Wednesday, June 29, 2011

Big Picture

Hi All.  I have been thinking about it for a while and today I have done it - signed up for Nic Howard's Big Picture Colour or is it Colour class.  It's not too late to join in.  I am not sure if I will have time to keep up but it is a 'forever access' class so the information will always be there. 

Today I share a mini book card made for a friend's birthday last week.  I made it from a Teresa Collins Notations memory album kit which had a ringbinder so the pages were punched.  As I didn't want to use ring binders I made my own bindings with folded strips of card (some with punched edges) and sewed them together with a binding technique Kathryn had shared with us as a make and take at an Embellish It crop a while ago.  I then attached the pages inside the bindings and decorated them - six double sided pages in all.
A little Dusty Attic and Tattered Angels chippie  added on the cover.

 The theme was the good times we shared over the past 12 months with little mementoes.  I have just included a couple of pages in this post.
Well that is all for today.  Off to the scrap room to try and create although rather weary tonight.  It's hard to believe we are half way though the year already.

Thanks for visiting.  Until next time....
Dianne

Sunday, June 26, 2011

Sunshine and Fresh Air

Today was a perfect Winter's day and a good chance to open up all the windows and let fresh air flow through the house, get lots of washing dry, attend to some long overdue housework and then finish up with cleaning my car and doing the shopping.  That did not leave any creating time today  but I did attend the Embellish It Crop yesterday and finished the Dusty Attic June Challenge and two cards for the day. 

This is my take on the Dusty Attic June Challenge
 Using Kaiser Patterned papers and Dusty Attic frame, decorative corners and mirrored dressing table. The outer frame was painted with Twinkling H20s as was the first coat of the inner frame which was then coated in crackle paint and a top coat of white acrylic. 
 The dressing table was whitewashed with white acrylic and then painted with Tim Holtz Distress crackle. Distress ink was applied around the edges and the handles painted with Twinkling H20s.  The decorative corners were inked with lavender ink and then coated clear embossing powder and heated. 
 The fairies and butterfly  were cut from the Kaiser Paper.
Basic Grey lettering was painted with Twinkling H20s.  Bling trim was added to the mirror.
The photos, dressing table and papers have been sitting in my 'To Do' pile for a few months so this Dusty Attic Sketch was an ideal way to use them. 
That's all for today.  Your visit to my blog is much appreciated.

Have a great week.

Until next time.....
Dianne

Wednesday, June 22, 2011

The Shortest Day

The shortest day already - hard to believe we are almost half way through 2011.  Our thoughts are with the people of Christchurch enduring the continuous earthquakes in very trying conditions for many.  I hope tomorrow's announcement offers some relief for those affected.

Today I share a layout created a little while ago. 
  
 An almost totally Prima layout except for the paper doily and Dusty Attic chippie.  PP are the Prima botanical collection. 

 A short post on the Shortest Day.

Hope your week is going well.  Thanks for visiting.
Until next time ....
Dianne

Sunday, June 19, 2011

An Enjoyable Weekend

On Friday I headed to Dunedin to see my girls and attend the Dunedin Crop for which Tania of Embellish It had taken part of her shop.  It certainly was a cold weekend but the warm people made up for it.  I managed two layouts for the day and will share them when the photos are taken.  Since I was back in Dunedin I decided to have my hair cut as I had been pleased with it the last couple of times I had had it done there however I am not so pleased now - my 'trim to last a month' (until next time I am down) and "the back is okay because it is winter" must have gone on deaf ears as it is now so short on the top, back and sides that I have had freezing ears all day and goodness knows what I am going to do with it in the morning.  - the only consolation "it will grow". 

The weekend started off on a good note with a 40th Birthday Celebration Lunch on Friday for Rachel.  As Rachel is an amazing card maker I decided to do something a little different for my card - here is my substitute traditional card. 
I  covered a wine bottle box in Prima 'Moulin Rouge' papers, added some punched paper trims and vintage lace along with some Prima 'Moulin Rouge' chipboard shapes, stickers and a pebble, and last but not least a pic of Rachel looking very regal when she was dressed up in a serious pose for the Royal Wedding celebrations.  I am not sure she liked the photo but I though it fitted the vintage look of the box.  Some close ups. 


 I love the vintage lace found at the Altrusa Club Bazaar a few weeks ago. 
 Oh and I cut a circle hole in the top for the neck of the wine bottle to pop out of and therefore had to put a false bottom in the box to hold the wine bottle up.  If I had thought of it earlier it would have been nice to include some chocolates in this space (sorry Rach) and that would have been a nice surprise when opening the box. 


I enjoyed creating the project and also another one that I will return with later in the week.  

Hope you all had an enjoyable weekend.  Thanks for visiting and all the best for the coming week. 

Until next time.....
Dianne

Saturday, June 11, 2011

Prima June BAP

The Prima Design Team 2011-2012 has been announced.  Congratulations to Trina McClune for winning a place again this year.  Also on the team is  Steph Devlin whom is coming to Scrappin Patch Spring Retreat in September and I have recently registered so am looking forward to meeting her and participating in her classes.

Today I attended Deb McRobie's Craft Afternoon where she instructed us on making a Triple Easel Card.  A lovely afternoon where all I had to take was my basic kit (so that was great for a change as it is usually a mission deciding what to take and what to do) and Deb provided a kit and afternoon tea.  Thanks Deb.  I will post pics of the card another time.

