Final sneak peeks...

All the classes for the retreat are now ready and I have the last of the previews to show. The tutors have worked really hard to come up with inspiring and challenging workshops and I am very excited about presenting them all.

Gayle Smith has completed her last class, a single layout using some ranges that are a little different and they have turned out real good. The 'Those Things We Do' preview is now up on Gayle's blog but you can see it here as well...

Also, we are throwing in a bonus workshop for Friday night at the retreat - a 'Photoshop Tutorial' on enhancing photos with digital elements and text. This is an area I have not dabbled in yet so I am looking forward to this one. Here's a plug...

And LAST but definitely not LEAST is the very exciting travel mini album by Sharon Manning. She has come up with an awesome travel journal that you can either take on holidays and record your travels as they happen, or just simply add you photos to a trip you've already done. This album is a custom size and is perfect for 6" x 4" photos, memorabilia and of course...they story. Love it!

That's all the previews now so I am madly putting together the finishing touches to the class requirements and they will be out by email to applicants by the weekend. Bye for now.

Another sneak peek...

Well this is going to be a goody...Gayle's Power Scrapping Workshop is fantastic! She designed 4 layouts to complete in less than 2 hours and came up with a bonus 5th layout. This workshop would be excellent if you had a theme that would take up 4 or 5 pages like part of a holiday. Using just one set of letters, one set of stickers, some paper, cardstock and basic tools for all 5 layouts. Here's a look...

Thats all for now..back with more soon.

Another sneak peek...

I have one of Gayle's sneak peeks. Her first class is a single page layout with handmade paper embellishments. This is Friday afternoons class (new class time slot!)...

As promised I want to show a few samples from my inking techniques class. The first layout is of Matt's Mum (far right) as a child with her parents and siblings. I love how this layout turned out with the inking and then the Tim Holtz metal embellishments - which have been flying out the shop door - and so have these frames which we have tonnes of in store (email scrappinoutback@bigpond.com if you would like one). The second layout is one of my Mums school photos. I am doing my Mum and Dads album in A4 format...love this format.

I have another layout to share soon. Back soon!

Preview...

The October retreat is now only 4 weeks away so I am busily getting things organised for the much awaited event. The tutors have been creating away and have come up with some awesome classes that will inspire all who come, especially those who have lost their mojo and are wishing to get it back.

I can reveal Lis's two classes...'Celebrate' and 'Be Merry'....so here are the sneak peaks - perfect for events where you have tonnes of photos to use....

I can also reveal Sharon's first class - a mixed media class that is so fascinating and full of technique. You cant miss this one even if you're not an 'off the page' kinda gal!

Sharon is also working on a mini travel album/journal that is going to be great. Looking forward to doing this one to document our recent family holiday.

I'll have more sneak peeks to share soon and in the mean time I am preparing class requirements to get out to applicants by the end of this week. If you haven't already sent in your application be sure to do so, so you don't miss out on the requirements. We still have places available.

Be back soon!

I'm Back!

Well overdue for an update so here goes...

I had alot going on in early August with classes and such then on the 10th we flew to the Sunshine Coast in QLD for a wedding and a holiday. It was Matt's brothers wedding, Corban, who married the very beautiful Jaimee. Here's a photo of the bride and groom, and the flower girls of which Phoebe was one of them...she was missing her 2 front teeth...

The wedding was beautiful of course and the first week of our holiday was spent on the lead up to the wedding with Matt's family. Then we celebrated Matt's 30th birthday with his family at the Ettamogah Pub which was loads of fun. Here's the birthday boy.

We spent another 5 days in QLD with amazing sunny weather which was very relaxing. Then it was back to Hyden to catch up with work as well as preparation for Matt's second 30th birthday party. We celebrated it at the Hyden Hotel with 50 friends and had a really special time.

Only a day or 2 later we were off to the Newdegate Field Days where I have a stall each year and we did pretty well, but were exhausted by the time it was over. A day at home then it was Phoebes 6th Birthday so we celebrated that and Fathers Day as a family. Now we are head down and tail up catching up on work again. I'm not complaining about now busy we have been - its great that life is good and we don't have time to get into trouble or slack off!

Since I've been back i have been on to organising the 9th Wave Rock Scrapbooking Retreat which is proving to be popular judging by the amount of applicants we have already. If you have not received a brochure and application form contact me at scrappinoutback@bigpond.com as we have had a few glitches with the group email I sent out a couple of weeks ago.

We have had loads of new stock in recently, especially products for classes at the retreat. It is so yummy! There is too much to show it all but Basic Grey have just released Indian Summer and Eskimo Kisses and we have these ranges in stock. Here are the picks...

I am currently working on classes for next week - a comprehensive look at inking, masks and other techniques. I'll upload photos late next week hopefully of the final layouts. This class series is something I have been wanting to do for a while and I am really long forward to sharing it.

We have quite a bit of new gift ware in store now so if you're ever close by you should pop in and check it out...if you can pry yourself away from the scrapbooking stuff!

ANNOUNCING...

Scrappin’ Outback

is turning 5 and to celebrate presents the 9th

Wave Rock Scrapbooking Retreat

16th - 18th October 2009

Don’t miss this fantastic weekend of fun, creativity and girl time. You will be truly inspired by tutors Lis Cassey, Sharon Manning and Gayle Smith, to sink your teeth into some awesome layouts and projects in the company of other like-minded women. Join us for some laughs, great food and shop at the Scrappin’ Outback onsite shop which boasts a vast range of yummy scrapbook and card making supplies.

