365 - Day 1

I have joined the 365 challenge at Gotta Pixel . com which is a digital scrapbooking site. The plan is to take 1 photo everyday for the next year and hopefully scrap them aswell. I will hopefully end up with a year in the life of our family scrapbook! Something I really want to try to do! I have been taking the pictures but have not yet got round to scrapping them as my programmes are a bit messed up on my Pc and I am having a few problems with the digi side of life at the mo! I will get there eventually but for now I will be content with taking my photos and documenting why I took them so I don't forget further down the line!

So here goes with my first photo of the year!

This is literally the first photo of the year taken at 1 minute past midnight New Years Eve/Day. This year we spent new years eve at my Bessie mate Sam's house. We had good fun with lots to eat and drink, fireworks and games! The older daughters had gone out on the razzle so it was 2 Nannas, 3 mums and 3 youngest daughters! A good time was had by all! A good start to the New Year!

January Challenges at from Screen 2 Scrap and ARTastic

Hi Guys!

2010 already! Last year flew by but they always say time flies when you're having fun! And what could be more fun than having a go at the new challenges over at From Screen 2 Scrap and ARTastic, where I happen to be the guest Design Team Member for this month WOOO HOOO! Both blogs have got great challenges up this month and some great prizes too so come on over and have a look and get your creative caps on!

Here is the poster inspiration for this months challenge at From Screen 2 Scrap

The added criteria are

1. Black and white layout

2. Using one strong color

*Movie Diva Demand* For an extra bonus two points ....... use three or more black and white photos on your layout( This is optional, you dont have to do this but it does give you the extra bonus points!)

And here is my take on this challenge

I used the poster almost as a sketch but as my paper was square I used all the sides for my photos! I kept to the same colours as I love this combination! I kept it quite plain and simple like the poster with a few buttons and a flowers as my embellishments with a few small rub ons added to some of the photos.

Now here is the Piece of Artwork that is the inspiration for this months challenge at ARTastic

It is an amazing floral painting by Australian Artist Pro Hart

This is what Shazza had to say:

The Design Team and I thought it would be a good idea to use an Australian artist for Januarys inspiration, as we celebrate Australia Day on January 26th. This piece of art work is an easy one to use for inspiration. you could use the colors, shapes or even the overlapping technique. You could even add lots and lots of flowers. looking foward to seeing what you come up with.
Added Criteria

*ARTastic Diva Demand* For an extra two bonus points ....... add a cluster of flowers or a bouquet of flowers or a vase of flowers ( This is optional, you dont have to do this but it does give you the extra bonus points!)

and here is my Layout inspired by this painting!

I took my inspiration from the bright colours in the painting and tried to copy some of the spiky feel with the edges of the paper. in keeping with the floral theme I cut the strip of flowers out of a sheet of 12 x 12. I used Heidi Grace Chipboard letters and some rub ons for the title. For the Artastic Diva demand I have the little bouquet of flowers.I enjoyed this challenge thanks Shazza

I have also donated one of the prizes for this months challenge which is a selection of Letter stickers, embellishments and some sticky mini dots!

Happy New year!

Happy New Year to all my friends!

Hope 2010 is good to us all!

I hope the New Year brings us all Health, wealth and happiness.

Looking forward to another year of challenges over at From Screen 2 Scrap
and to start the year off in creative style I am the guest DT Member for January over at Artastic a great challenge blog that gives us a painting to take inspiration from! Please come over and join in the fun!
I have also signed up for project 365 over at Gotta Pixel I am going to try to take a photo a day for the next year! Plenty for my scrapbooking! So here goes!
I am looking forward to a creative new year!

Happy crafting to one and all!!!!!!!!!!

See you next year!

Christmas is coming!!!!!! AAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!

Christmas is coming like a steam train! It seems to be coming so fast! I love Christmas but this year I seem to be so behind! Having had this cold for nearly four weeks hasn't helped much either. Everything seems to have gone to my sinuses now so I have got banging headaches and I keep feeling dizzy! Nevermind last day of work tomorrow for two whole weeks yippee!!!!!!!!! Time to rest? not on your nelly! Pay day has arrived at last so I can now start the Christmas shopping and get the house ready and the decorations put up (very late this year!) Haven't yet made a single card! OMG got to get them done! Second of my Christmas meals out tomorrow after work! Hope I can taste something! my taste and smell have deserted me and I am getting a bit fed up of eating cardboard in various disguises!

