Just Do It

I have been wanting to get on my blog here for the last couple of weeks but honestly life have just gotten in the way.  I have been helping Grace with her eight Zumba classes a week - I only do three a week myself but some I need to drive her to.  Also with the start of term 2 with school Melissa has school production rehearsals as well has her classical guitar classes.  Then work needs to fit in some where, let alone the daily chores and life.  I am trying not to make excuses but I figured I need to "JUST DO IT" so here I am.

I was sitting in car last night at the Onehunga YMCA where Grace was teaching and I just started writing.  I am learning to utilize the time where I can find it.

Last weekend I grabbed a bit of me time and created a couple of samples for my up and coming Me and Mum workshop and I just wanted to share them

These were really fun and I am looking forward to creating these with the attendee at the workshop just over a week away.

I chose one of the projects to be a 3D box card because they have been really popular round the place and the moment and look like a lot of fun - which it was.

I have also been working very hard this week on another kit, this time a Christmas card kit ... but it is only May I hear you say.  Well, yes it is, but this is the perfect time to get a jump start and create some cards before the crazy season hits.  It will also help you to feel better prepared for Christmas this year.

With this kit you will be able to make the 6 cards using the instructions that come with the kit as well as a Christmas layout, but there is enough product that you will be able to keep creating and using some of your own stash get at least another four cards - how cool is that!

I am currently working on the instructions so this will hopefully be ready some time next week.

Just a wee thank you

My family and I went away for the weekend last weekend.  It was really nice to be able to get away.  We went to Rotorua for the Xterra Festival of Rotorua.  It is a big sporting event with 5 km trail run, 11 km trail run, 26 km mountain bike ride, triathlon and team triathlon.  Brad took part in the 26 km individual mountain bike ride.  He did so very well.  He managed to ride the 26 km in just over 2 hours - what a fantastic time.  The Whakarewarewa forest is such a beautiful place for this event whether you are riding or running.

It was also my birthday, so again a great reason to go away.  The only thing was what to do with our two precious cats?
I asked a dear friend and her daughter if they would be able to come round and feed out cats and she said she could - phew!  It was a great relief to know someone was looking out and after my cats.

As a little thank you I grab the chance to play with my Silhouette Cameo and create this fun little thank you purse.

 I am really pleased with the result and hope my friends daughter likes it too :)

The coin purse design is available from the Silhouette online shop (design #56357)

Colouring Modeling Paste

I wanted to share with you a project I created on the weekend where I used some more of the Teresa Collins Modeling Paste - I am really loving this and adding texture to my projects.
I thought it would be fun to add a bit of colour so here is what I did.

I started with a blank canvas - this canvas is one of those flat ones.

Next I used some really fun spray inks.  I used three different makes and colours, Heidi Swap Colour Shine, Tattered Angels glimmer mist and my own home-made spray ink.
I sprayed all over the canvas, now because the surface of this canvas has been treated with Gesso (like most bought canvas') the ink did not seep into the canvas but rested on the top, so to dry it I used my heat too.  Love the effects I got with the blending of the inks, even the splotches look cool.

Next I grabbed one of my 6"x 6" Crafter's Workshop Templates and added some modeling paste just in white.

Then I wanted to add some colour to my modeling paste.  So I added some of the paste to a little plate, then using the spray ink that I used on my canvas I sprayed some colour to the modeling paste and mixed it together a bit.  Now because I had added some extra liquid to the paste it was a big more soft, almost sloppy so be careful how much ink you add.

I used two different templates with the coloured modeling paste, I used the Teresa Collins Scallop 12"x 12" stencil and a small journaling stencil for a last bit of interest in the bottom right corner.
Before drying the modeling paste with my heat tool, I went and washed all my templates, just with cold water and my fingers.
When using your heat tool to dry modeling paste be careful as some heat tools are too hot and can cause modeling pastes to start to bubble.  I also left this to dry overnight.

The following day I added some punched shapes using my Martha Stewart layering punches and a little bit of bling.  I am really pleased with the results.

