Inspire and Chistmas...

Here is a digi-layout that I created about a week ago. I love sitting in the lounge with my trusty laptop on my knee, creating these fun layouts using PSe. I'm particularly proud of the arrow on this layout. I used a standard one from Word, but I then rubbed out some of its fill and transformed it a bit. I am really surprised at all the great stuff that I am able to do on PS!! There really are no limits.

And so this is Christmas....

Well after a flying visit to Sydney for my nephew's wedding over the weekend, we arrived back to clean the place up, buy the last minute Chrissy gifts, and begin to welcome our visitors. Scrapbooking has certainly taken a back seat. I managed to get a couple of cards made for mum but I havent even downloaded the pics yet, I will post them shortly.

Heaps of wedding photos from the weekend too, DS5 is really becoming a keen photographer, he took over 180 photos at the reception! I am yet to sift through them.

Well I am off to play Santa and fill some stockings .

till next time,

Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night.

Playing in Photoshop Elements

Here is my first attempt at a 'paper cut' image using Pse. I've found this fantastic book called 'Art & Design in Photoshop' by Steve Caplin. It has clear, easy to follow step-by-step instructions.

Here are the before and after shots of a piece I worked on last night. I'm pretty chuffed for a first attempt.

cheers

G

Digitally Creative

Here is a layout I completed for Scrapability Sketches during the week. I am really enjoying playing with PhotoShop Elements. I am getting layouts done so much faster this way. I know that I dont have the tactile product at the end, but I think I will get them printed into a PhotoBook eventually. Hope you like it,
Grace

Approved by James

Here is another of my entries in the Scrapability Sketches Scrap the Scraps competition. I was in a mad rush to upload the image in time, and actually uploaded it on the SS site before adding my stitching and shinny bits, which I think finish it off nicely. DS5 tried his first 'Coke Spider' while we were at Soveriegn Hill in Ballarat, Victoria - and it definetly got the thumbs up !!

Challenging weekend.

This weekend I had two challenges to complete for the Scrapability Sketches - Scrap the Scraps competition. Talk about working under tight time restraints!!! After a very hectic week at school I only realised on Friday that the 2 layouts had to be up by midnight Saturday, it was all systems go!!! Here is the first one I completed, based on Bec's sketch #3. I'll upload the other one later, after I add the finishing touches to it, just a few more stitches....

Not a person in sight.......

Well scrapping photos of bushfires, while swelting in this heat seems quiet fitting. We reached nearly 40 degrees in Ipswich today, thank goodness the schools up here have air-conditioning!! I believe we are in for more of this weather for the rest of the week too, imagine what summer is going to be like!!

Here are my layouts for the November Sketches at Scrapability Sketches. Bec loves to really stretch our talents with her funky, hand drawn sketches and she came up with two great challenges for November. I didn't conciously create 'non-people' layouts this month. But dust storms, bushfires and exceptional architecture made some great focal points to base my layouts on.

I hope you like them,

Aussie Pub Calls - November Sketch

My Guys

Here is my take on the Aussie Pub Calls/Roadmaps sketch for November. Sine has done a great job with this sketch, I love the simplicity of it which has allowed me to add my own personal touches - dont you just love the squiggly arrows by Buzz and Bloom :)

My Weekends Effort

I Guess That's Why They Call It The Blues.

This started out life as a layout for the Arty Pants Challenge, but I didn't finish it in time to upload. The task was to creat a layout using 'something old, something new, something borrowed and something blue". To me the word 'blue' stuck in my mind, and the old Elton John song that means so much to me. The rest of the page is made up of quotes and emphemera that are significant to me on a personal level.

Here is a layout I created using some photos from our Fort Lytton trip earlier in the year. I loved playing with PhotoShop on these pics. The weathered walls were a great background for the boys to pose against.

The grungy look was enhanced by dropping the saturation of the images to create black and white prints.

More Males!!!

This layout shows two more of the males that I live with - Kipper and Tux. They are just starting to loose their silly puppy ways and become as sensible as two border collie x blue heelers can be!

Back from the holidays...

Wooli beach, just beautiful

Well sadly the school holidays are over, and it's back to work.

Our time down at Wooli was wonderfully relaxing, refreshing and re-energising.

It was great having all the boys together, even tho it was only for one night. The three older boys conquered the giant sand dunes - checkout the layout below. There was plenty of fishing, swimming, body surfing and relaxing ... just how a holiday should be.

Unfortuanetly, being hemmed in by a bushfire did mean that my whale watching intentions didn't materialize as often as I would've liked. Between smoke and dust storms vision was practically zero for a couple of days, but I did managed to get some lovely 'me' time on the hill with my telescope, and some great bushfire photos!

