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Saturday 22 September 2018

Lovely Daydreamer

Michelle Sheriff had taken these photos of Lewis at Bay Explorers in Urangan just after his fifth birthday, on 11th July 2016.  I took about a week after the boys finished kindy to go and raid Bay Explorer's archives of my boys' photos - rich scrapbooking fodder - the boys had an unbelievable time at this amazing facility.  The staff were just amazing and so full of fun. 

I have been itching to scrapbook these photos ever since I got them, really - and then I actually printed them out some months ago.  So finally the urge could no longer be denied! 



I do really enjoy mixing new and old stash - it kind of justifies the collection of it ..... really? Well, in my mind, lol.  I took advantage of the sale our beautiful local craft shop, Art and Soul Studio, had on its first anniversary.  Yeah! So I bought some Crate Paper 'Wild Heart' collection, together with 7 Dots Studio Word Stickers and a few other bits and bobs.  I actually cut into my newest stash - hurray!

Supplies:
CTMH Burlap, Stamp Set - Sweet and Lovely, Black Ink

Patterned Paper:
Crate Paper - 'Wild Heart' Collection - Paradise, Palms
Stamperia
Simple Stories 'Romance' - You and Me
Glitz Design 2013 'Sunshine in my Soul' - Birds (Base Paper)
Kaisercraft 'Chapter One' - Reflect (Quote)
Various Scraps

Ephemera and Embellishments:
Embroidered Brad - My Mind's Eye
Stamen, Beads, Aqua Stickles, Microbeads
Heidi Swapp Sheer Stickers 'Love'
7 Dots Studio Word Stickers 'Garden Party'
Chipboard - Memory Maze
Prima flowers
Making Memories Washer - 'Believe'

Mixed Media:
Ranger Opague Matte Texture Paste
Paints - Jo Sonja acrylic 'Stillwater', Burnished Copper, Kaisercraft Burnt Umber, Raw Umber
Hero Arts Stencil Pair - 'Sky'

Dies:
Tim Holtz Alterations - Sizzix Thinlets - 'Holiday Greens'
Sizzix Framelits Nesting Dies - 'Stars'

The background paper Glitz Design 'Birds' was a lovely combo of Burnt and Raw Umber - but I have more or less obliterated the background with paint, which is such a shame.  I had to cover up my mistakes - I used the Ranger Opaque Matte Texture paste, sloshed around with ink and paint, to form the clouds on the background, lightly adding some touches of Burnished Copper to make the clouds stand out.  But I botched it when I added in the dark pine green texture paste stars - I ended up painting them mostly out as they didn't come through the stencil cleanly, so I have applied a whole starry background onto a piece of black cardstock, glitter glueing them, then cutting out and sticking onto the layout later.  What a palaver! 


I matted the photos with the Crate Paper 'Paradise' paper - it had enough pattern to be a contrast, but was still soft and muted.  Bay Explorers have a lovely tropical garden in the middle, so I wanted something lush and green to go with this layout.  I didn't want to showcase the cardbox box in the photo too much, so I ended up embellishing over most of it.  I added tiny slivers of patterned paper as contrast, and a softening of the edges between the quote and the photos - that piece of Kaisercraft Chapter One 'Reflect' paper has the most gorgeous quotes all over it, so I just cut out exactly what I needed, to be able to use the rest elsewhere.   

I covered the Making Memories washer with Rose Gold permanent marker and then sealed in the colour with Glossy Accents.  I have a huge tub of metal embellishments bought in 2004 - 2005 - and it will probably take me my lifetime to use them! 

I painted the Memory Maze chipboard with Raw Umber, and then Burnished Copper.  I have used some of the negative waste from the chipboard as embellishment points around the layout to add some impact.  

 

I think the Aqua Stickles and Microbeads just give a lift and add some light and brightness to the layout.  I had to keep glueing in individual microbeads to satisfy my OCD in terms of placement.   No wonder I hardly scrap like this anymore! 


Annoyingly, my left detail image won't rotate, but it does the job - I have used minute quantities of about six different pieces of patterned paper.  It really does justify the hoarding! I added stamens to one brown flower, and then glued copper beads in the middle of two others.  For my black flowers, I robbed some other flowers of their metallic bead middles as they needed to pop a little.  

So I've dusted off my blog and my multi-media scrapbooking at the same time - let's hope I get the time and inspiration to continue! 

