Scraproom

Pondering Birthdays and Precipitation.

At last the RAIN comes down, Gumboots and Umbrellas weather, we were singing in the rain this morning. I'm hoping that the farmers are at least a little happy with the constant drizzle of the past 2 days here in Palmy. It has now fined up here a little this afternoon and the sun is trying to peek through the clouds, might have to get the Bulldozer out of the house for a run around, he's going stir crazy.

A busy weekend, Hubby and I headed off together (by ourselves, no kids) for the first time in I can't remember how many Years (close to 5 I think) to catch up with lots of his Cuzzies at his Dear Aunty's 90th Birthday party. She's sooo cool and still so sprightly and full of cheek and wit. We were regaled by many of her poems (she writes one for each family occasion) and a photo board including her dolled up for tea at Buckingham Palace - the things you have to do as a diplomats wife.... It was a lovely day and so very nice to be seeing all of the family together for a Happy occasion. I have always been a supporter of celebrating Birthdays with parties, Never can have enough happy memories I say, but I've got to say it's so much more fun to make the effort and show them how much we care by sharing in the frivolity with our Elder relations at their Birthday Parties than waiting till funerals to get together. A persons life should be celebrated while they are with us to enjoy it!

Speaking of Birthdays, the Birthday Calendar Class is now available online. (see class pictures on the right) Thanks to all those who pre-booked. I'm sold out of the kits at the moment, you can do the class without a kit or email me for bookings and I will be able to send out the second batch of calendar kits within about 2 weeks!

Thought I might share a pic of the Birthday invites for my SIL big Birthday in a couple of weeks, it is a retro theme so hence the funky colours, better go and get these posted off now!

Remember to leave a comment below if you have dropped by, it's nice to know who is visiting!

K

The luck of the Irish!

It's St Patricks day today so MAY THE LUCK OF THE IRISH BE WITH YOU! I packed young bulldozer off to preschool dressed in green this morning complete with his bowler hat and themed balloon. He was right into it and his lovely Irish teacher Jenny (who he absolutely loves because "Jenny just got married to James, not me James but an older James, cause we have the same name you know" he says) has organised all sorts of fun activities for them today, she's even been making a shamrock pinata with them especially for today!

The Grab Your Stash #3 Class is available from today if you want a bit of fun scrapping some memorabilia and photos maybe from Preschool, School certificates or from a recent trip, you can register to book in now via the link on the left.

Well the Cyber Crop for SE on Friday night was a blast, no idea how some people can keep up with a chat room that busy and scrap at the same time, It takes a certain talent and I guess a lot of practice but with the amount of excellent work being loaded in the Scrapbook Essentials Gallery means that there certainly were a lot of people taking part in the challenges.

  One of the challenges from us on the DT was Scrapping 7 bits of Ephemera from your day, thought I'd share the sample page I did for this Challenge, I do love creating these sorts of pages every once in a while, it creates a great picture of a certain time in your life. You know like when you find an old box with receipts or school books or just a bag of old clothes, takes you back eh.

Here's another that was published last year, contrasts for me what changes have been wrought in my daily life in just over a year.

In another country and I now spend much of my time working from home, creating classes designing products and planning events, still shuffling a lot of paper though. Thanks to the internet seldom does a day go by without a chat with friends old or new!

So here's wishing you all a lovely St Patricks Day whether you're Irish or not and remember that if you do manage to catch a Leprechaun not to let him go until you actually have that pot -o-gold in your posession 'cause they truly are crafty little divils!

Book Now for these New Classes.

Ok, so here are some of the sneaky peeks from the Scrapbook Essentials kit this month.

I soooo love this layout, I've had this photo sitting around for a year and I wanted to save it till I was really happy with my idea for it, do you ever do that? It was such a fantastic photo in terms of the colours, the sun is very bright, but I like that and I had a bit of fun in Photoshop editing out the fanta bottle in her hand and adding in some "seaweed". I love layouts that are so simple and just tell a story easily. Anyway, check the SE gallery to see these layouts and the lovely little Album in a CD tin, pictured here, this was actually so quick to make, about 2 hours which for me is a miracle! And the photo  I thought went bad (cause I wanted the princess standing by the pool by herself when young bulldozer had to get in on the act) has actually given me some photos perfectly displaying their relationship. (That of annoying but utterly adorable little brother) 

 

and aren't those Jenny Bowlin Butterfies just gorgeous!

Other news, I'm taking bookings now for the Grab Your Stash #3 Class  It will be available on Monday 17th so email me to book in now! If you've not done an online class before, give it a go for only $10, this one is designed to use up all the bits and pieces from your scrapbooking stash and I will be online Tues Night  for Q&A and a chat.

Also taking bookings for the Birthday Calendar Class. Available online  from Monday March 24th Class with Calendar Base kit $26 (inc Postage in NZ)
Class only $10 (if you want to source your own calendar base)

Email for booking details.