PhotoShop Playtime...

This gorgeous little man is my great nephew ... dont you just love those eyes!!
I was having a play on PhotoShop Elements the other night and this was the result. Thought I would show it off for all to see. The original photo was very dark, and had shadows around his eyes, I edited the pic by adjusting the lighting and colour, and then applied some great grungy brushes.
Hope you like it
g

In Control

Here is my latest creation for the Aussie Pub Calls September sketch. My initial plan for this sketch was all feminine, strips of lace and shabby-chic fabric, but one look through my photos reminded me that 'girly' is not in my forte - something that comes with having 5 boys I guess.
This is a pic of my youngest son taken on our road trip to Victoria last year. The title really comes from the fact that I want him to be 'in control' of his life. I have always taught my boys to be very self reliant and I love to see them 'drive' their own life.
On this layout I have used a variety of Basic Grey paper, old book pages, some hand stitching, ribbon and rub ons.
Hope you like it,
cheers
G

Isn't he gorgeous!

OFF FOR PUBLICATON

This is a lovely bright layout that I completed for the Scrapability Sketches August sketch. I just love these photos of my beautiful niece and her darling son. The pic was taken on Mother's Day and as you can see she is so in love with her little man. The full title is "You make my life so very happy" .I've got the old song in my head and I dont have a clue who sang it :)
Thanks for looking,
G

Pretty in Pink

Here is a lovely little card I created based on the August sketch at Scrapability Sketches. To make the sketch even more challenging the beautiful Becky set a challenge to include buttons, ribbons, a cute animal image, flowers and cardboard. The sketch was actually for a 12x12 scrap page but I wanted to just challenge myself a little bit further. Now I just have to find someone with a pink baby to send this too :)

I've been spotted!!!

The lovely Shazz at ScrapLounge- The blog has 'spotted' this layout of mine in the 'What caught my eye" section. I am so chuffed to have one of my layouts feature on this fantastic blog. Shazz has written up a wonderfully flattering bio about me, and also has revealed some of my scrapping secrets and late night tendencies! Why not pop over and have a look @ ScrapLounge - The Blog

Fort Lytton

We took the guys out to Fort Lytton yesterday. This historic national park is located at the mouth of the Brisbane River. The b0ys had a great time investigating the old fort, climbing through the buildings that have been restored, and checking out all the guns and canons that are there.

Lots of photos taken ! When I get my PhotoShop Elements fixed I will have a play with them and share some. The old walls make great backdrops for photos!

All aboard .... my creative journey continues....

Art journals. I've been researching them online and in some gorgeous books lately. And I have decided that I need to travel along this path. While I still love my scrapbooking, I feel the need to expand my creativity, break through some self-imposed barriers, and basically get all the creative juices out of my head and onto paper.
It's going to be messy - both physically and mentally, but I feel it is where I need to be atm. I see collage, altered books, stamps, masking tape. Indispersed with some of my poems, writings, quotes and basic ramblings of the mind.
I cant wait to start this journey and share it with you. Who knows where I will end up ?
But I do know it is going to be fun.
Onwards and upwards I say.
G

Time to scrap.

Well I have managed to actually get a couple of layouts done in the past week. This working 3 days a week is really working for me! These layouts are for a couple of Design Teams I am on.

'Just me' is for the Aussie Pub Calls / Roadmaps August sketch. This is the second layout I have created about myself in the last couple of weeks, which is really unusual for me. I am sure that getting my tattoo done earlier this month my sense of self worth has increased - I cant explain why, but it's just a feeling I have.

Just me

The next two layouts are based on the July and August sketches over at Scrapability Sketches. You really should go and check these sites out ladies, they have some great competions for scrappers of all skills.

Wild Boyz

Addicted to Ink

On the cards....

Here are a couple of cards that I made recently. I'm finding that I am making more and more cards lately. They are faster to complete than a full page layout - though I even procrastinate over a 6' x 4' rectangle for ages sometimes .... LOL.

This is a great way to use all those scraps. Scraps of paper, ribbon, chipboard, buttons, basically anything goes on a card, and there are no photos to try to co-ordinate with. I think card making is just the right thing for me, well for the moment anyway.

cheers

Inked and lovin' it!!

It's only taken 3 years scrapping, but today I finally made a layout about me! It's called 'Inked and lovin' it!" . I am so happy with my tat, in a way it has empowered me to have a more positive outlook (and in-look) on personal stuff. Luckily DH seems to have come around and appears to accept it too, not that he is really seeing it, it's definetly long sleeve weather at the moment!