Now to the Prima June BAP.  I am really pleased with the way it turned out but the photos probably don't do it real justice especially the lace frame around the photo. 


 Vintage organza lace is paired with the organza and pearl trim to make the frame.  Below are gorgeous Prima apricot flowers. 

 Alpha re Prima canvas with inked edges to make it blend in but stand out at the same time. 
 I felt it just needed something else so added the frame and a few peaches and cream roses.  And this was the sketch.

Hope your weekend is going well.  It is a  big night in Timaru tonight with the Crusaders v Blues game.  As I write this the temperature outside is 3.2 degrees so I hope all who went are wrapped up warm. 

Grateful thanks for visiting.  Bye for now...

Dianne

Wednesday, June 8, 2011

Memorabilia and Autumn

These were the two components to include in the Birds of a Feather Craft Together Sketch Challenge for June.  Also the challenge is to scrap something from the previous month.  I loved the sketch Sonya and Carol provided.  I am sure they would love you to join in - It is not too late to have a go. 
 The birthday celebration we were invited to was perfect as the invite included memorabilia (a childhood pic of the birthday boy) and doubled as the When, Where, Why part of the journalling.  Papers are Prima. 
 I was also in the team which won the most points - the flag was made by rubbing rub-ons onto canvas and mounting on a toothpick. The flower below made from organza ribbon was one left from the Embellish It Raincliff Retreat where we had a 'Make & Take' of making a variety of flowers.
 The tag contains hidden journalling about the entertainment "The Amazing Race".  Also included is a little Dusty Attic.

 An assortment of autumn coloured flowers and leaves covered the 'Autumn' part of the challenge. 
Hope your week is going well - half way through it already.  Tonight I have finished my creation for the Prima BAP for June so will be back with that in a day or so. 

Thank you for taking the time to visit my blog. 

Until next time ....
Dianne

Monday, June 6, 2011

A Little Over Ambitious

The end of the long weekend is coming to a close and I was certainly a little over ambitious with my line up of scrapping plans.  I did get a couple of quick 8x8 pages done for an album and the Birds of a Feather Craft Together Challenge layout done but that is all so far (photos yet to be taken).  Having one of those lost Mojo moments unfortunately!  Lots of ideas but getting them into practice just isn't working.

DH had success in the pigeon race on Saturday with winning the Flock race and having the first local bird home.  He also broke a 40+ year time record as he clocked the bird with a 4 hours 19:31 time all the way from Blenheim.  He also got 2nd with his 3-bird team and 5th with another 3-bird team.  Unfortunately a member of my team failed to return.  I will have to plan a photo shoot with trophies and pigeon to record the event.

Today I share a Birthday Card made for a friend's birthday yesterday. 
Made with Bazzill card stock, Tim Holtz pp & film strip, Prima felt rubons and a Lili of the Valley image.  Thank you Jo for a lend of the diecuts.  Check out Joanne's blog to see her creations of late.
And the inside using a Martha Stewart around the page punch.    Note:  Lili of the Valley have a summer sale on this week - 10% off.

Well must off and get some more photos printed and hopefully that will inspire me. 

Thanks for Stopping by.  Have a great week.

Dianne

Saturday, June 4, 2011

A Childhood Memory

I follow the 'Lets Get Shabby' Blog but have never submitted anything but this time I thought I would.  Challenge # 24 is to Create a project based on a favorite memory or photo from YOUR childhood.  Welcome to my blog anyone visiting from Let's Get Shabby.

We always enjoyed holidays when we got together with our cousins and spent lots of time planning and performing our concerts for the family.  I learned the piano for four years (unfortunately I didn't keep it up) as did my cousin so we got together to play a Duet - 'The Can Can'.  We would practice and prepare (curlers in hair and all), sell tickets and buy goodies to sell to our parents and siblings at 'half-time'.  Great childhood memories.  
 Papers were Fancy Pants.  I copied the actual music we used to play and distressed it.  Flowers are Prima as well as some of the lace and packaging.  Other items used were lace, ric rac, ribbon and beads.




The journalling was printed onto a Grafix Rub-onz and then rubbed them onto the chipboard shape before using dimensional magic to attach the border of beads. Great memories.  P.S. - That's me in the curlers.  

Hope your weekend is going well.  I had a walk around the garden today and guess what I found. 
 Spring in June !!!  There is also blossom on two trees - one 'Southern Gem' does flower twice a year but I can't recall the other one having done it before.
Well that is all for today.  Thanks for visiting. 

Until next time .....
Dianne





Friday, June 3, 2011

Queen's Birthday

Yay for a long weekend.  The temperature has certainly dropped today but as long as we have a fine Saturday up the east coast DH will be happy.  The pigeons are flying from Blenheim to home in the annual Classic Race. 

I am planning to spend some time (hopefully lots) creating.  The three sketch competitions/challenges I usually enter each month are up so I plan to get them done early this month instead of last minute.  Click on the below links for details
Birds of a Feather Craft Together
Dusty Attic
Prima June BAP

I also have two special cards to create so even though it is a long weekend it might not be long enough lol.

Today I will leave you with a card made last month. 
 This was sent with 'Get Well' wishes across the Tasman. 


 And the inside
Better go - DH in the car waiting for me.

Have a great weekend.  Thanks for stopping by.

Dianne