4 days!

I've just returned home from 4 days away with my family and 5 other families - it was terrific and Ethan and Joshua had a ball - who wouldn't, with a total of 13 little boys and just 1 girl!

We travelled to Moreton Island which is so picturesque and not at all commercial or high rise - it's a beautiful place to visit if you ever come to Brisbane - just 1.5 hrs by barge across from the mainland.

It was an action packed 4 days - sand castles, swimming in the ocean, canoe rides, jet skiing to see the ship wrecks, frisbee, beach cricket, boogie boarding, totem tennis ... and this was all before lunchtime ... then beach soccer, sliding down the sand dunes on boogie boards, fishing at dusk on the beachfront, watching the dolphins being hand fed in the ocean ... all before dinner time ...followed by a fun filled 'moon walk' - walking with glow sticks and torches in search of any night time animals like possums.

This is the jetty the kids fished off last night at around 5pm.



This is the view of Moreton Island beach.



And these are the little houses we stayed in that are situated on the beach.
We had 3 houses in total with 2 families sharing each one - it was so much fun.
There are at least 40 of these little blue houses all in a row on the beach front.



So, I have a heap of washing and ironing to do and I'm sure this jammed pack holiday will catch up on me in the next couple of days, but it was worth it.

Oh, and in breaking news .... Ethan's first tooth finally fell out on our second morning at Moreton Island - just needed an apple to nudge it out! Luckily the tooth fairy knew her way to where we were staying and left him some coins for his treasure. For those of you who saw my layout about Ethan's TOOTH FAIRY CONSTRUCTION (it has since been removed for publication), well Ethan HAD constructed an amazing house for the Tooth Fairy to visit in Brisbane (out of clean pizza boxes) and since we were away and he couldn't write a letter to her because none of us had a pen with us, he chose a more modern approach and asked one of the Dad's to text the tooth fairy a message to come visit us when we returned to Brisbane as well! Kindly enough, the Tooth Fairy replied and should be coming some time this week to check out the construction that Ethan made for her!

Hectic Week

Where has the week gone?
It's been hectic.

I'm really happy that some layouts from a couple of recent posts were accepted for publication and they have been sent off. A few of you have noticed one layout in particular that's gone and that was the TOOTH FAIRY CONSTRUCTION layout. That won't be published for some time because Scrapbook Creations are wanting it as part of an article I suggested I'd write along with 4 other layouts ... so maybe in the 2nd part of the year that layout will resurface.

I did create this layout last week and it slipped my mind to show it here. I challenged myself to scrap 'my new method' and that is where firstly I choose the embellishments I really want to use and make everything work around those embellishments. I'm really enjoying doing it this way rather than pic my papers and design then lastly the embellishments.



This layout used Making Memories 5th avenue range of cardstock scallop circle and word as well as that pretty metal clip. I also got to use an American Crafts rubon that was really cute and worked well under the clip.

I'm looking forward to a restful weekend - thanks always for dropping by and saying hello!

Big weekend!

Do you ever have one of those weekends where you're on the go 24/7 ?

I've had a fun filled crazy couple of days.

Yesterday, along with 1000 other things, I assisted Rachel as a second shooter for a wedding. It was great fun and hopefully you'll see some of my images on Rachel's blog soon.

The ceremony and reception was held at a stunning Brisbane winery - the location was gorgeous.

I also taught my first Cyber Crop class online at Scrap Chat for Scrap 'n' Craft with T.

This is the layout I created for the Cyber Crop.

It was such a fun night with some really cool girls - thanks for asking me.

I even completed a layout on Friday night but since I haven't scanned I might have to share that tomorrow night. Hope your weekend has been restful - take care!

BIG PLANS

I had some fun creating this layout tonight - a chance to use a tiny bit of pink on a layout is always good for a girl living in an all boy house.

Ethan is big into construction. He has been from a young age even though his only 5 and a half now. So these are his 'drawings' to help the Tooth Fairy safely take his tooth and leave him some money ..... when his first tooth finally falls out. The tooth is pretty wobbly so construction has begun and I will document what the Fairy wonderland looks like once it is finished.






Thanks to my friend, Nicole, who inspired me to scrap the everyday stuff. This is certainly something I don't want to forget.

Workshop - day 2

I had a lovely afternoon taking some photos of these beautiful girls that modelled for Rachel's

Day 2 workshop - held at Wellington Point. Everyone seemed to have a great time

- thanks Rach.

This week I'm hoping to get some scrapping done and I'm looking forward to the Cyber Crop Class that I'm teaching over at Scrap Chat on Saturday night at 7.30pm. If you're an aussie and you'd like to join in, you may still have time to order a kit from Scrap 'n' Craft with T.

Workshop

This afternoon I had the pleasure of helping out at a photo workshop held by my good friend, Rachel Richter. Today was part 1 and tomorrow will be part 2. I met some lovely girls and had so much fun taking some photos along the way. Looking forward to tomorrow - better rest.

New Technique

Normally when I create a new layout, I get the photos I want to scrap, select some papers that match (patterned and cardstock) and then rummage through my embellishment/sticker stash (as small as it is) and select what I want to use that co-ordinates.

I'm fortunate to have generous friends who have occasionally sent me goodies but somehow I haven't been able to work them into my layouts. So, this week I decided it was time to try a 'new technique'. I grabbed some gorgeous American Craft stickers that were sent to me by Severine and decided to work my photo and layout design around my favourite stickers ... and this is how it turned out. Oh, I love American Crafts' products - they are so easy for me to use - and these stickers are no exception. Of course the rubon alphas that I used in the title are lovely also.

So, time to decide whether this is my new way of doing a layout or not, photo and papers first or embellishments first ... mmmm!

