Sunday, April 29, 2012

Enjoy the Moment......

I hop you all had a lovely weekend.  Yesterday was spent at the Embellish It Crop and unfortunately my Mojo was on the 'go slows' only managing to finish one layout, start another and start a card with the leftovers of the completed layout.  Today I finished the layout and card.

Last week I created the following layout with the newly arrived Prima Fairy Belle Collection from Embellish It.  I created it with the April Prima BAP sketch.

 The bottom right of the layout was cut from a second piece of the base paper and mounted with mounting tape to raise it.  I also cut the leaves to make them pop up. 
 The Prima flower (above) was a little too big so I dismantled it and put it back together a little smaller.  The cream leaves were cut from a fabric doily.
 Liquid pearls were added to the lines on the paper to highlight them. 
The words are from Dusty Attic.

Thanks so much for visiting my blog.

All the best for the coming week.

Until next time...

Dianne

Tuesday, April 24, 2012

Memorabilia and a new page

It feels like a Friday night tonight, instead of Tuesday with the day off for Anzac Day tomorrow.  Term 2 begun yesterday so I have had an extremely busy two days having to fit 5 days work into 4 but that's okay - they have been a good two days so far.
 
Tomorrow we will remember those who fought for us during the wars.  At this time of year I always get out my scrapbook pages of my father-in-law and grandfather-in-law which contain their involvement in both WW1 AND WW2 and also another book which records the involvement of my grandfathers in the Home Guard, a young cousin who served overseas twice and a Great Uncle who did not return from WW2.  If you wish to see my memorabilia war pages posted last Anzac Day they can be found here.

 Today I share another page from last week's creations.  I spotted an embroidered Prima Page at Embellish It (on sale) and thought I would give it a go.  I had avoided these pages in the past as I felt they were so decorated already it was a shame to cover them up however I have concentrated my photos on pieces which did not have much stitching and this is what I came up with.
 The paper was a 'Sew Cute' Specialty paper from Prima.  I see it was made in Thailand (a coincidence - these photos were taken in Thailand). Flowers are Prima with a touch of Petaloo and Kaiser.
 The window and photo corners are also prima. 
 Alpha - American Crafts.
I felt the colours of the paper complemented the robe in which the bridesmaid is wearing while she is getting ready for the big day.

Well I should be in my scrap room creating with some more Prima - Fairy Belle Range.  I am working on a layout for the Embellish It Crop on Saturday.  So bye for now....

Thank you for visiting my blog today.

Enjoy the rest of the week.
Dianne

P.S. - The new blogger settings are a bit of a challenge!!


Saturday, April 21, 2012

CSI Case #15 and Embellish It News

Happy weekend everyone.  It has been a gorgeous sunny day here today.  We returned from Dunedin early this morning after a short visit to see family and little Zac - too cute and so brave (most of the time)

Finally I have managed to complete a CSI Case prior to the deadline.  This weeks File details as follow:
 My creation with the above scheme, scene, evidence and testimony. 

 
This layout was created on a Prima Canvas (available from Embellish It) .  I used a Paper Trunk Border stamp which I won at Autumn Escape two years ago and used for the first time, to stamp a border around the canvas to frame the page and then highlighted it with Kaiser rhinestones.  The two top photos and journalling scroll were printed onto Crafter's Images Photo Fabric.  The bottom photo was sewn on to a mount of  plain canvas and the edges frayed.  The alpha are Prima Canva.
 Ghe giant lizard eating a steak for lunch.  I cut the lizard from the photo and popped it up with dimensional foam to give it the 3D look.
 The 'Testimony' off the list that I used was 'document an adventure' and 'start with Once upon a time'.
 As part of the Evidence two out of the list of suggestions are to be used - I fitted in five and the above metal word 'friendship' was one of them fitting into the metal category as did the brads on the flower. Also the zig zags sewn around the photo. 
 Layering was used around the photos and with the trims.   The prima canvas is already coloured but also has a turquoise butterfly under my boat photo.  They are good to use if you don't have glimmer mists or inks or lack confidence to be artsy with those things (me lol). 

These are fun sketches to do and certainly get you thinking outside the square.   I challenge you to have a go at next week's.  CSI#16.

EMBELLISH IT
If you haven't already heard - Tania of Waimate has sold Embellish It to Joanne of Timaru.  Joanne is holding her first Timaru crop next Saturday 28 April and it would be lovely to see you there.  Contact Joanne if you are able to come or if you wish to visit the shop and see the wonderful selection of scrapbooking and card making supplies. 