It's snowing! Very pretty but bloomin freezin!!! Ah maybe we will have a white Christmas this year! (Iiiii'm dreeeeamin of a whiiiiite chrissssstmaaaaaaaaaaaaas, just like the ones i used to knoooooooooooooooooow!) not sounding too good at the moment won't torment anyone with anymore.
Don't forget you still have time to enter the challenge at from Screen 2 Scrap
there have been some fantastic entries again this month so pop over for a look see and get in the Christmas spirit and maybe have a go yourself!
Bye for now!

Oh Christmas Tree

Here is my submission for this months challenge at
From Screen 2 scrap

I finally managed to get a picture to upload!

I loved the bright Chritmassy poster we used for our inspiration and I love christmas trees so this was what I had to do! I look forward to getting my tree every year and always go out with the intention of getting a slightly smaller tree but I always end up coming home with the biggest one I can find and we have to rearrange the whole house to fit it in! I have actually thrown away an armchair this year in preparation for my tree! Christmas just isn't christmas in our house until the tree goes up!

The criteria for this month were ;

1. Use a Christmas Song title for you layout title - Oh Christmas tree

2. Use 3 or more Christmas embellishments stars, candy canes,snow man, presents etc... - Chipboard trees

3. Lots of colourful bling - Gems added to trees, Glittery title and ribbon, Shiny red and gold brads

Papers and embellishments are from Die Cuts with a view

December Challenge is up at From Screen 2 Scrap

Hi Guys!

This is the Poster for this months challenge over at From Screen 2 Scrap

As it is December it is a lovely christmassy challenge for you and a great chance to use up some of last years photos if you haven't already!

here are the added criteria that you must follow -

1. Use a Christmas Song title for your layout title

2. Use 3 or more Christmas embellishments stars, candy canes, snow man, presents etc....

3. Lots of colourful bling

I am a bit late posting this as I have been a bit stressed out trying to get my page for this challenge photographed. Unfortunately I am having technical difficulties and I still can't show you my page yet but I hope to be able to load it up tomorrow if things go according to plan! (that hasn't happened to me much lately!)

It would be great if someone who follows my blog would enter this month! If you do decide to give it a go please let Shazza know that you came via my blog.

Happy Scrapping!

November From Screen 2 scrap submission

Here is my submission for November's challenge over at From Screen 2 Scrap

I really struggled with this one! I originally wanted to use the poster as a sketch but couldn't quite get that right. So instead I went a completely different way.There are 2 firsts for me on this page. First time I have ever done negative space, hope I have left enough. First time I have cut out of a photo! This month was definitely a challenge for me but isn't that the whole point to challenge ourselves now and again! I am quite pleased with the end result finally! I have cut coco out of a picture and she is looking into the distance, a single character as there is in the poster.

Added criteria:

1. negative space, - check

2. must have a cutout from a photo/photos, - check

3. must use blue, pink and yellow somewhere on your layout - check - pp frame

4. painted title

*Movie Diva Demand* For an extra bonus two points ....... paint your title red!! ( This is optional, you dont have to do this but it does give you the extra bonus points!) - check

Patterned paper - DCWV, Journaling stamp - Banana Frog, Flowers and bling from stash

Sneaky peeks

Here are a few sneaky peeks at my submission for novembers challenge over at



From Screen 2 Scrap

A New Design Team Member at from Screen 2 Scrap!

Come meet our new Design Team Member

I am sad to say that one of our design team members Corrine has had to leave us! I wish her all the best for the future and hope she still comes to visit us at from Screen 2 Scrap
which means we now have a new member of the design team and I'm excited to welcome

Michelle Beeby

This is what Michelle had to say about herself.