Thanks for visiting today.  :)

Thursday 10 May 2018

100 Day Project .... Days 27 - 29

Day 27


I used a random numbered 4 x 6 Black and White PL card, a Spellbinders travel set for the "adventure" die, and some Hero Arts stamps for the world.  


Day 28 


I was very kindly sent a load of die-cuts of various shapes, and I covered this dream catcher in glitter.  The base card is PL Heidi Swapp "My Favourite Things".  I like this one! 

Day 29 


Again - I used a PL Heidi Swapp "Sparkle" 3 x 4 card with a bunch of different pinks.  Great for a little girl, or a pink loving person! By taking a photo with the light on, but trying to escape camera flare, I have actually captured some of the sparkle of the glitter ....

100 days is a very long haul and I am determined to finish, but it almost certainly won't be by the original finish date.  Sometimes I am feeling quite creative, but to continually use this rectangular shape is pretty restrictive ... oh well! A slight pile of my cards will be used, with a bit more hope that they will eventually fit into their storage box ....

Thanks for stopping by.

#100 Day Project ... Days 22 - 26

It’s been a busy time between commissions and appointments for children ... finally getting a window to upload cards.

Like a Nong, I forgot to take a photo of my Day 22 Project .... a commission for a seven year old girl, so you’ll have to take my word for it.

Day 23 - 25th April ...


Thank you to some very kind crafters on a Facebook group for sending me some supplies when they heard about our family situation.  The pink patterned paper and the die-cut were donations and I die-cut from a pink sparkly card from the Heidi Swapp "Sparkle" kit.   

Day 24 - 26th April - 


Blue glitter cards here and next card also from the Project Life Heidi Swapp designed "Sparkle" range.  I have also used up every last skerrick of paper from the Bo Bunny "Allora" range - it was quite therapeutic to cut all the flowers, leaves and other little bits from the paper.  I love the vibrancy!

Day 25 - 27th April ... 


Quite a busy card and not really my style, but I just used the last bits and pieces of things that I had.  Bright and happy - that's the main thing.  Back soon with more cards - I am having some technical difficulties with updating this blog, due to uploading.  I hope to work it out, eventually!  




Saturday 28 April 2018

Custom Cards - Mother’s Day

A break from the 100# Day Project - for which I am now behind, but hope to catch up. I have been lucky enough to have some card orders - I am proud to say that card sales this year have propelled me over 2/3 of the way for me to have independently paid for the boys’ paediatric appointments of $600. I really only started in March, so that is a great result.

I had a brief of “wine, or art” for a Mother’s Day card.

I came up with this  ....


I downloaded a palette and easel image from the internet. The background was made by scribbling Gelatos onto a canvas background.  When the boys were born, I bought a cheap gessoed pad and stamped their feet images onto it with blue ink, so I am reusing the other side ... waste not, etc! 

My first time using Gelatos ... a bit tricky, considering I used such a textured background, but I liked the result. I used mostly the bright palette with one colour from the Pastel range. 

Once I cut out the image and stamped on the sentiment, I lay the paper on the background and it really needed softening. The flowers on their own were far too harsh too.  I rummaged around 8n my scraps beads and found some ancient slivers of patterned paper ... K and Co for the butterfly and the ladybird, and Basic Grey “Lily Kate”for the paisley flowers and leaves.  It added a touch of whimsy to the card, which was perfect.  Lashings of glitter glue to lift the colour and make it pop! I thought the gold border might do it, but it was flat and unappealing, so the border also got glitter bombed! The customer is pleased ... and I 2as pushed out of my comfort zone to try something new.  Thanks for stopping by. 

Supplies: 
Canvas Pad
Downloaded easel and palette image 
Bright and Pastel Faber- Castell Gelatos
Gold mist and pen
Crystallina Kindyglitz
Close To My Heart “Say it All Occasions” sentiment stamps, Lagoon dye ink, Mini-gems
Prima flowers
Patterned Paper - K and Co, Basic Grey “Lily Kate” 

Sunday 22 April 2018

#100 day project - Days 17 -19

At the end of this post, I am officially ahead!  Quite amazing.  I think the secret is to KISS ..... but that is not always easy, either.