I was honoured to be asked to be part of the Embellish It Design team along with 
Rachel Forrester - check out Rachel's blog at http://rachelforrester.blogspot.co.nz Rachel does gorgeous cards but be warned her blog will make you very hungry :-) .
Becks Caithness - Becks blog at http://beckcaithness.blogspot.co.nz Becks does really cool layouts using lots of different techniques, you can also check Becks out on facebook.
Joanne Flannery (owner)  http://jojocraftyplace.blogspot.co.nz I do a mixture of cards and layouts.

Joanne hopes to offer card making classes soon.  New scrapbookers are welcome.  We are happy to help you get started and enjoy a very rewarding hobby.  


A Raincliff Retreat is scheduled for the last weekend in August.  They are always a fun creative weekend with good company.  Contact Embellish It if you are interested. 


Thank you for visiting my blog today.  Enjoy the rest of your weekend. 


Until next time ....

Dianne




Thursday, April 19, 2012

Pamper - Thai Style

Well I am not much into pampering myself but am glad to see that my girls gave it a go Thai Style while there last November.  This is my take on this month's Dusty Attic Sketch .....



Just love those Prima flowers. And below some trim from a DA frame.  The side borders of which I only had one left had to be soaked into three in order to have enough for the layout.  I then painted them with glimmer paint. 
 Loving my new MS 'Cherish' Punch again - perfect for this sketch.  Not sure about putting my feet into a tank of fish for them to eat off the dead skin though....   but great to try new experiences.

 The lace bordering the circle was sprayed with Glimmer Mist.

Not much progress today - still working on yesterday's layout.

Thank you for visiting today.  Feel free to leave some scrappy comments - they are truly appreciated.

Until next time
Dianne

Wednesday, April 18, 2012

Adventure

Hi Everyone

I hope your week is going well.  Unfortunately mine has been slow - I think the last couple of weeks has caught up and everything is a bit of an effort including scrapping (surprisingly).  I have completed three layouts but am struggling on one today so am leaving it for another day. 

This one is for the Paper Chase challenge for April.  See the other entries here
 

 If you keep papers long enough they finally work with something.  These papers I have had since almost the start of my scrapbooking hobby in 2005 and they went perfectly with the elephant photos.  The large flowers also have been around awhile and are Petaloo. The doily is one found in an op shop and handmade paper circle is sewn onto that.  The alpha have also been in my stash for a few years.
 The bird wire and flags are Dusty attic and brads 'Chatterbox' (I think!).  The Martha Stewart 'Cherish' Punch is the latest addition to my collection and I love it. 

 It is not too late to enter Paper Chase's Challenge - just email Sonya  your entry by  30 April to enter.

Well that is all for today.  Thank you for stopping by.  I will be back in the next few days with some more creations from this week.

Until next time....
Dianne

Sunday, April 15, 2012

Way to Go!

Firstly, thank you for all the texts and comments over the past week.  Yesterday little Zac and his Mum flew home and so did we.
He made good progress on Thursday, was discharged to Ronald McDonald House on Friday and home on Saturday.  He is getting better every day. Below - Our little Trooper saying goodbye at Auckland airport and dressed in his little 'All Black' jersey.   He was perfect for his Mum all the way home.
 Do I really have to smile???????? just before leaving Ronald McDonald House.  He is pretty good until he gets the hiccups which causes pain poor wee man.
 Did you know that there are two Ronald McDonald houses in Auckland?  Well we sure found out the hard way yesterday.  We were leaving our accommodation to go to Ronald McDonald House to help with the packing and airport transfer.  A taxi picked us up and delivered us to Ronald McDonald House (only it was the wrong one)  it was Grafton Mews and not the Domain one.  So then it was about a kilometre walk UP HILL, suit case in tow to get to where we should have been (and one very grumpy me).  It would have been quicker and easier to have walked from the accommodation - not impressed with two of the taxi drivers we had there however the one from Corporate Taxi's who took us to the airport made up for them.

And after visiting our groomsman and comparing heart operation notes (he had his 3 weeks ago) we arrived home and on the table was a lovely basket of preserves.  This is the way to go - surplus tomatoes to Mum before we left and surprise - all bottled into relish and soup when we come home.  A much appreciated gesture and lunch today.
Actually I have had a very good preserving season - DH processed 3 lots of sauce and the beetroot and Mum this.  The pears were a non-event this year so I really haven't had to do any. 

I am hoping to get back into the scrap room soon.  So that is it for now.

Thanks for stopping by.
Dianne

Wednesday, April 11, 2012

Happy 85th Birthday

... to a friend's Mum for today.  I made this card at the Embellish It Camp at Raincliff for the 80th birthday - but have now discovered that the recipient is turning  85 years (lucky I realised and fixed it  before sending it lol - although she really only looks as if she would be in her mid 70s and not 85.)  Hope you have a lovely birthday R.

 PP are the Prima Botanical Collection.  Vintage lace from a Vintage market in Dunedin, flowers - wild orchid, pearls - Kaiser, Cameo Flower - Websters Pages.  Two different Martha Stewart punches were used.


