Brrrr..but its nice to be home...

It's so cold right now and very wet here - for which we are thankful. Although I love to create, teach and inspire others and all that goes with it like taking my truck and trailer and family all over to bring scrapbooking to rural areas, I do love a few days at home to rest and find time to create and keep house. I'm enjoying time with my kids and trying to get over this flu. I'm also nursing my husband who has a wog of some sort. Men seem to need so much TLC when they are sick...i guess that's why we have to be so strong at times.



I have photos to show of the mini album I made to show to the Condy girls. I actually made the album for Phoebe, for the photos of her 5th birthday party which we are having in September. She has decided on a butterfly theme so I am busily putting together bits and pieces for her party to make it special. We don't have big parties every year but this year is a milestone as she is turning five and will have a party with school friends for the first time. I decorated the felt bag to put the album in by attaching felt butterflies and embroidering a little. It's so cute and she will love it. So here it is...

I am also making a mini travel album which I will finish soon and do some workshops demonstrating construction techniques.


I've been making invitations (for the first time) for my Mum's birthday in August. I kept it very simple and used pre-cut cards that come in a pack and are beautiful colours. I then made a template in Word, the same size as the card and once I had come up with a message I put the cards through the printer, and the envelopes as well. I printed multiple copies of a small photo of my Mum as a child to put in the invitations which had a window. I love how classy they are and easy they were to make. I don't think I'll ever have to buy a card or invitation again now that I can get the desired result by making them myself. I'm stoked.

That's all for today folks. I'm off to Newdegate tomorrow, then Ravensthorpe the day after. I'll hopefully have time on the weekend to do some more creating...til then...adios!

Home Again...

I arrived home on Monday night from Esperance having just had the 2nd annual Condingup Retreat (65km east of Esperance). I was busy last week packing up class kits and ship loads of stock so no time to scrap except for finishing off projects for the retreat. It was a hugely successful weekend all round. I had been prepared enough and hadn't forgotten to do or bring anything major, only minor things. Numbers were down but it gave us an opportunity to get to know each other better and we had many laughs together and of course there was lots of scrapbooking getting done too. The Condy girls put on a feast on Friday night that would have fed 50, but there were only 15 of us! It was a great spread and so were the rest of the meals. It was a bit chilly but we had wood fires burning and endless cuppa's to keep us warm enough to work. I think it was a welcome distraction for the locals who are having a tough season, to say the least.

Can you believe this ditsy die-hard scrapper (me) forgot to take any photos over the weekend? I regret it but hopefully the girls have got some they can share with me to post at a later date. I can show the class layouts I prepared for the weekend now. The girls laid their finished pages out and there ended up being a huge spread of layouts that were very striking and also diverse.

Here are mine...firstly, my quick and easy '10 or more photos to a page' tips...

Then, the Tim Holtz alcohol inks techniques which were messy but amazing...

And then the Making Memories multiple tool class, using grommets, curling tags and metal rims...

I gathered that the girls enjoyed all the layouts as they were well prepared for the classes and steamed through them often completing more than one layout per class. It seems that the ideas sparked their creativity and off they went.

Matt gave me the go-ahead to hold more events like this which is great, to have his support and the passion I have for the art I hope to do more retreats and/or day classes whenever I can.

Thank you to the Condy girls who were amazing hosts, to Rose for giving me a comfortable bed to lay my head, and to all the other girls who helped and attended the retreat...it was so much fun!

I have a few days to recover, then I'm off to Newdegate for classes on Friday and Ravensthorpe on Saturday so I'm repacking and preparing again...loving what I do, having the best job and wonderful friends which make it all the better. I'll be back once I've photographed a handbag and mini album I prepared also for the Condy retreat. Toodle pip!

Whirlwind week...

It's been a bit that way. It started with my brother, Dean and his wife Cassi and the kids, and Cassi's sister, Naomi and her son Alex, all coming to stay for 4 days. It was so nice to spend time with them and have plenty of quality time together. The dreaded lurgy was upon us all unfortunately which meant we had sore heads, sleepless nights and forest loads of tissues. Feeding time at the zoo was full-on too, but I wouldn't have it any other way - this was my opportunity to look after them all.

Then there was the preparation for the Hyden Craftathon...I was told by Lisa B to bring a small amount of stock for the girls to shop from but no - it cant be done - there is too much yummy stuff and who can decide what to leave behind? not me!

Thursday morning, bright and early, packed to the eyeballs and under the weather with a flu I set off to Hyden and joined the girls in a 2 day fundraiser for breast cancer. Lisa B did an amazing job of organising the event...clever girl...and all her hard work paid off with a bit over $1700 being raised for the worthy cause that is close to too many hearts.

On the craft side of things all achieved a great deal and I even got a few pages done and a few started. I ran out of time to print off photos so I used what I had and came up with 2 layouts for my brother, Paul's album and a layout for Jett's album.

Paul's album is a We R Memory Keepers 3 ring album that fits 12 x 12 pages and A4 (8.5 x 11) pages. I had this great photo of Paul engrossed in filling gumboots with sand while my Dad was building. I kept the layout a little vintage looking and fairly simple. I'm yet to put the journaling on as I need to check with my computer (my MUM) the facts surrounding the photo.

