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 ...

So Excited these are coming soon!

Oh I have waiting for these since I saw this video from CHA Winter earlier this year.  I think these punches are just gorgeous.  I have always loved the Martha Stewart Craft punches, but these look amazing.

I will keep you up to date as to when these arrive.  They will be available from our online shop and in store once they arrive.

April Newsletter Layouts

The newsletter will be going up shortly.  I still need practice at uploading the newsletter and things to the website.  My wonderful husband had been doing it but this is something I feel I need to know how to do.  So I will get there.  In the meantime I thought I would post some photos of some of the layout and projects that I did for this months newsletter.

I had a lot of fun this for this month's newsletter using the gorgeous papers we put in this months ScrapPack as well as playing with the Inkadinkado Stamping Gear by EK Success.  So lets take a look.

In this layout I have used the stamping gear to create a doily like image by using two stamps on the paddle.  I then teared the paper in the shape of the circle and inked the edge for this layout.

 For this card I had fun using the inside part of the circle wheel to create this fun almost fire looking card.  I also would ink up the stamp once but stamp twice to get the one image darker than the other.  I really like this effect.

But this layout has to be my favourite at the moment.  I used the Oval Wheel and the same stamp as the above card one but put it horizontally on the paddle to create this neat looking wreath.  I then added flowers.  I am looking forward to getting my hands on the flower petals stamps for the stamping gear so I can make my own flowers.
In the newsletter it also tells you how to use the Inkadinkado stamping gear.  I know you will have fun with this tool.  You can find all the tools and stamps on our online shop (click here)

April ScrapPack

Now lets take a look at the layouts that I made using the April ScrapPack.  All the instructions on how to make these layouts are in the newsletter.

 Remember This Day

Trail Riders 

 Four To Beam Up

 Snapshots and Memories

A Moment In Time

If you would like to order an April ScrapPack (as I do have a couple left) you can do so by emailing me at: megan@betterscrapbooking.co.nz

Happy Scrappin' everyone!

Inking Glazed Cardstock

Oh boy I have been having issues today with Facebook and being able to upload photos, so that has taken a lot of my time today, but I really wanted to post on my blog here with this fun technique that I was doing at my workshop the other night.  This is a really great way to add some colour that will also pop the design on your white glazed cardstocks from Bazzill Basics.  I love their glazed cardstocks.  Here is the layout I did at my workshop.

Ok so you can see the mat that I have put my photos on has some really cool cupcakes, well this was originally a white cardstock.  The glaze on these cardstock acts like a resist and so when you add ink it will not soak it in and so gives this bleach effect.

Here is what I did:

I put my white glazed cupcake cardstock on my inking mat and grabbed my Tattered Rose Distressed ink and ink applicator.

I dabbed my ink applicator to my Tattered Rose Distressed ink and then rubbing in a circular motion applied it to my cardstock.  I just love this look. 

Maybe this is something you can try with your glazed cardstock.

I made it!

Yes I made it, not only did a get around to actually making something with the Stamping Gear, but I made the card (she smiles)!

I am very pleased with the results.  Here I used a piece of 6"x 6" pattern paper, the fern like stamp from the Deluxe set on the paddle and the inside of the circle wheel.
I placed the circle wheel on the pattern paper and stamped around doing 12, 3, 6 and 9 o'clock.  The in between each of those I stamped about.  Lastly between all the stamps I had just done I did a faint stamp, so stamped on a piece of scratch paper then onto the pattern paper.  Very please with the results.

I added a stamped sentiment then attached my pattern paper to a folded cardstock black card.  It was so easy.  I wonder what else I can come up with.

The Stamping Gear products, tools and stamps are available from our online shop and in our workshop.
Click here for our online shop.

Have fun and bee creative!

Let's Try Something New

Today I have been given to opportunity to have a go using the new stamping product from Inkadinkado thanks to one of my wonderful suppliers.  I get to have a play with the Stamping Gear Deluxe set.  Oh my goodness it is so much fun.

I have watched a couple of you tube videos with people using the stamping gear and it looks so easy.  How often do you get something that is as easy to use as they show in the videos.  Well this Stamping Gear is truly as easy as it looks.  Check this one out below and see how easy this is to use.