Day 17 - 20th April

Loved this bright yellow paper - so teamed it with clouds and sunshine.  The Project Life card has edelweiss and blossoms of snow wording - highly unlikely that I would have ever used it except as background.  I've used up some more Bazzill Basics Just the Edge strips.  Craftwork Cards Sentiments stamps and CTMH Canary Ink.  I love the Daisy! 

Day 18 - 21st April


Broke out a new mini-kit!  Project Life Heidi Swapp designed 'Sparkle'.  A bit girly for my pages, but lovely for a card.  Used some paper from the Hot Off the Press cardmaking book that my friend Jan gave me a white back.  Kept pretty simple.  I've found one of my corner punches nicely emulates the rounded corner of the old Project Life cards - they are square now - so much easier! 

Day 19 - 22nd April 


Using up some of my scraps - Punched the background from various grey and blue scraps.  I used a Project Life Sparkle quotation embellishment.  Flower from stash - the dark blue centre was a scrap on my desk from a previous project.  I opened up a fairly new purchase - a Prima "Zella Teal" beautiful gems - all shades of Aurora Borealis.  Just beautiful and irresistable, when I saw them in my local craft shop.  Adds such a different to the card IRL.  I had previously done the background, so it was very simple to add the rest for today's card.  

Day 20 - 23rd April 


So - ta da!  Here's tomorrow's card - back to a Project Life Picturesque card that I chose when I went through this kit.  The black shiny background was another page repurposed from that Myer One Catalogue from a few years back. The greeting is embossed with silver.  The grey cardstock matt for the PL card is outlined very finely in silver.  I thought the anchor was a lovely symbol of strength if someone was having a hard time and was cut out of black sparkly thicker paper, so I backed it onto cardstock before cutting out.  Very simple!  

A fifth of the way into the project and I am already pushing the boundary of what I am using.  Maybe I will just broaden the definition to term Project Life supplies .... but that may be cheating.  

Thanks for stopping by! 

Friday 20 April 2018

#100dayproject - Days 15 - 17

I feel like I am doing well with this challenge, but it is a bit difficult trying to keep up.  Even though I am not working at the moment, this week has been full of "life administration" I heard it referred to on the TV.

I am starting a new volunteer role as Treasurer of the boys' school's P and C, so that will be quite a steep learning curve for me as well.  Never mind!  A busy woman always makes time, so they say ....

Day 15 - 17th April 


Using Project Life Tangerine

Of the three, I think this is my favourite - probably because of the colours and the ease with which it came together.  I love bright, zingy colours.

I broke out my Martha Stewart around the Page punches - not sure what this one is called - but I had to add lots of covering twirly bits to cover up my mistakes.  Same with all three cards, in fact!  
Day 16 - 18th April 


Using Project Life Tangerine

Day 17 - 19th April 


Unknown card - pink  

My birthday card client had a stack of old scrapbooking papers and not being at all crafty, she handed them over to me.  This card took forever to come together, as I kept making mistakes.  I am really happy with it in the end, but it took a LONG time.  

Full list of supplies:
American Crafts A4 Tropicals Cardstock - bases for cards 1 and 2 
A6 white card - base 3
Dies - Richard Garay Silver and Gold Marigold (leaves), generic button, Die-namics Leafy Flourish (card 3)
Prima Flowers (Wildflowers) butterfly and flowers
Gems, enamel dots
Sizzix Triplets Flowers ~3 by Stephanie Barnard (card 3)
Martha Stewart Around the Page punches - triple scallop
Close to My Heart  - Pacifica, Goldrush, Slate inks, Junebug Puffies Glitter Stickers
Stamps - Basic Grey (scallop greeting card), Craftwork Cards Sentiments, Stampin' Up!  Curly Cute
Crystallina Kindyglitz

So - if anyone is reading this, and is interested in purchasing some cards, please do let me know .... 
Thanks for dropping by.  :)

Monday 16 April 2018

#100 day project - Days 11-14

Keeping on track and enjoying the challenge .... to produce a handmade card per day for 100 days, using a Project Life card.
Day 11 - 13th April
Project Life Picturesque

A move away from clean and simple - but that's ok.  Not one of my favourites, but that's ok, too.  I used a Tim Holtz Ticket Journey stamp and decided to stamp in the white background of the PL card.  CTMH Juniper and Slate inks, sequins and jewelled swirls. 

Day 12 - 14th April 
Project Life Picturesque

The background is grey shimmer cardstock.  The star is silver shimmer, with silver Shimmer trim from CTMH.  The ticket stamp is by Paula Pascaul.  I finally used a Puffy Glitter sticker from CTMH.  The grey circle was on my desk.  

