HELLO 2014

Another year over which was filled with enormous personal challenges, I had to make difficult decisions that I was not ready to make.  I took a huge step and made the tough decisions - I am positive that 2014 will bring positive results from these decisions.  I am truly blessed with close family and close friends who are family to have held me up during these times.  Heartfelt thanks to my angels - you know who you are ...................
From a creative viewpoint I have achieved something I feel is amazing - I entered the Scrapbooking Memories Masters Competition during an extremely stressful time in my life, I had been hospitalised, we were in the throes of moving house, and many more stresses at the time.   My dear friend Ebony supported my entry and kept me motivated to finish it and to mail it off.   I was awarded an Honourable Mention for one of my projects that I submitted.  I was thrilled when I found out!   The first time I had ever entered the Masters competition and I received an HM!

I usually choose a word or a word usually chooses me for the New Year, but I have struggled to decide on 2014 word.
I have chosen my word for 2014 -

OPEN
I need to be open to new ways of thinking in 2014 in a myriad of areas in my life.  

OPEN is my word for 2014
I would love to hear inspirational word for 2014............

MOLOSSI GIVEAWAY ON THE BLOG

  Apart from all the amazing inspirational projects, I am giving away a Molossi product pack !!   what are you waiting for?  www.molossidesigns.blogspot.com check it out!!

OCTOBER CHALLENGE AT SASSY SCRAPPERS!

    I am trying to enter challenges I have not entered previously - so over at Sassy Scrappers it is "scraplift a DT" for October challenge! I decided to scraplift a scraplift of Leonie's!!  Leonie created a gorgeous layout for the beautiful Lisa Oxley of her two daughters : then Leonie scraplifted herself as she liked the design of the layout! So here is my scraplift of Leonie's layout!!  

     

   

FIRST TIME ENTERING THIS SKETCH CHALLENGE!

I have always looked at this challenge sketch site and oohhed and aaahhhed over the talent ! I thought the recent sketch was interesting so I tried it and here it is! Firstly here is the sketch

OK here is my sample!

  Some close ups : I used washi, texture paste, olive paint, fine black wire(inspiration from the lovely Lou Nelson), cream board (channeling Louise Nelson)xx    

 

   

MORE LAYOUTS TO SHARE!!

  Now I have my own "studio", I am starting to scrap some old photos! this layout was taken at the Werribee Zoo   My cherubs looked sooooo young!

 

I used Faber Castell Gelatos watered down, texture paste and Simple Stories alphas!

The next layout I have to share is one of my funny sisters Dee and Mia!

 

  I have been using feathers on my layout again lately and love the effect!!  I have used the following : Faber Castell Gelatos, sewing thread, staples, Monte Marte modelling paste, feathers, Simple Stories Vintage Bliss alphas, Studio Calico kraft polaroid frame.      

My Stuck Sketch for October!

     

 

I used A Lil Somethin book pages doilies, Molossi paper flowers,Black Cardstock, Mont Marte Modelling Paste, Prima Tal Dmask Quick Dry Chalk Ink, Heidi Swapp Color Shine Mustard, Amy Tangerine Sketchbook paper, Pilot Black Permaball pen, Simple Stories Vintage Bliss Stickers and alphas, staples.

 

 

 

 

 

 



MORE LAYOUTS TO SHARE!!

This layout is a challenge I created for a challenge at the Heidi Swapp make pretty stuff down under page at FB!  

 

I used Heidi Swapp mask, Heidi Swapp Color Shine Mustard, Dylusions Lemon Zest, Dylusions Calypso Teal, Authentique type alphas, American Craft foam alphas, Butterflies from $2 shop.

 

           

MY OCTOBER WHITE WITH ONE LAYOUT

  Hi there, I am back with my White with One October layout!  This month is WATERMELON and white! For my background I mixed a few mists to create a watermelon  colour and used a fat round sponge on a handle to form the circles.  I then went over the circles randomly with texture paste.  

 

           

MORE LAYOUTS TO SHARE

Some more layouts coming from my new "studio"!!!!!  The mojo has returned!!

 

   

For this layout of Mia I decided to try a watercolour background using Faber Castell Gelatos, water and baby wipes.  I love the effect on the patterned paper!  I have written a note to Mia and hidden it behind the photo.

 

I used an old photo taken of three children of scrappers!  Leonie Neal-Dawson's daughter Maggie, my youngest daughter Ella and Kerry Murray's daughter Michaela taken at Eastern Beach in Geelong a few years ago.

 

I used part of APieceofCakeDesigns mini kit, Crafters Workshop brick stencil, Black paint by Derivan from Molossi, Luggage tag I coloured with Dylusions Mists, Imagine stamp by Kaisercraft and Ranger black ink, Faber Castell gelatos, enamel dots.

For this next layout I used Faber Castell Gelatos and baby wipes to blend, Technique Tuesday small cirle stamps, Ranger ink, enamel dots, washi tape, "good times" vinyl embellishment (old from my stash)

 

MY WHITE WITH ONE LAYOUT

I had fun with this one - detailing the afternoon tea with Julie Goodwin who was the first Masterchef Australia! The theme this month at WW1 is white (of course!) and pistachio I used antique silk thread, Studio Calico veneer hearts, Freckled Fawn frame, white crochet cotton,flower from my stash.      