And then there's his battle scar photos in this layout...

My son, who I disowned temporarily on this occasion for obvious reasons, turned to me with this face and a mouth full of something - I didn't want to know. I made the layout playful and bright. I love this new range of K and Company 'Rough and Tumble' papers and embellishments. It's so versatile and fun. The pillow type bug stickers are to die for!

So today I am recovering and I need to rest to get over this flu, then I'll unoad and finish preparing for the Condingup retreat which is next weekend. I'm really looking forward to this one. The season is not very good so far for the farmers in the district so the girls need a bit of a good time to take their minds off it.

I'll show sneak peaks of their classes in the coming days. Thanks for looking.

Busy, busy, busy...

I have been creating but cannot show my latest layouts until after the Condingup retreat. I have also been unpacking loads of new stock for upcoming events. I have a few pics to show...

Just in case there was any doubt that I do not carry enough stock, here's some more...

I have this great new product in stock...a Frixion journaling pen that is erasable. This is a revolution I think. I am always having problems with making mistakes with my journaling in critical spots that are hard to cover up. I usually write on a journaling card then have to write 2 or 3 to get it right. Not anymore! It erases really well. You must have one of these babies!

I have the cleaning bug again so I've been hard at it and have dry scaley hands to show for it. I also have a certain Mere Male on my back about getting the books up to date so had to tie myself to the office chair today (in between clean freak moments!) to get the BAS ready. Life can be tricky when one wants to do so many things all at once!

I'm hopefully going to scrap tomorrow - the book work has to wait until I speak to the accountant so that gives me one day...we'll see if it comes about.

Thanks for looking and hope you're all having a great weekend.

A layout to share...

I haven't done a lot of scrapping as I'd hoped because I've been preparing for the Condingup Retreat which is now less than 3 weeks away...AAHHHH! I've got lots of prep to do so I must get back to it. I do have a layout to share though that I squeezed in yesterday. I had designed it in my head so putting it together was quick and I am very happy with the results. I used Karen Foster Designs paper, metal charm and metal letters that I attached with some rope to give it a rustic feel. This is my older brother, Paul, aged 8 and riding in a parade. So here it is...





I should mention that I can make kits up for any of the layouts you see on my blog for any of you who would like one...just leave a comment and I'll make one up for you.

Today I have local scrappers coming so I may get some scrapping done...I hope!


Thanks for looking.

A layout to share...

I have a layout to show you...the one I mentioned in my last post with the unusual colour combination. I love how this came together. I especially love the bright grass green flower and accents that match my dress, and the use of old world papers with white as a contrast. I have kits for this layout and they are the same colours etc. of everything I have used. The kit price is $15 so if you want one leave me a comment, or email me at karendsmith@bordernet.com.au

Here's the layout...

Thanks for looking!

Home again, home again...

I've been away, once again, this time for 24 hours to drive to Esperance to see my brother Dean. He is looking so much better but still pale, thin and very weak which is to be expected. He now has 3 weeks break in Esperance before he is due back in Perth for an appointment to discuss the transplant. So we are getting closer and are relieved that he can have a break to fatten up again and get some fresh air and sunshine.

I'm working on a layout using one of my childhood photos and have come up with a simple layout that I am making kits up for. The colours are unusual so I'm not sure if they will suit anyone out there but they are really nice. I'll show the layout on my next post with a kit price.

I've been cleaning and rearranging today to get me in the mood for some serious scrapping - lets hope it works! I forgot to show photos of the new ranges that have arrived so here they are...We R Memory Keepers White Out range...

And the Basic Grey Euphoria range...

Thanks for looking - hope you have a great weekend.

Layouts to share

I have hardly done any scrapping this week. I am disappointed, however I did manage to finish these 2 layouts that I had previously begun.

The first is of our recent crop checking photos. I used my simple Ten 6" x 4" photos to a page formula but reduced the photos to 5" x 3" and grouped them in the centre, added a paper strip, embelly, title and journaling...too easy! I made it very simple so the photos were the focus.

Next there is my April layout for my calendar (which I'm a little behind on!) and its about a quick break we had as a family. I used Alli Paterson's quick and easy pages formula...getting some mileage out of that one...and it came together really quickly...once again too easy! The hardest part was finding time to do the journaling to finish the page!

I recieved the new Basic Grey Euphoria range of papers this week. They are bright and beautiful and I cant wait to play with them. I also received the new WeR Memory Keepers White Out range of papers and chipboard embellies and some gorgeous snaps that all coordinate. I have a serious problem where I don't get to play with all this new stuff because I get more than I have time to scrap with! Serious...I know. I have stocked up on Scrap FX wordlets and embellies too. And then there's the massive orders arriving soon to stock up for the Craftathon in Hyden on the 17th and 18th of July, and the Condingup Scrapbook Retreat on the 25th - 27th of July. All you girls attending either of these events are in for a treat!

Good news...my brother got out of hospital today after being in there for 4 weeks...YAY! Relieved.