Day 13 - 15th April 
Project Life Picturesque


A complete departure - I cut the scene from the Project Life card.  Silver embossing on the black greeting label.  I received a Myer One Reward catalogue in the mail a couple of years ago, and the background images are all lovely - high gloss photography.  Good for something a bit different for card backgrounds.  There is also black silk ribbon along with the silver Shimmer Trim and the grey washi.  I edged the grey journalling shape with black diamond Stickles.  I was imagining a disaster but it turned out quite well.  

Day 14 - 16th April 
Project Life Seafoam 


Today's effort - I decided for a change of colour way and used a 6 x 4 Seafoam card.  I decided to break out my trusty circle punches and stamped the star background using CTMH Juniper ink.  I have had the stamp for quite some years - I was pleased with the result.  

Thanks for stopping by.  :)




Sunday 15 April 2018

Welcome Tucker - 15th April 2018

A friend just has her fifth baby, a boy named Tucker:  I love the name - it seems especially Australian for some reason.

So I started by setting out my supplies ...

A customer just gave me a bag of papers that she has no use for.  One of them was this blue gingham check, which I always find lovely for babies.

Another thing I particularly wanted to use was this blue baby self adhesive ribbon. So I found some coordinating blue cardstock and went from there.


Supplies:
Blue cardstock (Cricut)
Blue gingham patterned paper
Blue self adhesive ribbon
Bella baby die cuts
Adorn It! Tiny Whoopsy Teal Alphabet
Die-namics flat bottomed Clouds
MFT Puffy Clouds
MFT Stitched Circle Die
Close to My Heart Gold Shimmer Trim


I have made a couple of baby cards recently, and they never gelled.  Today, this one gelled, luckily.  I bought the pack of Bella die-cuts because they were on sale on Spotlight and when opening the pack, some of the die-cuts were really weird - I know they were meant to be vintage, but one of them looked like Chucky from the horror film!  That one was immediately filed in the bin.  I added the very fine strip of gold Glimmer Trim on the bottom and then I realised the golds didn't match - I went over the strip with some Champage Stickles, which matched the other glitter much more closely.

I am very happy with how this card turned out - now to give to the new mother!

Thursday 12 April 2018

The 100 Day Project - Day 9 and 10

Day 9 

Using a 6 x 4 as a base card from the Project Life range “Picturesque” (designed by Heidi Swapp) - again, my favourite ever greeting set from Stampin’ Up! called Curly Cute and other bits from my grey scraps bag. Flower and stamen from Spellbinders, Grey sequins and Slate ink from Close to My Heart. A calming and subtle card.  

Day 10 - on track, 12th April


Again, using a 6 x 4 card from the Project Life “Picturesque” range. Such a beautiful image! I broke out my Around the Block Dymo labeller for the birthday sentiment and cut out a round scalloped border using my Sizzix and Die-namics stitched circle dies.  I added a daisy and a touch of glitter- and 10% of the 100 Day Project is done! I envisage using a lot more cards from this range as it is so versatile, with lots of beautiful greys and navies.  Very modern, and great for both men and women.  

Thanks for looking .... 

Wednesday 11 April 2018

The 100 Day Project - Days 7 and 8


Day 7 
I used a 6 x4 card from the Project Life “Cobalt” range - I really like these masculine colours. I added a navy grosgrain ribbon, and my favourite Stampin Up’ greeting set. I added a compass for a bit of detail in navy cardstock backed on copper shimmery paper. 


Day 8

My favourite card so far - from Project Life Tangerine.  So bright and zingy! I die cut a sentiment base using a curving stitched die and then matched that curve and cut the edge with my post stamp edge scissors.  I white embossed the same greeting and added a flower, leaves and flower middle.  I am temporarily up to date - let’s see how long it lasts! 

Tuesday 10 April 2018

The #100 Day Project

She titles, as she blows off more cobwebs ...

Most people know that I am a very crafty person.  Have been for many years. Love it - don’t really get enough time to do it as I would wish - everyone who has kids knows this.

I found out about the 100 day project from my UK friend, Fiona - to create or do 100 things commencing 3rd April.  I just jumped in and said yes .... I am “currently seeking alternate employment opportunities” so what with Paul undertaking full time study, I am attempting to raise some funds to support the family, use some stash and take my mind and stress of being unemployed by selling my hand made cards.


