Christmas is almost here

Oh my goodness, I don't know about you but there is still so much to do to get ready for Christmas.  I cannot believe we have less than a week to go.  Why do we put some much pressure on ourselves.

Well now is a great time to do some crafting, I find it a great way to relax or de-stress.  I must have been having too much fun crafting this time with the ScrapPacks as I did more layouts than would fit in the newsletter, so here is the extra layout that I created.

On this layout I used the Christmas ScrapPack from Better Scrapbooking - available from the online shop (click here to order yours).

 I used the Authentique Joyous collection Decorate pattern paper for the background then added some Bazzill Celery cardstock and a strip of Authentique Joyous collection Intent pattern paper across the page. I also double matted my to photo as the family along the bottom were listening to her classical guitar playing - one of our family traditions at Christmas.  There were no die-cut titles about listening to guitar music so instead I used the Sleigh Bells Ring, are you Listening? die-cut for a bit of fun.

The big vacant area in the top left corner is so you can either add some journaling or a larger title that you have cut out using your own die-cut machines.

Well I hope you all have a wonderful Christmas and an even better 2014.
I am looking forward to sharing lots more ideas and tips next year.
So until then, everyone have a safe and happy holiday, wherever you are

File Folder Mini Book

File folders are proving to be really popular in scrapbooking.  You can use it on your layout to create more space for photos and to give an interactive element to your layout.

But here is a fun way you can use a couple of file folders to create a sweet little mini album for yourself to give to someone special.

To start with you are going to need:
2x File Folders - you can either have them the same size or one smaller than the other.
1x Scrap cardstock - mine is 5 3/4"x 2 " (it needs to bit a bit shorter than the smaller file folder - or file folder of choice for inside pages of your mini book)
Adhesive

Take the scrap piece of cardstock and fold it in half
Adhere this scrap piece of cardstock to the back of the smaller file folder as shown.

Now you have your mini album cover and pages.

Now you can go ahead and start adding photos and other fun embellishments.
I will show you how this turns out later this week, but this has been fun so far.  Have fun making mini books using file folders.

A couple of ideas for those Buttons

I am so sorry it has been so long since I last blogged.  If it is not one thing it is another.
I have had birthdays, craft shows, classes and so much more happening.  So time to put excuses aside and get writing and sharing - here we go.

In my latest newsletter I talk about using buttons on your layouts.  But I found I did not have enough room to share these two ideas I have had a play with using buttons and so thought it would be fun to share them here instead.

Buttons come in such beautiful colours and designs these days, so why not use them where ever you can.  Here are two ways you can use them today!

Aren't these so cute.  Here I have just used some wooden clothes pegs and a large paper clip.  With the clothes pegs I have added pattern paper to the flat sides of the pegs and then glued in place a fancy button.
Both of these buttons had shanks on the back.  These were easily taken care of by using a pair of wire cutter and just cutting them off.  Remember however to either cup your spare hand slightly over the button as you cut as the shanks do go flying and you do not want it flying in your face.

With the paper clip I simply adhered it to a flat button.  You can add some bakers twine to the flat button before adhering if you like for further detail.  Once dry the paper clip can be used as a fun little book mark.

On the backs of the clothes pegs you may like to adhere a magnet, then you can use them to pin notes to your refrigerator.

I hope these two ideas spark more ideas for you to try with buttons.

Happy crafting

Making Spiders

Well with it being Halloween shortly I thought it would be fun to show you a fun we embellishment you can create for your layouts, cards or even your windows.

You Will Need:

Black cardstock
White cardstock
1 1/4" scallop circle punch
 photo corner punch
1/2" circle punch
Black bling or pearls


For each spider you will need to punch:

1 black 1 1/4" scallop circle
4 black photo corners
2 white 1/2" circles

To create the legs of your spider, firstly cut any decorative piece away from your photo corner punches

Now cut each photo corner down the middle so you end up with 8 thin corners

Adhere these to the back of your scallop circle.

Once yours legs are adhered in place you may wish to trim them down slightly.

Add black bling/pearls to your white 1/2" circles

Adhere the two white circles with bling/pearls for eyes to the front of the scallop circle.

Add your finished spider to your project.

Have fun creating and displaying your cute little spiders.  If you play around with the placement of the bling for the eyes you can get some really funny expressions for your spider.

Happy Scrappin

So excited ...

It's here, it's here, it's here!!!!