Contact Karen Smith on
98805300 or 0427 977 672
Or email scrappinoutback@bigpond.com
to book and for details and prices.

Just a quick one...

to show you a layout I did with the Cricut machine. I cut the circle and flourish in both paper and chipboard (for a 3D effect) and cut the 'Baby' title on the Cricut also with my new favourite cartridge - 'Calligraphy'. I am really pleased with how this layout turned out. I used K & Co Que Serra Serra papers and diecut goldfish...isn't he cute?!

...and here's the cartridge...

I have just come home from Esperance where I taught a class to 25 ladies on Saturday night. The class went really well and I suspect this bunch may be interested in more scrapbooking judging by the amount of fun they had making their class project.

Also on Wednesday and Thursday the introductory classes to the Cricut went well...there were quite a few OOOHHHHs as I was showing a few little tricks I'd learnt on the machine which was a relief because I was wondering if most of my Cricut owners knew more about their machines than I do!

That's all for now. Hopefully I will have more to show this week. Have a great one!

Buzzing...

The classroom has been buzzing this week with our Tuesday night class and social scrapbooking today. Now that school has gone back the girls have come out of the woodwork to scrap and we had a full house today. My shop is in a shopping centre that has a supermarket, butcher, bank, newsagent, chemist and clothing store and the other shop owners commented on how much activity there was in the store today with laughter and chatter going on all day. I am thriving on this as you would imagine - the company especially. We even had a new gal today who has never scrapped before and she was addicted within the hour, as well as a lovely lady all the way from NZ who is staying here for 3 months. She rang before she came to oz to see what the shop was like and what we do - she is now hooked...classic! Love what I do. Here's a pic of Tuesday nights class with the girls looking through eye candy...

I am currently choosing gift ware for the shop in preparation for Fathers Day and of course Christmas which is now only 5 months away and don't you worry, that will go very fast. I have lots of goodies on order - something for everyone. I also have new scrapbook supplies arriving weekly. I got a little of October Afternoon 'Cheery Hill' today and have more coming soon. My mind is buzzing with ideas for using all the new goodies.

I am holding a Cricut clinic in Newdegate next Wednesday and in Hyden next Thursday. You can contact me at scrappinoutback@bigpond.com if you are interested in attending one of these classes. Gayle Smith has designed a layout for the class and its gorgeous! See her blog (in right column) for the layouts. I'm busily getting mine finished...thinks its going to be great - I hope!

That's all for today folks.

More new stuff...

Just thought I'd show a couple of new products I have in stock. Recently this new border punch was released by Fiskars. It's a row of brackets joined together. I LURVE this one! I've used it already on a layout. On this layout I used the new K & Co Que Sera range...

I have been promising to show layouts I've been working on lately so here are a few. Firstly, a layout using Collage Press - 'Sweet Shoppe' paper and some yummy embellishments. This layout took 15 mins on a Friday afternoon - quickest layout I've ever done from scratch. I love it. It's Mothers Day this year and Phoebe took the photos of me!

Then there's this one of Phoebe dancing. I used K & Co 'Mira' papers and embellishments. I love this range and have had it for a while but hadn't got around to using it. So now i have...

And this one of Phoebe on her first day of school this year (at Lake King Primary). I am using a pack of Making Memories papers that are really old for her school album and will mix it up a bit with other ranges. I like the little Grungeboard bus icon that I painted with Distress Crackle Paints, and the EK Sucess punch for the red scalloped circle.

I am enjoying scrapbooking so much and have so many deadlines to meet with scrapbooking commitments i have, but I wouldn't have it any other way...enjoying the journey. Ta Ta.

Happy eofys is over...

That is, I'll be happy when the rigmarole of eofys is over!

What have I been up to? I can tell you I've been a busy gal. I have been continuing on with classes and they are going well. Numbers are getting better and it never ceases to amaze me that just when you think you've roped in every potential scrapbook addict, another one or few come along and get hooked. It's so fun! Gayle's distress techniques classes were popular for oldies and newbies. The gorgeous 'Sweet Shoppe' papers by Collage Press were to die for and very versatile.

I, or should I say Amy, has been busily stock taking away and I'm convinced the total is gonna blow me away as the stock is breeding - growing before our eyes. I am so excited about too many new ranges that we have to have as many of them as my credit card will permit! Some of the new lines i have are;

Basic Greys new Lemonade and June bug...

...a few new ranges from Fancy Pants including Summer Soiree...

...and these babies are back in stock after 11 months!...

I've also been making invitations. Our first commissioned job for invites was for 120 of them with a Hollywood theme. This was no small feat so I called on the very talented Gayle Smith to help me out and she did not disappoint. An amazing gal.

I've been scrapping as well. Here are a few quick and easy layouts I designed using 6 x 4 photos...

and a double page layout with a regular single photo and a 12 x 12 page protector that's divided into six 6x4 sections. Too easy...but that's the whole idea!

I can honestly say that I am the most content I have been in a long time. I LOVE going to work and enjoy it so much. And just for the record the shop is doing very well and we are paying the bills. It's doing far better than I expected..and who would have thought?