I decided to use Project Life cards as a base and go from there.  Figured it was a good time to start posting on the old blog again. So without further ado ....

Day 1 - 3rd April.

Using strips of brown scraps and washi as a background.  

Day 2 - 4th April 

Very simple - using my Tim Holtz embossing folder on a black base, with lots of gold gems.  

 Day 3 - 5th April

I love to add shine and glitter.  On a tan base, I added a PL 3 x 4 "Seafoam".  Lots of brown scraps and then die cut the star.  

Day 4 - 6th April 


Using a 6 x 4 Kaisercraft "Basecoat" card and the Kaisercraft honeycomb die.

Day 5 - 7th April


Something a bit different - using a 6 x 4 PL card from the "Happy" collection.  I bought an unbranded die, and added some stamping to the card for the dirt tracks.  I stamped the sentiment but it was all wonky - so I cut out the individual letters and stuck them on the card.  I added washi and glitter tape at the top for some pizzazz.

Day 6 - 8th April.
Using PL 3 x 4 "Happy".  I glittered around the sentiment with Stardust Stickles.  Bright and happy.

That's it so far - more to upload, but it's been a process getting up to speed between Iphone, Ipad and the laptop - let's hope the impetus continues.

Thursday 11 January 2018

Thursday, 11th January 2018

No change with Henry on Ritalin.  Phoned for the Paediatrician, who phoned me back.  Dr Dede advised me to increase Henry’s dose to TWO tablets in the morning and one at lunchtime ... let’s see how this goes ...

Gave two tablets this morning and 1/2 lunchtime.  Henry has been the grumpiest, volatile and tempestuous little boy today ... throwing tantrums and stomping his feet when he doesn’t get his own way. It was remarked on by his classmate’s mum at lunchtime today. Managing this boy’s behaviour is hard work; in the meantime, Lewis had his autism Diagnosis Assessment yesterday .... why will Medicare refund most of Paed appointments, and not Autism Assessments? Surely, people are not going to subject their child to a unnecessary assessment on a capricious whim ...

$300 for a Paed appointment x 2 .....
$210 for an Autism Assessment .... plus no job in the house = disaster.

Thank God I do start a new job next week .... no guarantee of financial security, but at least it is something ...


Tuesday 2 January 2018

Henry - first day on medication 02.01.18

I document this largely for myself,  but also for my son ... if it helps others, then that is great too.

The family had our first paediatrician’s appointment on 29th December ... not impressed, but then I guess, i really don’t need to be if the treatment plan and strategies put in place actually work ...

  • The Paed was late for the appointment and kept us all waiting.  As it was a double appointment for both Henry and Lewis, then I felt sorry for the patients for the remainder of the day, as they would have been even more delayed. 
  • He clearly hadn’t read the paperwork I had laboured to compile.  A definite arrogance and indifference, I feel .... 
Still, at least he seemed to confirm Henry’s diagnosis of ADHD without issue .... there was no discussion about the Sensory Seeking Disorder which is just as difficult to manage.

With Lewis, there is a more arduous testing process for Autism, and I very much respect that if the eventual diagnosis means that it is managed more responsibly and treated with gravitas ....

So upon being paid and being worn out with Henry’s tumultuous behaviour, I made the decision to fill the prescription for Ritalin today.  I then decided that there was no better time for closely monitoring than school holidays, so I gave him his lunchtime dose of 1/2 Ritalin tablet at lunchtime.  

The Paed has prescribed 1 tablet in the morning, which does seem like a largish dose to me.  So we shall monitor Henry’s behaviour, in an attempt to observe changes.

All I can say is that at the moment, Henry is an extremely challenging 6 year old who is full of his own importance and is always right. He is argumentative and demanding, constantly seeking stimulus  who will do anything to get his own way. He is needy and like a whirlwind, having to be involved in everything, doesn’t hear ‘no’ and would spilt your eardrums at 1000 paces .... yet, get him at a good moment, is extremely affectionate, loving and can be very helpful. Doesn’t like loud noises, yet is the loudest hellion on two thin, wiry pins this side of the Equator.  

Day 1: no change.  Exhausting, constantly pushing boundaries, rude, cheeky with incessant energy until his battery runs out at lights out .... 

Let’s see what tomorrow brings.