I'm Chelle and I live in a small country town in South Australia. I'm a SAHM of 4, wife to 1 and totally addicted to Scrampin' (Stampin' + Scrappin')...I have been scrappin' for ohhh, over 7 years now, and stampin' for a little over 4... I've also just discovered that digital isn't "cheating" and am having fun riding the learning curve. I also LOVE to alter things, there is a running joke in this house that if you stand still long enough, mum will alter you!
Last year I signed up to be a Stampin' Up! Demonstrator as I just love their line of stamps and paper and inks and everything really! I love product, all of it, and usually hoard as much as I can sneak in past hubby... lol He is so supportive of my hobby, and encourages me daily and is always good for feedback or pulling me back if I've ventured a bit off track.
I have Spina Bifida and am in a wheelchair, I think that is why I was drawn to crafts as I am on equal footing (or in my case, wheeling, lol) with everyone, in this area of my life at least.
Whenever someone tells me I cannot do something, I enjoy the challenge of proving them WRONG!
If I could wish for just one thing, it would be more time in my day, I have so many ideas running around my head that I can't squeeze them all out and sometimes get clogged and need a good clearing out - altered notebooks are handy for this.
My children Larissa (18), Robert (16), Stuart (14) and Peter (almost 6) are my inspiration and why I want to get my story and my family's story down for them... we don't have an extended family as such (my grandmother is still alive and I love her to bits, she will pop up in a LO or two I'm sure) so I need to find out the who, what, when and why and make sure it's down for my children's children's children.
I started with scrapbooking because I was trolling e-bay for something (I can't even remember now what it was) and came across a paper punch in the shape of a heart, I had to have it, I wanted to play with it, I'd never seen anything like this in my life! SO I bought it and when it came I decided to do a "google" search on ways to use it... and whola, my love of Scrapbooking was caused by that simple purchase. Before that I enjoyed cross-stitch (anyone want my UFP?).
So that is my story..

Chelles Favourite movie is The Rocky Horror Picture Show!!

If you want to see some of Chelle's beautiful creations, go visit her blog at http://aussiescrapaholic.blogspot.com/

I hope Chelle has a great time with us!

November Challenge at From Screen 2 scrap!

Hi Guys!

The new challenge is up over at From Screen 2 Scrap

Here is the poster inspiration for this month!

Criteria =

1. negative space

2. must have a cutout from a photo/photos

3. must use blue, pink and yellow somewhere on your layout

4. painted title

*Movie Diva Demand*

For an extra bonus two points ....... paint your title red!! ( This is optional, you dont have to do this but it does give you the extra bonus points!)

Come on over and join in the fun!!!!!!!

Happy Birthday to me!

Today is my birthday.

Woo Hoo!

Good day today at slimming world!
Despite having a bad week last week and putting on 3 1/2 lbs and feeling a bit aprehensive today about my weigh in,

This week I lost 9lb!

WOOOOO HOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!

My Submission for October challenge at From screen 2 Scrap

Hers is my take on this months challenge at From Screen to scrap.

Added criteria - group photo - check

Yellow or gold title - Gold letters in title

something inspired by characters - pharaoh - used egyptian theme

I have taken my inspiration from the poster title and changing from 'A night at' to 'A day at'. I used the light blue colour from the poster and The letters of the poster title are different sizes so I have also mixed up the sizes of letters I used for my title.

Cardstock - DCWV, Egyptian paper from Robert Adams' Ancient Egypt CD, I traced a picture of the eye of Horus onto gold mirror card and cut out by hand, Egyptian peel offs and assorted alphas from stash (mostly me and my big ideas and Mrs. Grossman). Used gold Lumiere acrylic paint to distress edges.

Great fun this month! Thanks Shazza!

If you fancy joining in our challenge this month come on over to From Screen 2 Scrap and if you do send in an entry please tell Shazza that Ali sent you. Thanks

October Challenge at From Screen 2 scrap

There is a new Challenge up at From screen 2 Scrap. This months poster is From ' Night At The Museum Battle Of The Smithsonian'

The added criteria for this month are;
1. Use a group photo

2. Yellow or gold title

3. Use one element from the poster - a dinosaur, monkey, plane, rocket, squid etc.....

OR

Something inspired by one of the figures in the poster.......

example #1 The Pharoah = a pyramid or egyptian theme

example # 2 Napolean Bonaparte = the Eiffel tower

So come on everyone have a go!