I literally got the paddles, the circle wheel and two stamps out of the box and started stamping.  Ok I am just stamping of photocopier paper, but still it looks cool and I am having ideas on what you can create with it.  Here is what I had a wee play with.

I can't wait to keep you updated with I get up to this week with this fun and inspiring new tool

The Stamping Gear has already been uploaded to the online shop so jump on in and order yours.
The Deluxe Set us currently out of stock with my supplier but more are on their way for the end of the month, you can still order this and it will be shipped as soon as it arrives.
Click here to order yours!

Fantastic Sizzling Summer Workshop

So we started Friday night and basically went through to Sunday afternoon.
What a fabulous chance to do loads of scrapbooking.  Here is everyone's scrapbooking spaces set up and waiting for them to come back the following day.

It was great to see everyone basically in the scrapbooking zone and enjoying a chance to really get into their hobby and create some amazing layouts and projects.  Here are just some of the things I managed to do over the weekend.

 Yes the Owl City concert layout and Smores layouts will be going side by side in my album.  I really enjoyed doing these layouts in particular, having them looks quite different and yet to look like the go together.

 I had this Kaisercraft kit sitting by my phone for well over a year and finally decided this weekend was a perfect opportunity to complete it.  I don't know what I am going to use it for at the moment so any suggestions are welcome!

Here is a layout that will be for the next ScrapPack kit but you can have a bit of a sneak preview.
Also through out the weekend one of my cats felt she had to join us.  To be sure she would stay off everyone's things, she had her very own pizza box.  She stayed on the pizza box pretty much the whole time.  So Kitty is now the ScrapCat!

Here are some of my favourite layouts from attendees from the weekend

by Glenna

by Glenna

By Moira

By Tracy

By Tracy

By Glenna

By Megan (myself that is LOL!)

By Moria

If you were unable to join us this time round I do hope you will be able to make it to our next long weekend scrap later in the year!

Summer Creativity and organisation

It has been an interesting Summer break, what with plenty of wet wild weather to start off with and now the heat is really kicking in.  It has been nice to spend time with family and friends and getting out an about, but, it is also nice to have time to create and organise.

I took the opportunity to attack the back room of my working office over the summer break.  I wanted to turn the back room into a nice Craft room for myself and my girls.  We seem to be a very creative family but now have a space where we could creative comfortably.  So out came the rubbish bags and the organising systems and here is what I have so far.

My crafting space

As you come through the door of the craft room, my table is right opposite.  It was under the windows, good light but too much sun, so I turned it and put a book shelf under the window instead.

Grace's table

My eldest daughter has her table next to mine.  Her table has been here awhile but had junk and stuff in front of it so she was unable to actually get to it for quite some time to do anything.  She is enjoying having a space  where she can 'work'.

Melissa and her fashion corner

Almost opposite Grace's table is a new addition, Melissa's table.  I took a table from my working workshop and let Melissa have it as her space.  We can if necessary move it into the workshop if we are going to have a lot of people for an event but in the mean time Melissa can use it for her crafting and sewing.  As you can see she is busy at work sewing a nice summer top.

I have added a nice big cubby shelving unit for all my scrapbooking, card making and paper crafting storage.  It has been good to reorganise all my supplies so I can find things easily and each thing has its' own home.  I am not quite finished but at least I have a good start and something to work with.

My Craft room is in a good enough state that I allowed myself to do some creating, so here is what I have done this week.

I created this beautiful card using an image I coloured using my Spectrum Noir pens.  I have come to really love colouring with these pens.  I will be having more classes this year with fun techniques you can use with these pens, so keep an eye out for those.

Mall Shoot Layout

During the tidy up, Grace found these little photos of her when she was about 2 1/2-3 1/2 years old.  I just had to create a layout.  I remember how much she loved riding those mini ride things at the malls.  We didn't even have to pay to make them go for her to enjoy them.  On this particular day I had some spare coins and let her have a proper go and it did the photos as well  - bonus.  It has only take me about 16 years to scrapbook them though LOL!  I love the colours in this layout.  I love the photos as well so candid.

So that is what I have been up to this Summer break, what have you been doing with your crafts?