This layout was one of the challenges on the ArtyPants site. My criteria was purple lettering, scalloped edge and newspaper, which I used to show the date that my tattoo was done. Hope you like it.

Aum mani padme um .....in ink that is :)

Well here it is, my first tattoo - and after the woozy feeling I had it will probably be my last, but who knows? To be honest it didn't hurt too much once I got in the right frame of mind. Having the image on paper in front of me to focus on, while silently repeating the chant, really helped remove me from the pain. I know that I am going to be asked to justify it, but to me it was just the right thing to do - as simple as that.

Sweet Boy - Layout

Isn't he beautiful? This is my great nephew, so I guess that makes me a great aunt - well I always knew I was pretty good at this aunty thing :) I have used a range of K&Company papers, buttons, hand sewing and a lovely big yellow flower. The stars were cut using my Craft Robo (which I dont use half as much as I should!). Hope you like it.

Artist Trading Cards

Here are a couple of ATCs which I made from a deck of playing cards. Firstly I coated the cards lightly in gesso. I still wanted the card markings and background to show through so I wasn't to particular with making this an even coat. I then basically collected all my red and black scraps and decorated at random. I printed out little sticky labels with the usual ATC info, and placed these on the back of the cards. Mind you which was front and which was back varied often. I was really happy with how they turned out, and I think their recipients liked them too.

cheers

Up cycle me

Here are a couple of Christmas cards I made using recycled scraps and postage stamps. The card in the centre is definetly my favourite. Behind the stamps I glued a page from an old book , which I tore into a loosely shaped Chrissy tree. Then i just dotted green ink randomly on the background. Add a stamped star and that's it. I love re using items. I am a real bower bird - that's for sure.

AUM

Here is a layout that I just finished for Scrapability Sketches. The photo on the layout isnt that great, but it was the best of a bad lot that I took when I saw the Dalia Lama in Brisbane in 2007. He is such a wonderful man ....

RIP M.J

I'm sitting here showing James how to post onto my blog while we are watching the Michael Jackson special. The boys just saw the full Thriller music clip for the first time!I remember when it was first realesed on TV and watching it for the first time myself. Who knows, hopefully DS will remember the first time he saw it too - sitting on the lounge with mum

Goodbye dear friends ...

Well I packed my cardboard box and walked out of eLearning today.... and ended up sitting at Muffin Break with a yummy quiche & salad, latte and a great book.
I suppose that means that I've opened one of the doors I spoke about in a previous post. I actually had time to spend on me for a change, and I think I might get used to it.
Walking out was difficult, but I am going back for my farewell lunch tomorrow ...and my farewell morning tea next Tuesday .... so I guess I'll have a couple of times to really feel bad about leaving some great friendships behind me.
I just hope that like the special friendships I have been blessed with through scrapping, that distance doesn't prevent the real friendships from continuing.

G

A chance to show my own Scrapability...

I did it!! My application to join the Design Team at Scrapability Sketches was successful!! yippee.... Now I have two scrapping DT commitments- I always feel so much better when I have an excuse to scrap all day :) I love being on sketch DTs, I dont feel restricted by other peoples choice of product, I have the freedom to choose from my own ecclectic stash and I am able to pick someone elses brain for the basic layout - the best of both worlds I reckon. So how about popping over to SS and APC (both have links at the top right of my blog) and seeing what you can do with the gorgeous sketches on these sites.

"She doesn't drink very much - but she sure does have expensive tastes."

Something about Kate

I have a friend at work who is crazy about her little red mini. The mini's name is Kate. For my friends birthday recently I bought one of these lovely little Kaisercraft mini albums (so appropiately named) and decorated it in Kate's true colours. I left spaces for my friend to place her photos, and included some quotes that she often says about her little girl. I am thrilled with how it turned out!! and so was she...

A new door opens...

A gd friend sent me a text yesterday ..." When one door closes, another door opens, keep moving through the door - but be careful of doors that are opened for you" It was a much needed wake up call, as i had just been informed that my contract at work wasn't being renewed after June 30th, and that I would have to go back to the classroom. I know it means i get school holidays again, and I am working closer to home, and the boys won't have to spend so much time at OHSC, and I am only working 3 days a week, so I'll have more time for me .... but I am going to miss the friends I have made and the work that I do.
But like he says, when one door closes and others open ..... I see myself going for walks, I see myself keeping the house more organised, I see myself ironing in front of the TV so DH doesnt have to do it on a Sunday night, I see myself writing articles to submit to mags ...