Also, I've had some requests for information about the Photo Book that I created. I used a company called PICPRESS. I registered with them at a Photographic Expo that was here in Brisbane - they generally deal with Photographers or student photographers, but if you're looking for one that you can use yourself then OFFICEWORKS have great value coffee table books. I have created probably close to 8 or 10 from Officeworks and they look really good. The print quality is slightly less than the professional books but no-one that has received one from me has ever complained. They have all the layouts and the program available for download on their site and yo can take a peak at a sample in any store.

Another question was which program do I use to create my collages? The truth is that I don't use a program, I open an A4 document in Photoshop and resize my all the photos that I want to include on the collage to something a fair bit smaller like 2x3 inches. I copy and paste them into the A4 page and move each image with the space bar a few spaces apart from each other image. Does that make sense? Once I have formed a collage, if there is any room leftover that hasn't formed a square/rectangle, I simply outline the leftover space and fill with a complimentary colour and add some text to it. Let me know if I explained that as clear as mud! Oh, and the person that asked me that didn't leave their name, so don't be shy and let me know if that helps.

Thank you for dropping by and leaving such kind comments. It's lovely to get such encouraging words.

This month ...

I was asked to take part in this month's Scrapbook Creations sketch article. I really enjoyed creating this layout - I had such fun photos to work with of Joshua diving into his bean bag.

Apart from this, I'm looking forward to seeing more photos from the photo shoot I had with Rachel on Sunday. I should add that I am waiting patiently but because Rachel knows me so well she sent me a pic to tie me over until my disc arrives. Take a peak here if you like.

Demitri

Today Joshua and I visited a good friend of mine and her gorgeous son, Demitri. He has just turned 2 and has the most gorgeous eyelashes you'll ever see. The 2 boys had a great time together and I even managed to capture some photos.

Isn't Demitri adorable !

With his beautiful Mother.


and those eyes ...

This is where I managed to grab a few shots of him - the trick was to put him somewhere that he couldn't climb and run away - naughty me!

We snuck under cover here while the rain came and the boys loved it.

Thanks for a lovely morning Chrissa!

Remember ....

.... that wedding I photographed for my parents? Well they asked me if I'd put together an album with the images in it and I'm so excited to share some photos of it on my blog. Today, Mum gave the album to the bride's Mum as a gift for her Birthday - she loved it!

Here it is, a hard cover coffee table book - 10x10 size.

And some pages inside the book,

And my favourite shot on the left - full page size,


and some more pics,

The album finished up having 22 pages and I can't wait until I can create another one.

So that's one of the things I've been busy with lately.
I've been making lots of cards too.
I made this mini little card for a lovely friend...


and been doing heaps of 6 year old boy cards too - so many parties this year that
Ethan has been invited to.

Apart from that, I'm looking forward to tomorrow.
I have booked a session with my dear friend and talented photographer, Rachel Richter.
Time to update the family photos and Rachel always captures us so well.
I can't wait!

Determined !

I was determined to create a layout tonight that I could share on my blog.

These photos are from Joshua's 3rd Birthday party - which was Thomas The Tank themed ... what else would a 3 year old fanatic have wanted? It's simple and it has no patterned paper on it but I just had to use the 7 gypsies rubons - I've had them a while and loved them. Lots of photos too and a bit of journaling. Now just to get some more photos printed ....

Some technical info!

Thank you for all the lovely comments about the photograph of the bride in the doorway - it was lovely in colour but when Rachel emailed me through a suggestion to do it in black and white with the background like that, it really was even more striking.

A few friends have asked for technical info - I took the photo in Manual mode and metered for the bride not the background for the exposure. I used photoshop and played with levels and curves to get her exposed well then I used the dodge tool to clean up the background and whiten it up. Lastly I converted into black and white.

Thanks again for all the encouraging comments - I love to read them all.

A kit and a crop!

I'm pretty excited about this - I was asked by Tanyah from Scrap 'n' Craft with T to create this kit and teach it online for Scrap Chat's Cyber Crop.

EMBRACE LIFE’S SIMPLICITY
A gorgeous kit and an online Cyber Crop with Leanne Stamatellos

Scrap Chat is having a huge Cyber Crop month this March
and Leanne Stamatellos has designed a fantastic kit to inspire you
as well as guide you through it step by step ‘live’ in an online Cyber Crop class at Scrap Chat.

The layout, as featured below in our sneak peaks,
is true ‘simple style’ and can be used as a great basis for so many other layouts.

It can be created in A4 size (her favourite) or in 12x12. The journaling is easily customised
to suit your photo with Leanne’s assistance.

Included in the kit will be everything you need to create the layout
for only $13 including the Cyber Crop class.
(postage $6)

¼ sheet x Basic Grey – patterned paper
¼ sheet x Basic Grey – patterned paper
1 x Orange cardstock 12x12 sheet
¼ sheet x Aqua cardstock
¼ sheet x Cream cardstock
1 x black cardstock scallop strip
1 x medium sized flower
1 x Bella jumbo brad
1 packet x Carolees Creations alphas – black
1 packet x Kaisercraft rubons – new release
6x4 piece x JAK adhesive paper

6x4 piece x Hambly acetate

All you need to supply is
adhesive
glue
cutter
scissors
ruler
computer or you can hand journal
one photo – printed 3x4 inches – preferably black and white unless
you have one that co-ordinates with the papers

The class will be held towards the end of March – date to be confirmed
– possibly Saturday 21 March or Thursday 26 March.
Kits are limited and can only be posted until the week before the Cyber Crop.
So, now is the time to leave your name and express your interest.

******************

This is my first time doing a Cyber Crop and I can't wait.

The kits are being sold through Scrap 'n' Craft with T - that's who I do some Design team work for - so if you're keen you can buy it there. It will be so much fun to scrap together online!