Winners!

Congratulations to the winners of September's 'Home Alone' Challenge at From Screen 2 Scrap !
Tina, Jayne, Anita and Bec. Well done ladies!

And if I might add I feel very priviledged to have been voted the winner from the DT entries!

Thank you very much to the rest of the design team for voting for me it means a lot! The other ladies are so talented to think that they liked my page is really exciting!

A New Member of the Family

Hi Guys! Thought I would introduce the new member of our family to my blog buddies!

Ta da!

This is Coco our new dog!

Watch this space for some scrapbook pages to come!

and don't forget there is still time to enter this months challenge at From Screen 2 Scrap!

Come on Ladies (or gents) give it a try!

I know most of my friends are cardmakers and haven't been bitten by the scrapbooking bug yet but I just want to encourage you all to have a go!
It is really good fun and you can use all your cardmaking techniques!
I was a cardmaker first and then found scrapbooking!
I still love making cards but sometimes I end up with loads of cards and no-one to send them to! Scrapbooking is another way to use my crafting and create pages that give me great pleasure and a great way to show off photos that would just be stuck in a box.
Come on over to From Screen 2 Scrap
each month we have a film poster to use as inspiration plus some extra criteria to follow.
There are lots of great pages by the talented design team to give you extra ideas!
Here is another look at this months poster.........

added criteria - use blue or red cardstock, 1 piece of patterned paper and a two word title.

Come on have a go! I dare you!

You might even enjoy it! LOL

Amazing Blog candy!!!!!!!!!!!!!

OMG! This must be the most amazing blog candy I have ever seen!



For your chance to win this amzing candy go on over to http://corinnescraps.blogspot.com/ and leave her a comment!
Open til draw on Sept 30th

Slimmer of the Week!

Hi guys. Back from my Slimming World class and I am slimmer of the week this week! I've lost another 3 lbs this week which takes my total to 9 1/2 lbs! Yay me!

I do hope that the chocolate manufacturers don't go out of business now I am on a diet! Considering how much I used to eat it is a slight possibility!

If you are struggling with the pounds like me and want some help, check out slimmingworld.com to find your nearest class.

Congratulations to my mum aswell! She lost another pound this week! Well done Mum!

New Challenge over at from Screen 2 Scrap!

Here is the new poster to take your inspiration from for this months challenge over at From Screen 2 Scrap

Added criteria - Use blue or red cardstock, use 1 piece of patterned paper, two word title.

Here is my take on this months challenge.

Blue or Red cardstock - check

One piece patterned paper - check

Two word title - check

I took my inspiration from the Home Alone poster by Changing the title to All Alone and using a dark background like they did on the poster. The poster also has bright colours in the title and Macaulay Culkin's jumper, as my photo was quite dark and moody I used my patterned paper to add the colour and used the ribbon to try and create a window effect as in the poster. As usual I had to add a bit of bling with the glitter stickers for the title and a few gems. I put my journaling on tag hidden behind the photo.

PP - Die cuts with a view. Glitter alphabet stickers - Me and my big ideas, Urban Bling. Ribbon, flowers and gems from stash.

And here is the hidden journaling...

Journaling reads - I love this picture of gemma taken at West Kirby Beach. Feb. 05. Whilst it looks in the photo as though she is alone, stranded in the middle of nowhere. She is actually about two minutes from the Prom with a busy Fish and Chip Shop and lots of families with their buckets and spades! We came to the beach that day to fly Zoe's kite and Gemma didn't want to come, she had the right hump when we got there but soon started to enjoy walking along the beach and even had a go at flying the kite!Gemma doesn't like this photo because she thinks she looks awful with no make up. I love it because I love the way her natural beauty shines through! So sorry Gem this is definitely one for the album!
The other members of the Design Team have all made some beautiful pages to give you more inspiration so please go and have a look at their lovely work! At

From Screen 2 Scrap

Come on everyone, come and have a go. And to all my cardmaking friends out there, cards are getting so big they are just like scrapbook pages now! All you have to do is add a photo! So lets put all your cardmaking talent to another use and preserve your memories in the process! If you decide to have a go let Shazza know I sent you!
Take care,
Ali