 

 

 

 

      I am enjoying having my own space to scrap in - the difference from quickly having to pack up half finished projects to leaving them out to continue working on is amazing!   I find I am able to create backgrounds and leave them to dry in my space.  This is one of those backgrounds I turned into a layout featuring Ella when she was 3!!    

 

   

    Products I used: APieceofCakeDesigns mini kit, Pan Pastel, Mont Marte Modelling Paste,Yellow Cardstock from APieceofCakeDesigns, Studio Calico veneer stars, FlutterbyDesigns star flair,staples,Tim Holtz film strip,red wire,Smash black pen,chipboard heart (old from my stash), 3 rub on (old from stash),enamel dots.  

        Hi everyone!   Life certainly throws some curve balls that we have to stretch, change our attitudes and turn in different directions! This is me at the moment : not knowing which way to catch these balls, but I am forging forward.. These curve balls just appear to remind us not to rest on our laurels but to give each and every opportunity a try......            

LONG TIME NO BLOG......

      Wow where has this year disappeared to?  Phew in the past 4 weeks we have: packed up one house, moved to a bigger home on 1/4 acre with uninterrupted views, complete with a large scrapbooking room which I am still in the process of organising, hubby has retired from his job after 33 years service, just a bit going on in our lives!!  Oh and I had the opportunity to see PINK not only once, but TWICE in Melbourne !!!  Wow one amazing woman!

Just after we had moved in, being knee deep in boxes I journed to The Hunter Valley to attend my second Mojo Retreat - travelling with my beautiful Ebony, we took off for a fun, relaxing, creative 4 day

I have been busy working on DT goodies for Molossi  - when I received a shadow box with my DT monthly box of goodies, I thought I would keep the design simple, and use it as an interchangeable home décor piece - for either 9x9 layouts or photos!
Products I used:  Molossi shadow box, Derivan black paint - Molossi, Pritt Gel Glue, Fabric Flowers from Molossi, Mont Marte modelling paste.

 

The next little project from Molossi is this altered letter

 

 

I had fun altering this letter "Y"!  I used black and white chevron washi tape, Tiny Koala Craft paper roses from Molossi, black and white twine, and words cut from patterned paper.                        

MY RECENT LAYOUT USING MOLSSI PRODUCTS

    I just love receiving my Molossi Design Team goodies each month - here is a layout I completed with the gorgeous goodies Molossi Products: Pink Cardstock Pale pink and black spotty flower Black dimantes Helmar 450 Glue Black Cardstock   Non Molossi Products Fine Black Ribbon from Spotlight Studio Calico 12x12 star vellum         I love how the pink carstock shows through the vellum! Thanks for visiting - you can see other projects from the DT at Molossi here!!        

ELLA GETTING CREATIVE ON A SUNDAY!

Last week Ella asked me to take her to Spotlight for her to use her own money to purchase some fabric paints for a project she wanted to complete! Off we went, got our supplies (we would have been home sooner Mama but you stood talking about craft to a lady!!!)  I love this hobby networking and assisting others in their craft is great and women do it so well!! Armed with her products, we set off home to begin : now Ella is a creative little lady  : Singing, Guitar, Piano, Gymnastics, Art ! I set about doing some cooking while ELla set up her space at the table for her creation. Here are some pics - I was so proud of the finished product! What do you peeps think??

Ella's galaxy tee shirt - looks fabulous  - a great way to spend a Sunday afternoon!

                         

MY LATEST PROJECT FROM MOLOSSI DESIGNS!!

    When I opened my DT kit this month, my head was spinning with ideas!

I am renaming this gorgeous Molossi MDF tree The Tree of Love, or The Tree of Hearts!!!

Products used : from Molossi: The Love Tree: Derivan Matisse Transparent Gesso

Student fine art white paint by Global

Student fine art red paint by Global

Modelling Paste

Chroma Student Arcylic paint in Magenta

Tim Holtz typewriter words

 

These trees can be used in many ways: paint them pink or blue and use them for guests to sign for Baby’s First Birthday!

They can also be painted white for wedding table centrepieces – or as “money trees at a wedding”

They would also make an amazing 21^st present painted in the fave colour of the birthday boy or girl

They would also be fabulous for a Christening, Baby Shower, Mother’s Day Present – the list is endless!

 

I am going to mix media the tree and show you how easy it is to make it look a little different!!

I mixed some Derivan Matisee Transparent Gesso Pastel Primer with some white Student paint and gave the tree 2 coats of this mixture : remember to paint both sides!

Next I mixed some Global Student impasto paint in red with some Global white and made a pretty pink colour.  I coated the tree twice in this colour.

Next I took my old favourite some modelling paste and mixed it with some bright pink paint.

I dabbed this mixture all over my Love Tree and left it to dry.

I love the effect : it looks like floaty fairy floss! By using the Modelling Paste it has given the tree depth and of course my favourite word texture!

Next I took Tim Holtz typewriter positive words and randomly placed them over the tree on both sides.

Next I used some very fine white craft ribbon and tied bows on either side of the tree, again  randomly.

I imagine this tree to be the centrepiece of a lolly buffet at a Birthday Party for a baby Girl turning 1!

What a beautiful keepsake for years to come.