I would love to see what you create with colouring some modeling paste for your next project.  Please leave a comment below and let me know what you think of this fun wee project.

Glitter and Modeling Paste

I thought it would be fun to have a look at working with glitter and modeling paste.
Modeling paste and stencils are proving more and more popular, so let's try something a wee bit different and glitter on top and into modeling paste and see what we get.

We will start with adding glitter on top of the modeling paste.
So you will take your cardstock and add your stencil on top.  I taped mine in place with some removable tape, you could use washi tape.

 I am working on my Bazzill Splatter mat for easy clean up.

Next add your modeling paste, I chose to just add it down the right edge of my blue cardstock.  If you are not doing the whole stencil it can be fun to leave some half pasted shapes (it looks almost like torn paper).  As you can see I have removed the stencil so you can see the result.  Place a piece of scratch paper under the stenciled edge ready for glitter.

For this step you do need to move a bit quickly as the modeling paste is starting to dry.  Take your choice of glitter - I chose gold - and sprinkle it on all over the modeling paste.  Do not use your finger to spread the glitter as you will smoosh the modeling paste.

When you are happy with the coverage, gently slide the excess glitter onto the scratch paper and put it away.  Now leave the glitter and modeling paste to dry.  You will find that your cardstock will curl but the modeling paste is meld-able enough to gently straight back up.

Lastly have fun creating your layout.

Now lets look at adding some glitter too the modeling paste.  For this you will need a dish to mix your paste and glitter on.

Add a good dollop of modeling paste and then add a good dash or three of glitter.  Then mix thoroughly using your palette knife.

You will end up with something like this.

Next prepare your cardstock, add your stencil.  Then start applying your modeling paste.  As you can see you do not need to cover the whole stencil you can do just areas you feel will look good for your finished layout.  Enjoy the process of smoothing out the modeling paste.  It is a good idea to try and use up the modeling paste that has the glitter in it as you will not want to put it back in your modeling paste jar.

Remove your stencil and leave to dry.  The glitter does not shine through like when using the other technique but it does give quite a fun speckled look.

Once dry create your layout.

Here is a close up where you can see that speckled look with the glitter and modeling paste.

I hope you enjoy giving these two techniques a try with your modeling paste.
Remember to clean your stencil as the modeling paste does try quickly.  Just pop the stencil in a basin of water (be sure the water covers the stencil) until you are ready to clean it.

Working with Modeling Paste

Oh my goodness I really love the Teresa Collins Designs modeling paste.  I would never have thought that I would be into this sort of messy creativity but wow it is so much fun.
The paste is so smooth and easy to apply.  When Teresa Collins was saying it is like icing a cake I thought, nahh.  But honestly, it is easier than icing a cake.  You just take your time and have fun with it.

Ok I may not suggest that your first attempt be to create a whole 12x12 background like I did, but that is where I started and I am pleased with the results.  It does take a bit of time to dry but you can help it along with your embossing heat tool if you like.

Here is my layout I created using the modeling paste for the first time.

I would suggest that when doing a large area with modeling paste that you use one of the longer palette knives.

We met Marcus at the Auckland airport on his visit to New Zealand on New Years Day this year.  What a great way to start the year making new friends :)

So what will you create with modeling paste and stencils.

Finally Finished

How many have projects that you were meant to complete ages ago and just haven't gotten around to it yet?

I will admit I have a few of those.  But this past weekend I was able to cross one of them off my list and completed it - yahoo!  And much to my daughter Melissa's delight as well.

I couple of years back Melissa and my husband Brad redecorated her room.  The paint was chosen and applied, new curtains and nets were found and put up.  Melissa even found some awesome wall stickers of owls and trees and also added them to her room.  I promised I would make a lovely 'Dream' banner for her room.  I found some 4"x 6" chipboard and painted it with the accent paint used in her room.  I even die-cut and glittered the letters for the word Dream and that is were it stayed at for awhile.