Hope your week is going well.  Thank you so much for stopping by today.

Bye for now...
Dianne

Monday, April 9, 2012

New Baby Brother

This is another layout completed at the Embellish It Camp at Raincliff recently.  One of the challenges was to use a home made embellishment. 
 
Prima Paper was used and I tried to make the most of the already patterned paper.  The photo has an overlay over it to frame it.   Alpha is American Crafts.
 The heart motif is Websters Pages.
 The Dusty Attic butterfly was inked and then outlined with Glimmer mist to add some sparkle.
 The flowers and leaves are a mix of Wild Orchid and Prima with my homemade lavender ones.  Just tucked under the white flower is a Websters Pages lace motif.

Thank you so much for stopping by today. 

Until next time....

Sunday, April 8, 2012

Remember..... Winnie the Pooh

Just a quick post today.  I put this layout together last night with inspiration from Scrap-utopia.  It is a Winnie the Pooh poem on some W t P papers I had.  Just love this wee photo of Zac dressed up for St Patrick's Day. 


This page is a bit different from my normal but I didn't want to detract from the Winnie the Pooh papers.  A Winnie the Pooh vellum fence piece is also added at the bottom.

I am happy to report that Zac has had a settled night in HCU and look forward to seeing him later in the day.

Thanks for stopping by today.  Have a great day.

Until next time

Dianne

Saturday, April 7, 2012

C.S.I. = Colour Stories Investigate

Have you heard of the CSI Site? It started up about 14 weeks ago and is a challenge site with a difference. 
CSI is a weekly scrapbooking challenge that inspires you to try new colors schemes and to tell your stories. Case Files provide inspiration that will get you thinking about scrapbooking in a whole new way.  CSI is all about inspiration and sharing and, most important, fun! 

Every week I am emailed the new challenge and every week would love to give it a go but the week comes and goes before I get onto it.  However on Case File #8 I finally gave it a go albeit too late to enter but I enjoyed doing it and the style fitted the photos I used.  
 
As part of the 'evidence' I used a transparency over the photo, thus it didn't photograph that well. For the evidence I used the transparency, Stars, something that sparkles and a solid background. For 'the testimony'   I used a 'Foo Fighters' image (star of the show) and a recipe for the details. 


 I loved the Petaloo flowers used.
 So if you are looking for a new challenge - this could be the one for you.

Zac update:  Our precious wee man had a settled night and opened his eyes for his Mum and Dad this morning. 
P.S. - further update at 4.15pm.  Amazing - he was up drinking a bottle at 2pm then moved to the ward.  Last txt "fast asleep and looks just like our wee man again".  You are a little trooper Zac.

Thank you for stopping by my blog today.  The sun is shining here,  hope it is for you wherever you are too.

Until next time ....
Dianne

Friday, April 6, 2012

Zac

There have been a tough few days this week.  Our dear little grandson had open heart surgery at Starship Children's Hospital  on Wednesday. After a couple of anxious days he is now recovering slowly, breathing on his own and starting to progress (his Mum & Dad say the small steps are very exciting) and his very brave parents describe him as "a little trooper".   .

"Sometimes the smallest things take up the most room in our heart"  - Winnie the Pooh

The above quote is certainly true just now.  It is so hard being so far away but we will be with them soon. We are so lucky to have the skilled surgeons and technology of today.

This is a page of Zac I created at the Embellish It Raincliff Retreat two weeks ago.  We were given a pack of Authentique papers to create with and it was perfect for these cute photos.


We had known of Zac's heart condition since he was 3 days old but the first 5 months have been without incident.  He looked so perfect on the outside but not so on the inside.   Get well soon our gorgeous wee man.

Wishing you all an enjoyable and safe Easter.   Take Care.

Thanks for visiting today.

Dianne

Sunday, April 1, 2012

"Journey" for Prima

Following on from my previous post re the Liebster Award  I hope you have all had an enjoyable weekend and that those in NZ adjust to the  'daylight saving' adjustment without too much trouble. 

I did manage to get my March Prima BAP entry completed in time and am pleased with it.  I love the colours of the Prima Sun Kiss Collection and enjoyed playing with them.  


 The sketch had a triangular banner along the bottom but I felt it did not lend itself to the softness of the page so utilised the Prima 'Water colour Collection' chipboard journalling stickers by cutting the circles in half and using them for the banner. I then used liquid pearls to add the finishing touches.
 The flowers are a mix of Pixie Vine Sun Kiss and Charlotte Tiffany flowers. 

 Almost hidden is some pretty trim with cut out hearts  along the bottom border of the photo.

Thanks so much for stopping by today.

Have a great week.  ... A short one so that is good for a start.

Until next time .....
Dianne