So yes i have to leave my comfort zone and shut one door, but I am going to choose a couple of doors to open for myself!

Scrapbooking Expo - Photography workshop

Kipper
Hi there, today I had the pleasure of attending a basic photography workshop by the lovely ladies at Point, Shoot, Play. It was great to have time to play with my camera, and learn how to use another setting besides AUTO!! The girls had great ideas for getting those perfect shots - some really easy hints on how to set up the composition of photos (like checking out the background!) right through to some great hints on aperature and shutter speed - which i have always found pretty confusing. While I was at the Expo I did do the rounds of the shops; maybe I wasnt in the right frame of mind tho cause I didnt find anything that really grabbed my attention. Seems to be the same ol' same ol'. I did see lots of lovely stamps, which i am getting more 'into' but I still didnt feel I could justify some of the prices - considering I have heaps I dont use enough already. Don'g get me wrong, I'm not losing my inspiration-I just think that I want to be different from the norm and not follow the flock. I think i will find my own way of doing things with what I've got.
Might head back into town tomorrow, as the Lifeline bookfeast is on and I could really go some old book pages and music sheets to rip up and use for background papers.

Heaps of fun for a great cause.

Well I know my update regards the Create for a Cause is a bit late, but what a week it's been! Last Saturday I joined with about 50 ladies at Burpengary and we cropped the day & night away - all in the name of charity (and great fun!). I was so lucky to win the lucky door prize, a lovely notebook holder from Kaisercraft - heaps of filing to be done on that one! I will share a pic when it's completed.
Jump over to the Create for a Cause site to check out the details on the crop, and see just how much $$$ was raised for the Premmie babies.
cheers
G

Create for a Cause

A couple of lovely ladies from North Brisbane are hosting a Crop to raise money for equipment and research into the lives of premature and seriously ill babies through the Perinatal Research Centre (part of the Royal Brisbane Women’s Hospital Foundation).
Its happening on Saturday 30 May 2009 from 11am to 10pm at Old Bay Road Community Arts Hall, Burpengary, Brisbane.
Go and check out their blog at http://create-4acause.blogspot.com/ for details on how you can join in the fun, and help raise money for a great cause at the same time.
I hope to see you there,
G

I'm no FOOL!!!

What a great April Fool's Day - it was announced today that I am on the Design Team for the wonderful Aussie Pub Calls site .... and it wasn't a joke! I am so happy to be part of Sine's wonderful site, and really looking forward to sharing my layouts with everyone. Come on over and have a look at the great offers that are available through the site.

Life goes on and on and on ....

Life seems to be so busy at the moment that unfortuanetly my scrapping, and creative outlet, has taken a back seat. The twins have started playing club sports, so that means twice a week i need to run them around to training. Naturally, they couldn't agree to play the same sport ..oh no, DS4 has gone for soccer (sorry, football) and DS5 is in for AFL. I have no idea where these passions came from, certainly not me ... and we arent close enough to relatives to absorb the inlaws Italian soccer fever, but there we have it. Goodbye to afternoons in front of the telly (as if!) and Saturday morning sleep-ins!
Other news on the front is that work delivered me a pretty yucky blow this week. My secondment isnt going to be renewed after June ...... major downer!!! I am NOT going back to the classroom! so I really need to get something organised over the next couple of months ...all suggestions welcome :)
I guess that's about it at the moment. I apologise for my repetitive slideshow, I really need to upload some more layouts in the near future. That's a great rainy day job , scan...resize...upload...add to slideshow .... you know how it goes. Pity we dont have many rainy days though.
cheers all
G

Well here we are, well and truly in 2009 and this is my first post for the year! How slack is that? Life has been pretty full on this year. DS3 moved out, and I really miss his help with the younger two. It seems so quiet around here with just the four of us in the house. Why is it that by the time we can afford a big house - the older 3 have moved out! We actually have two empty bedrooms ! though I do plan to rearrange things eventually.
Scrapping took a bit of a rest over Christmas as my right arm has some nerve damage that makes it difficult to use for long periods of time, and it really needed a rest. I actually went to a crop and made coffee and read magazines all night !!! It was that bad :( Hopefully a visit to the neurosurgeon this week will see some improvement soon.
Work is busy, the boys love yr 3, DS2 is now 2IC at the bakery, DS1 is writing the last chapter of his novel and DH is still flying around the state - so yeah life is pretty normal as it ever will be.
I will try and upload some new LO's soon. I havent put any of my 2009 efforts up here as yet.
cheers
Grace