I had planned to finish it for her birthday that year and then for Christmas, but it just didn't happen.  I could not find the accents and elements that I wanted for the banner.  I was also having issues with the glitter, in that it kept coming off the letters.  So it was put aside in my craft room.

We over the weekend Melissa went to a friends for a girls night sleepover.  This was my chance to do something with the banner.  I felt inspired.  It was the perfect opportunity to also have a play with the new Teresa Collins Modeling Paste.  Oh I had so much fun.  Firstly I fixed the glitter problem.  I matted the die-cut letters on some more cardstock, then added a bit extra glitter in areas that looked a little sparse.  To affix the glitter so it would look pretty and yet not fall off I covered the letters with Dimensional Magic - perfect.  You could use Glossy Accents and get the same result.  I put these aside for the rest of Saturday.

In the meantime I took the chance to play with the Teresa Collins Modeling paste and some stencils.  Firstly I used the Teresa Collins Scallop stencil and covered a 12" x 12" grey cardstock ready for a layout.  Maybe not the greatest idea for a first project, but it came together well (I will show you the finished result later in the week).  The paste is so easy to work with.  So next I grabbed the painted chipboard and a variety of stencils and went to work (OK play).  Working with a smaller area was a lot easier.  As soon as a background was done that stencil went straight to the laundry sink and cleaned so the modeling paste did not have time to dry on the stencil. (unfortunately I did not take photos as I went, only the finished project)

On Sunday I was able to put the whole thing together and I am really pleased with the results.  I added some die-cut doily bits as well as some butterflies and flowers punched using the Martha Stewart Layering punches.

I suppose this winter it is time to work on some of my cross-stitch projects that need finished from previous years (shhhh ... I rather be scrapbooking LOL!)

Take Time Be Creative Part 2

I have been thinking a lot about this topic this week and I have discovered part of our problem is that we feel like we are not allowed to take time for ourselves.  But honestly, we need that time.  By taking time to be creative and to enjoy the process we are recharging ourselves so that we can do the other things of life.  I have also discovered there are times when we feel inspired to be creative and other times when we don't.  When we are inspired our creativity just flows and we can make things almost with ease.  We we don't feel inspired it can be very hard.  Creativity can not be forced, creativity should be a fun and playful activity.

As adults we are suppose to be serious and grown up (really?!)  Are we not allowed to be fun and playful ... of course we are, it's just that I think sometimes we forget about it.  We should take time to let that fun and playfulness out.

I came across a neat little video that I would like to share with you about creativity and see if sometime this weekend you can give yourself some time to let the fun, playful and creative side of you show.

Take time to be creative

It is so hard when life just seems to constantly get in the way of being about to sit down and create.  Driving people here and there for school, work, groceries, taking care of the house, meals and then of course you have to fit work in there some where as well as family time.  It is exhausting just keeping up with life - or at least that is how I feel some times.

Some how for me crafting and being creative recharges me (ok so does exercise) but crafting seems to help spark more creativity.  I would like to challenge myself this year to spend a bit more time each week to be creative.  It maybe making a card, a layout or even writing or drawing.  But putting the creativity back in the everyday.

So last weekend I grabbed some paper and a fun design from the Silhouette online shop and this is what happened.

It was really fun to create this little box.  Honestly I have no idea what I am going to do with this.  The process of making it was the reason for creating it.

I do get to be creative each month with the ScrapPacks and here are the layout I created this month.

 I loved creating this layout and using the sewing machine and then roughing up the edges of the pattern paper

 This layout is of my girls and I at the Color Run.  The funny part is we were spectators and did not participate this year.  But it looks like so much fun we will definitely be doing the 5km run next year.  Getting covered in powdered paint and partying afterwards is an awesome idea.

 I really liked these big concrete blocks down at the Auckland Viaduct and thought, "Time for a ME layout"

 Over the summer holidays we found some awesome mountain biking trails in Rotorua.  We now have an excuse to go away for a weekend now and then this year - stunning forest!

