Some layouts to share...

These are a couple of layouts i did for my class in Newdegate last week. The first is of my brother Dean go-carting with his little boy Asher...i love the colours in this one and the grungy theme...

Then I used Basic Grey 'Max and Whiskers' papers on this layout of Jett with his bunny Peter who he got for his 4th birthday...does anyone else see a resemblance between Jett and Tinkerbell or is it just me? Is a mother aloud to make a comparison like that? Here's the layout...

That's all for today.

New collections...

Fancy Pants have released 2 new collections 'Like Father Like Son' and 'Wishful Thinking' which are gorgeous! We have them both in stock...here's a preview...

Fancy Pants are releasing 3 other new paper ranges soon too which we will get in as they are also gorgeous! CHA is on now in the US so there will be loads of new releases soon from all our favourite brands - cant wait to see it and get it in my hot little hands. I'm off to play with the new ranges in now...bye for now.

A layout to share...

I have one of my newest layouts to share now...it's taken from a sketch supplied by Aussie Scrap Source - one of my suppliers. I adapted it quite a bit and used My Minds Eye papers 'So Sophie'...I love this photo of Phoebe - which I must admit I am guilty of not taking many photos at the moment!

I'll be back with more layouts to share soon!

Getting inspired...

There's nothing like a deadline or 2 to make the creative juices flow, or so you hope! I've been working on a commissioned album lately - 21 years of a young man's life in photos all jammed into one album. I've made a start and got through the baby photos and school layouts but there is tonnes to go...so I'm working on that still.

But also, found some inspiration yesterday to get started on scrapbooking some of Deans life in photos for some classes I am preparing for. I am so happy with the results - the layouts are coming together well and I am super-sizing the photos so you can see all the detail - cant wait to show these layouts soon.

Sharon Manning kindly edited this photo for me that Mum took of me holding Deans hand only hours before he passed away...thanks Sharon...this is so sentimental. Hope to scrap it one day...

I'm off to Newdegate for a class next Wednesday and hopefully some classes here in Hyden when all the girls come out of the woodwork from school holidays. That's all for now...Bye.

Whats new?

Oliver and Olivia ranges by Basic Grey...2 new gorgeous little boy and little girl collections which are very versitile and YUM! I have paper packs and various embellies in stock plus more coming so reserve your paper pack now if you must have Basic Grey! Check it out...







Our EOFYS sale ends this Saturday the 3rd of July so you've still got 2 sleeps to get some bargains.

Moving forward...

It's time now that we have laid Dean to rest for me to move forward (not move on). I am at home now and have been blessed by some special friends who cleaned my house, did my ironing and left me cookies, and another special friend who detailed my car. There have been countless text messages, phone calls, emails and cards from so many of my much loved friends, so thank you to all those wonderful people. I was stunned when Dean died although I knew it was coming and now it is sinking in. I have so many special memories of him and fortunately loads of gorgeous photos that I hope to scrapbook. Here a couple of my favourite photos...there are too may to show them all!

Amy and I are stocktaking at the shop this week and we have an EOFYS sale on for the rest of the week...20% off all scrapbooking supplies and giftware so if you need some bargains then this would be a great time to get them! We are only to happy to mail out orders. We have new goodies in store as well.

I hope to get some scrapbooking done soon as think it wil be good for the soul...bye for now.

Some sad news...

I lost my little (6 foot 3 inch) brother today. He slipped away peacfully this evening. I was with him when he passed on and for the last 3 weeks. I'm so glad I was here as I have no regrets and have spent some of the happiest moments of my life with him. I'm sad now but relieved to know he is with his Maker and has no more pain. Bye for now.

Update...

I'm sorry folks but I've been otherwise occupied with being beside my brother Dean, who is fighting for his life - seriously - so I may not post much for the next few days or weeks but I will be back so don't give up on checking in. I just need this time out to be with my family. This has been a very long battle and it would seem that it is about to come to an end but I remain hopeful and prayerful for this amazing man who has touched so many lives. Thanks for all your support over the four years this disease has been troubling us - the friends I have made mean so much.

Checking in...

Recently I was fortunate enough to attend the Becky Fleck class by WA Create in Perth with some of my girlfriends. We had a ball and enjoyed the classes so much. I came home so inspired and cant wait to try out some of the techniques we learnt in my own projects. I will photograph the projects we did soon and post them.

Since I have been back I have completed a few layouts. I got around to doing Jett's school photo layout which I did in the same format as Phoebe's. Each year I will do a layout of their individual portrait and a double layout of their class photos as well as the odd layout of 'first day', sporting events and school concerts etc. I have decided to keep their school related layouts in a separate album each from their everyday albums so all their schooling life is documented in one album. I have also included their reports and certificates in A4 page protectors in the same album. I am pleased that I have this format sorted now so in future I can just keep adding to them. Here is Jett's layout. I used KI Memories and Imaginicse patterned papers and a Jenni Bowlin bracket die cut paper.

I also made a new sketch this week to teach to the local and Newdegate/Ravensthorpe girls (the Ravy girls have joined the Newdy girls for classes seeing as I don't get down there these days...thanks for coming girls!). The layout is a double page of 4" x 6" photos and a photo I edited in photoshop to 4" x 11". If you don't have editing equipment you can use 2 4" x 6" photos in its place. Here are a couple of samples...

Its' been rather busy the last few weeks with our furniture shipment arriving, new gift ware and bits and bobs of scrapbooking products arriving. I have plenty of ideas in my head as usual but need to find time to put it on paper. I especially cant wait to play with all the new Prima flowers that we have had arrive this week so hopefully will have a project to show soon.

That's all for now.

Happy Mothers Day...

Happy Mothers Day everyone! I got to spend some time with my babies and dear husband by starting with some yummy waffles for breaky then a rest...yay...then lunch and dinner with friends. It was a little bittersweet as I didn't get to see my precious Mum and Matt's Mum but we will hopefully catch up with them soon. Love you Mum. Here are Phoeb's and Jett with our homemade waffles and toppings...

Recently on National Scrapbooking Day - May 2nd - we had a social crop at the shop with a few of the local girls. I was a little rusty to start with so I warmed up with some 6 x 4 photos and a simple layout which I managed to come up with myself for a change so this one is called 'Having a Blast' and I used Fancy Pants 'Rusted Sun' papers...

Then I moved onto a couple of layouts that were inspired by a page I found on the Crate Paper blog. I love it when I find a sketch I can use 6 x 4 photos with so I don't have to think about what size to print. So here is Jett at 6 months on my first page which I used Fancy Pants 'Road Show' papers...

and a page about my niece Annika, who is a bit of a character. I used Basic Grey 'June Bug'...

Then last, I came up with this interpretation of a Nic Howard layout designed for Aussie Scrap Source. I have instructions and supplies for this class if any of you are interested. I had to photograph the pages separately but they come together to make a double page layout. The photos are of my Mums brother, Geoffrey. I love how the heritage photos work with this Basic Grey 'Nook & Pantry' papers...

I had a very exciting time in the shop last week with the arrival of my long awaited furniture shipment from Bali. It finally turned up on Thursday and I am stoked with it. I will show photos of some of the pieces soon - they are to die for!

On a personal note, Dean has started treatment for Leukaemia with a round of chemo which they are hoping will get him back into remission. He has been doing well however picked up a couple of bugs in the last few days so is battling with that and some brutal side effects from the chemo. Hopefully it will be all worth it when he comes out the other side...I'm hoping and praying for the best, and for Dean and Cassi to have strength.

That's all for today, bye for now.