You may have seen that line above on my facebook during the week.  Well it all started a couple of years ago when I was able to borrow my step-mother's Cricut machine and realized how much fun an electronic die-cut machine was.  Well I had to give back my step-mother's Cricut over a year ago now.  Since then I discovered another electronic die-cut machine ... the Silhouette Cameo.

It looked just like what I was wanting.  I wanted something that I could design my own images and cut them out.  Also not to be restricted to purchase cartridges but to purchase images as and when I wanted them and build up my own library of images.  It also needed to be able to hook up to the computer.  The Silhouette Cameo does all this.  So a couple of months ago I put my order in for one ...

On Tuesday this week it finally arrived!

I was literally bouncing round my office.  Luckily my daughter Grace was home so as I unpacked my new machine she took lots of photos.

Getting it out of the shipping box was hard, it was a tight fit, but worth it

Opening the box and discovering.
Notice that cat couldn't care less.

Lifting it out, so exciting

 

Taking the packaging off the Silhouette - so much tape

Finally I can open it.  And guess what, there was more tape.

Removing the last piece of tape from the blade holder.

And here she is, in all her glory
Ta-da!

So then came the working out how to use it.  I had to wait for Brad to get home so he could find a NZ plug for it and then the magic began.  I cut out just a couple of quick sample shapes. Nothing worth showing LOL!

But last night my daughter Melissa picked up a gift for a friend of hers so we made a cute little gift bag using the Silhouette Cameo.

It is cute!
So now to find all my layouts that need titles.  I know I left some without titles so I could do them once my Silhouette Cameo arrived, but do you think I can find them.  Oh well what a shame I might just have to do some more scrapbooking :)

Happy Scrappin' everyone!

Steampunk Paint Brush

I mentioned earlier this week that I was spray painting a paint brush.
I know some of you were thinking I had lost my marbles, and with the smell in my office this week from the spray painting (even though I did the painting outside), I just may have lost a couple LOL!

Anyway, I was inspired by the Green Bay High School production of The Electric Empire Adventure as it was done in a Steam-punk theme.  Well since then I have been wanting to do a mixed media project using Steam-punk.  I was on Pinterest one day and came across a paintbrush someone had done and figured, "I could do that"  With that Grace and I went widget shopping and found lots of cool little goodies in unexpected places.  A big thank you to the Waitakere Avanti Bike shop that was kind enough to help us out with all sorts of little goodies.

Well here is my end result:

I spray painted my paint brush copper, this took two coats, front and back.  Not don't do spray painting if there is even a breath of a breeze in the air.
I then spray painted some cogs and widgets with gold spray paint.
To adhere everything in place I used the wonderful Glossy Accents.

Now all I need to do is think what to do with it now.  I think I will display it somewhere in my office :)

Dancing at the Ceilidh

I have been working hard this week with layouts for the next ScrapPack.  I decided with all the left over bits and bobs to create another layout and share that with you so you can get an idea of the ScrapPack without giving away the layouts that will be in the next newsletter.

We were invited to celebrate a friends 60th birthday at a wonderful Ceilidh.  Oh my goodness my girls and I had not been to a Ceilidh before (and for those of you not sure what this is, it is an Irish/Celtic social dancing.)
Wow, it was full of energy, joyful laughter, clapping and singing.  It was an amazing night, I haven't been to something as fun as that since I was a kid. Both Grace and Melissa were on the dance floor pretty much all night.  I sat on the sidelines taking photos, clapping and whooping with the best of them.

I felt that papers from the Authentique Irresistible range were perfect for this layout.  Here is a close up of a couple of elements:

For both of these I have cut out some flowers and layered them.  One was layered over some bling swirls I found in my stash.  The second I just layered and added some paper 'ribbons' underneath.  I also added a bling to the centers of each flower.

I also hid a journaling block that I attached to some cardstock so I had more journaling space on the back.
I really like this layout.  Let me know what you think in the comments below :)

Happy scrappin'

From M&M Container to Bits & Bobs Storage

My youngest daughter likes to collect the new M&M chocolate containers.  They are very cute, but I was sure I could make them even cuter by adding some paper, ink and stickers.  Sure enough Melissa let me have one of her many containers and this is what happened during one of my crafting sessions last weekend.

Decorating the side of the container was easy as it is flat, so I just grabbed some left over paper paper, cardstock and stickers from my scraps pile (we all have at least one pile) and added them to the side of this container.

The top of the container was more of a challenge as it is not only curved but had a funny face on it that did not go with the rest of my newly decorated container.

To cover it I cut a 21/2" circle from cardstock and then cut out a small pie-like piece as shown in the picture below.