Lastly this month I decided it would be fun to pay tribute with a layout for at least one of the sets of duckling we had at our place this year.  I think over all we ended up with four separate families of ducklings over the course of the season (we still have one set visiting now and then even though there are just about to learn to fly)

So on that note I am going to go be creative before I need to do the next life run ... how about you?

In the Garden

I love scrapbooking, it isn't a job to me it is something that makes me happy and I love being able to share what I love with others.  To inspire others.

I have discovered that as much as I love my scrapbooking it is also good to enjoy other things too.  I always admired how my mother could grow such beautiful and bountiful gardens.  In the last few years or so I have started trying to grow veggies and flowers.  This year has to be one of my best years.  I have had a bountiful harvest of strawberries, not much else as my strawberries kind of took over.

Anyway, I was checking on my veggie patch the other day and my poor little self seeded tomato plant - I almost lost it in the wind a couple of days before.

But then I turned around and just happened to look over at the other side of my back yard and was very surprised by some more self seeded tomato plants.  I have a habit that I chuck stuff out from my veggie garden to the area behind me.  I had done this last year with some not so good tomatoes from last years plants and to my surprise this is what I saw.

It is also funny as I was just mentioning to Brad that I needed some more veggie garden beds and in these areas where I found the new tomato plants.  So now I guess I should do some cleaning up of the areas and create a better bed for them.

Also this season my wonderful Mum was kind enough to give some of her Dahlia tubas.  I have not had a go at growing flowers in a very long time.  But this has been the result this year.  I am very excited about maybe getting more flower gardens going as time allows.

This weekend I decided to tidy up the rock garden I have between my house and the garage.  It had become a little unruly with some weeds.  I was given some wonderful weed mat by a lovely friend and so decided it was time to move all the stones, put down some weed mat and put all the stones back again.  It is now completed and I am very pleased with the results.  There are a few more stones that I have found in another area of the garden and will move them to here during the week.

When moving all the stones I did find some little paving slabs.  Instead of hiding them under the stones this time I have moved then and they are now in between my veggie garden beds to make it easier to get to the beds and to keep the weeds down there too.

This is a view looking down from our front deck.  I am very pleased with the results so far in my garden.  It is nice to have another hobby that lets me get outside and a little exercise at the same time (yep, feeling some muscles I had forgotten about today).

I do think I will be in my craft room this afternoon creating so will post again real soon.

January 2014 ScrapPack Extra

As you have probably heard me say already, I really enjoyed working with the January ScrapPack.
It was funny, I just kept making things.  Normally I do four layout and if I'm lucky a card.  But this time I did 5 layouts and two cards.  However the fifth layout I could not fit into this months newsletter, so I decided it would be fun to put it here and share it with you.

My youngest daughter really enjoyed being a part of last years school projection so I thought I would create a layout of her with some of her friends at production.

I found a really cool background die-cut for my Silhouette that was all cogs and cut that out of the Bazzill Wheat cardstock that some in the ScrapPack and adhered this to the Bazzill Candlelight cardstock - also in the ScrapPack.

I love the decorative corner on the Teresa Collins Memorabilia Recorded pattern paper so tore this off and adhered it to the bottom right corner of my layout.

Then I added my photos in a bit of a cluster and so that my bottom photo overlapped part of the 'Recorded' paper but sat just above the 'recorded' word.
I trimmed some of the geometric circles to a bit of a border and added that just under my portrait photo for a bit of interest.

I cut a piece of the arrows pattern paper and added that as a bit of a border but tucking it under part of that 'recorded' corner.  I also added a small amount of one of the narrow borders from the Teresa Collins Memorabilia Borders in the ScrapPack, but only had it go part way under the arrows border.

The main theme of production was steam-punk so I used some of the Snippets from the Teresa Collins Memorabilia Snippets pattern paper as a couple of embellishments to tie the whole page together.

Lastly I added the date in to bottom left corner.  For journaling I added heaps on the back of the layout.

I hope you like this layout and that it inspires you to try something a little bit different.

If you like this ScrapPack there are a couple left and you can order one through the online shop
just click here.

Feel free to add a comment below.
Thanks and happy scrappin'