New Free Tutorial on Borders

Hey, I've had a few emails on the border edge used on the Layout of sweet little Kobi, as this is an 8x8 layout and the scalloped border "fits" the page, there is a trick to it so there's a new freebie tutorial on some pretty border edges and altering Prima Felt to suit your layouts. The Handbag Essential Class is now instantly accessible via the link in the Free tutorials on the right too.

Don't forget to sign up below right for email updates of new Free Classes.

And if you are wondering what to do with your Jenny Bowlin Butterflies from the SE Kit this month, here's a sneek peek of one of my DT layouts for Scrapbook Essentials for lots more butterfly ideas check out Ali Edwards to see some of her beautiful butterflies too.

Scrapcampers....

Hey and a big HI if you are checking in from the Scrapcamp blog, drop me a note to say hi, I'd love to get to know some of the attendees faces beforehand and don't forget to add my blog to your list of regulars, you may even see some sneaky peeks here before too long ;)

Have a good look around and try the FREE Handbag Essentials online classor tutorials, it's a bit of fun!

Upcoming Classes for NZ

So there's a bunch of new classes that I'm doing in Real Life at stores around NZ north Island. (South too if you want!) Check the list on the left for where they are and when.

Looks like a lot when I put them all together :-)

...And the big news is....

Finally I can also share that I will be tutoring at the famous "SCRAPCAMP" in May this year. Yolande and Lianne so kindly asked me to run two classes at this fabulous weekend event in Rotorua at the end of May. Should be cool to check out how you Kiwi scrapbookers like to party, I have heard "stories", I am looking forward to seeing if they are true! If you want more info, email me and I can forward you the booking details!

Was sorting some photos today and remembered these 6x6 layouts. Some of the ones that I put together for the SC Kids Camps. Was fun scrapping with no photos, bit of a challenge keeping it simple enough to appeal to kids though, but a good reminder that sometimes Simple is good! This is a great cause, they use these base pages for the kids at these camps to be able to create their own albums, so cool.

I have been enjoying creating layouts and a little project with the Scrapbook Essentials March Kit, really been loving it as it is so well suited to summer and well now that it's Autumn, it's time to scrap those summer photos. Don't smack me Meg, but I was so pleased with how this little project worked out, can't wait to put up a little teaser.

TTFN!

Hey, I am really looking forward to the Monthly Classes and Scrap night I'm starting here in Palmy. Getting to meet lots of Manawatu Scrappers IRL!

So the first one kicks off on Fri 7th March at 6.30-11pm (or later?) at Russell Street School. Cost for the night is $10 and that includes supper and a few prizes. There will also be some of the latest release scrapbooking goodies for sale specially flown in by the lovely Meg from Scrapbook Essentials. The optional class this month is the Birthday Calendar class, the class starts at 7pm - 9pm. I'm making it easy on you... the class is an bargain at $20 and just look what you can end up with.....

email me for more details or if you want to go on the mailing list for these Scrap Nights. (Funny, so many years of scrapbooking and I don't really like the word "crop" cause rarely do I ever "Crop", I prefer to think of myself Creating Memories by ADDING stories, photos, artwork, which is kinda the opposite of Cropping isn't it, it also implies far too much head down bum up chopping up photos for me, so I prefer to encourage quality rather than quantity and a fun, social night rather than a competition to see how many pages you can do...ok I may be wierd but it's my party.)

Like these ---Hey can you all help me out here by linking in to this info and adding this blog to your sidebar, let me know if you have added me in to your blog or circulated the info and I'll draw a "Delicious" little set of non fat handmade felt fridge magnets, so add me in flick me a note and they could be coming your way!

Anyway, last night the Princess comes home from cubs, they were to do African Mud Painting, (I think there is a bit of a theme at the moment, namely MUD, 3 weeks running) so she arrives home not actually having got to paint with said MUD (on the pristine $4 white shirt purchased for the occasion) because she took to long doing the design....sounds like her mother.....but I just had to share the awesome design with you all....

...like the lizards tail sticking out the back, attention to detail...that's my girl!

Also did you notice that I have a new section (top right) with some of the Magazine articles/projects that I have written in the last few years, you should be able to read them easily. Will load some more soon, didn't realise I had actually done so many. Consider them free classes if you haven't got the magazines they were in.

Aussies - Simply Scrapbooking will be taking bookings for a new round of online classes with me from March thru April, so check out their calendar via the button on the left.

Back to working on a the design for a fab class for SENZ later this Year (yes advance preparation is the key), ohhh it's simply georgeous!

Later!

Yay a package arrived!

Soooo Lucky to have good buddies (at Simply Scrapbooking in Melb) Love it when I get CHA New Release Papers etc surprising me on the doorstep. Pretty, Lovely, Very Noice!  Thanks Joy and Nic, Luv you's!

March Kit Pictures

OOHH Look what I get to play with next week.....

and arent these just the cutest

and as a bonus there is also the add on kit, so I'm new to all this kit stuff and am really looking forward to the challenge and it's Mine, all Mine {insert evil Laugh}  Well you too can get your hand on one here at Scrapbook Essentials.