 I took some white liquid glue and put it all over the top of the container. The next step is probably the most important, I took the cardstock circle piece and carefully scrunched it up.  This broke some of the fibres in the paper allowing it to be more mold-able when adding to the top of the container.

Next I added the cardstock piece to the top of the container.  Because I had that small piece cut out it was easy to mold it to the shape of the top of the container without having any pleats or creases.  Just don't cut out a too big a piece of the pie, if just needs to be a slither.

I hope you get some time this weekend to be crafty :)

Happy Scrappin'

Mini Luggage Box Tutorial

You will need:
1x 71/2”x 41/4” plain cardstock (colour of your choice)
1x 8”x 31/2” Bazzill Two Scoops cardstock (colour of your choice)
2x 1/4”x 12” strip of brown cardstock
2x small brads (colour your choice)

Instructions:
Using the pattern score and cut your 71/2”x 41/4” cardstock.
Adhere the flaps to the inside of the box, then adhere the end flap over to hide the flaps you just adhered.

Score and fold your 8”x 31/2” of Bazzill Two Scoops cardstock.  Do not adhere together just yet.

Take the two 1/4” strips and adhere them about 1/2” up from each of the long sides - being sure to add the score marks as you go, this will make it easier to fold and adhere together.
Trim off excess - but DO NOT throw them away.

To make the handle
Cut a piece from your left over 1/4” brown stripes so it is just a bit longer than the space in between to two brown straps on your scored luggage wrap-a-round.
Punch a hole in each end of your handle and two holes on one end of your luggage wrap-a-round, attach your handle using your two brads.

Now you can adhere your wrap-a-round together being sure the handle is on the outside edge.
Slide your box into its wrap-a-round.  You have your own little luggage bag.  Use this as a party favour, mini first aid kit, a survival kit of chocolate, the ideas are endless.

Mini Luggage Box

I mentioned in the last G&T that I would be putting something on the blog by today about the cute little mini luggage box.  

This is such a cute little box and so easy to create.  I will show you in this entry the box and tomorrow I will upload the finished instructions, I am just waiting on getting the pattern drawn for you to follow.

Anyway, here is this cute little box - 

It measures 2 1/2" x 3 1/2"
There are so many things you can use this cute little box for.  You can use it to give a wee gift, maybe chocolate or jewelry.
You may like to use some different colours and create a little first aid kit.  Maybe even a survival kit (remember chocolate is necessary to survive LOL!).  How about to give little gift cards or tags.

For the outside of this box I have used the Bazzill Two Scoops Cookies and Cream paper.  With this paper you could even add some distressed looks with your sandpaper or distresser tool.

Be sure to drop by tomorrow afternoon for the instructions.
I will post on Facebook once the instructions are up.

Having time to play

Oh my goodness I have been MIA for over a month now.
Oops life and work has just been so busy what with SENZ, school production as well as classes, workshops and school holidays.

Time to put all excuses aside and make a commitment to blogging regularly and sharing new and exciting projects, ideas and tips.

Today I would like to share some colouring I have done last night using the Spectrum Noir pens.  I am currently going to go for my accreditation so I can teach these fun techniques using these beautiful pens.
I just thought you would be interested in seeing my end results.

As you can see some are better than others as I got the hang of this technique.  It is also fun blending all sorts of different colours together.

I will keep you up to date with my accreditation.

Have an awesome Sunday and I hope you get to be creative this weekend.

Let's Catch our Breath

Oh my goodness so much seems to be happening lately.

Well here is an update of the rest of Creative Adventure Downunder.
I was able to help out again on the Sunday with a really big class doing Maggies lovely layout.  There were about 80 ladies taking the class - wow, now that was a big class.
I had so much fun helping ladies that needed it through out the morning.  It was a very intricate page but the end result was so worth all the work that was put into it.  Unfortunately I was so busy I did not get any photos of the class or layout.

At the end of the class it was basically the end of a very productive weekend for everyone.  I stayed and helped Michele and Jodi pack up and tidy up.  It was fun piling up the hotel trolley and taking all the boxes out to the cars - I think some people may have had a little too much fun LOL it took me back to my nursing days and wheeling around the unit on the wheelie office chairs (a story for another day)

For lunch we got together at the bar with most of the 'TAs' and Teresa and McKay as well as Michele, Michelle and Jodi.  It was nice to do a bit of a debrief.

For the rest of the afternoon I hung around the hotel, had a kip in the bar (that just sounds so funny coming from someone that doesn't drink)  Then met up with everyone going off to Maggie's place for a lovely Kiwi roast dinner.

