paper, ribbon, die cuts, flourishes and dry embossing. These will certainly come in handy for their next birthdays.

ps Don't think cards have to be made in the usual format. Smaller versions are ideal to use up scraps and only take half the time to make.

I actually had enough left over pieces to create another layout. Here I distressed and inked all edges of the cardstock and paper. Layered each piece over each other then machine stitched all edges. The mini chipboard tags were attached together with double sided tape then painted in a co ordinating colour. I used these as a base for my title.

The green flower was cut from the flowered diecut paper and overlapped three times to create depth. I curled the edges to add more definition.

100 Creativity Starters

2010-07-20T14:02:00.000+10:00

This weeks challenge was to moisten a paper accent, crinkle it, open it up and let it dry with an updated look. Perfect for creating my own little flower accents. Always good to use double sided paper to give under the petals a little extra oomph.

100 Creativity Starters

2010-07-13T14:26:00.000+10:00

This weeks challenge was to journal a random date between 2005 - 2008. I went backwards to find this layout from my DD's first day of grade 5 (2007). It was published in that year for a journaling article in SM magazine.

I know I cheated a little by using an old layout but I'm really struggling with my mojo atm and thought this was better than missing another week. Hope you don't mind....

July Scrappit Pack

2010-07-01T11:21:00.000+10:00

This months Scrappit Pack has the fabulous papers from Bo Bunny's Back to Basics range. You just got to love the colours that Bo Bunny produce and these are no exception.

Also included in the kit were three wire clips and two small chipboard flourishes. I added the white cardstock background but there is definitely enough goodies in the pack to make a couple of layouts.

I just love the mags from Scrapbooking Trends (both UK and US) and couldn't help but scraplift this one from the cover of the UK Spring publication. The idea of creating a background of punched squares of the double sided papers was too good to pass up. Of course I added by own little touch with the fussy cutting and painted chipboard piece.

100 Creativity Starters

2010-06-29T10:25:00.000+10:00

This weeks challenge was to add a photo frame inside your photo. This was a bit of a no brainer for me. I just love the use of rubons for frame work and used this rough and squiggly design to frame not only my photo but the paper also.

Writing helps

2010-06-27T10:12:00.006+10:00

Sometimes when the world just seems to be getting on top of me, I type. Yes that's the answer for me, typing. For someone who loathed English with a passion at school, here I am writing to express my feelings. Here's a small extract from this weekend. I'm sitting and dwelling in sorrow during my grumpiness and thought it best to put everything in writing. It really does seem to clear my head and get me thinking more clearly.

Well, what can I say, I've had another one of those days. Umm, come to think of it, I've had one of those months. I just can't seem to do anything right in the eyes of my daughter. I know, you'll say, but she's a teenager, no one is supposed to do anything right.

I decided to take a few days of work to spend with her during the first week of her school holidays. On Wednesday afternoon I booked her in for her hair appointment. Some $150 odd dollars later and she was all smiles and thankfulness. Until, I asked to take some photos of her. Selfish I know but I didn't think that was going to be the end of the world and at least she would have a record of her new style.

Even after explaining how I felt, she still didn't let me take a single photo. Well that ends my Wednesday. Feeling so used but she got what she wanted.....

I wouldn't give you the whole detail as it really is something for me and no one else but suffice to say, there is substantially more in my rantings. For the sake of my family it's best to keep the nitty gritty to myself.....I'm sure you'll understand.

Scrappit Now Kit - June

2010-06-20T16:26:00.000+10:00

In this months kit, I received a colourful selection of Kaisercraft papers from the Jungle Bug Collection. The pinks were gorgeous and really complimented the birthday photo I had of Katelyn.

I created a simple layering of journaling and chipboard tags to create a grouping to the bottom right of the photo. I also created a fabric flower to back my Prima flower on the page.

Thread a small strip of paper through the holes in the edge of the paper for added dimension.

To create the fabric flower, cut a strip of fabric, fold over and tack a row of stitching on the edge.

Pull the top thread only from both ends to bunch the fabric. Sew the edges together and sit to the back of a prebought silk or paper flower.

Create smaller flowers and attach a button in the centre. Thread floss through and tie in a pretty bow.

Scrapbooking doesn't always have to be complicated and intricate. A few simple embellishments to a frame can create an extra special picture.

Here I have added a pearl flourish, paper strips, rubons, fussy cut leaves and birds and my mini fabric flowers from above. These can be added straight over the glass in your frame.

A mountain/valley folded album was a perfect solution to hold a snapshot of memories for our 2009 excursions. By cutting four pieces of cardstock 14 x 28cm and folding each in half, I was able to attach the second page over the first to create a concertina album.

By adding simple embellishments like machine stitching, journaling labels, rubons, fussy cut flowers and leaves from the patterned paper, each page has a little something extra.

An index page is always good to describe each page especially when using 5x7 photos.

Some closeups for you.

100 Creativity Starters

2010-06-15T15:38:00.000+10:00

This weeks challenge and we had to use the proverbial killer to a clean table, glitter. I chose to use glitter glue and add dabs to the edges of the flowers around my photo. Subtle and not too messy. Unfortunately it doesn't show up to well in these photos but it is there.