It was so nice to relax and socialize - which I do not do often enough.  It was cool to see people in a more relaxed setting.  We certainly got to know Heidi, Teresa and Donna better.  It was a real hoot.

back row from left - Jodi, Maggi, Michele
front row from left - Heidi Swapp, Teresa Colllins, Donna Downey

After dinner I got a lift back the hotel and headed home for a well deserved rest.

It wasn't until after the weekend I found out about Melissa's exciting news.  On the Friday (the first day of Creative Adventure Downunder) Melissa was taking part in a bake off at school.  She and a couple of others in her class baked something and took it to school to be judged by her form teacher.  Melissa made some very tasty Chocolate and Coffee cupcakes.  She also decorated them very nicely.

Close up showing the eatable glitter on
 Melissa's lovely cupcakes

Stage one winning bake-off cupcakes

Looks like Peanut wants a cupcake too.

Well, she won round one in her form class.  Next she will compete against the other form classes of her year 10 level.  Not sure when that will be, but we are so excited for her.

This week she is also taking part in the talent quest with her classical guitar, so we will see how that goes.

Creative Adventure Downunder Day 1

Oh my goodness I was given a wonderful opportunity to help out at the Creative Adventure Downunder scrapbooking event.  I was asked if I would like to be a 'teacher assistant' naturally I said, "Absolutely".

I am so glad I did, it has been wonderful to meet so many people.  I did not even miss doing the projects that I was helping out in.  It was just wonderful to be a part of the event.

The only sad thing was that on the Friday morning when I needed to be out at Greenlane, which is normally a half hour trip via motorway with no traffic - and of course I would be driving in rush hour traffic so triple that time, so I was leaving early going to drop my daughter Melissa off at my Mum's so Mum could drop Melissa at school.  Melissa and I were in the car at 6:45am, I turned the key and ... the car battery had died.  Ahhhh so now what was I going to do.  After some frantic phone calls my wonderful mother offered to drive me out to Greenlane and drop Melissa off at a friends place so she and her friends could walk to school together.  By the time we got underway it was 7:15am.  Amazingly enough though and with my wonderful Mum driving all the back roads (thank goodness she knew where she was going) I was able to arrive at the hotel in Greenlane 10 minutes early (Mum thank you so much, you are amazing).

Well the rest of the day only got better.  I was teacher assistant for room one.  The first session in room 1 was with Maggie, she is a New Zealand tutor.  This was a fabulous technique layout class.  I just wish I had taken a photo of the layout (maybe I can get one tomorrow).  It was full on and I spent a lot of time helping ladies keep up and helping them with the technique with bees wax and Pearlx powders.  The results were fantastic.

After lunch the next two classes in room 1 were with Teresa Collins.  Oh wow, I have to admit I was a little star struck.  She is a really beautiful person and a lovely teacher.  She taught the same class twice in a row with two different groups.  By the second group we teacher assistants knew what was needed and were able to help the class flow.  It was really great fun.

In both classes Teresa told us what it was that inspired her to get into scrapbooking and reminded each of us that we are our family historians.  She encouraged us to write the stories of our families.  To document why taking the photos we did were so important.  This really struck a cord with me and I would like to journal more not just on my layouts but in fun little journals as well.  I would also like to encourage my daughters to journal for themselves - sometimes it can be therapeutic.  Thank you Teresa for being an inspiration to so many people this weekend and wherever you go.

Teresa Collins in action teaching a fun layout class

Myself with Teresa Collins

At dinner time I was lucky enough to have Teresa and her daughter McKay as well as their friend TC join us at our dinner table.

From left to right Teresa Collins, McKay and TC

Also just before dinner I was able to get some photos in the photo booth with Teresa, McKay, Heidi Swapp, and Donna Downey.  You guys are so awesome.  I am really looking forward to Sunday and the classes I will be helping in.

Pale Hues Spectrum Noir Kit

Oh my goodness it has been nearly six weeks since I last was on my blog.  I am so sorry I have been distracted with so many things.

I decided just now that it was time to update my blog and show you the Pale Hues Spectrum Noir Monthly kit that I have put together.  Here is the kit and it is available at Better Scrapbooking Ltd.  for further details or to order you can email me at: megan@betterscrapbooking.co.nz

Here are to two card you can create using this kit.  The kit has all the instructions on how to colour skin and a chart of other skin tones.  It also has instructions on how to create the two cards below.

Well that was all for now.  I promise to add more to my blog very soon.

Happy scrapping and card making ...