It's been one of those days...

Monday NZ time

It's Monday NZ time which means it's time to get a hat and pull out a random name.  Or I could ask Jacob for a number between one and thirty-two and just grab a comment that way.

So the winner:
Big Picture Scrapbooking workshop sounds like it is full of all kinds of wonderful ideas to spark the creative imagination.

Posted by: Mandy Collins| September 23, 2009 at 08:19 AM

Email me, Mandy, and I'll send a big ol' RAk your way!

So what's on this week?  Work for the Aussie Scrap Source blog.  A new Tarisota Kit.  Work for a new book (not my own).  The usual Howard Construction admin stuff,  but I might fit in some shrinky-dinking, some dancing to bad music on Juice TV, some creating Collections houses, feeding nintendogs, baking, a trip to the zoo, watching the occasional bad DVD and reading my book at the park.  Since it's the school holidays and all.

Something cute.... the kids were in bed last night and Paul was outside.  I was in the kitchen.  I called to Paul outside (raising my voice, should have just opened the window, really...).  Abby must have thought I was angry because she went to our bookshelf and got this 'Dammit Doll' down and said "Do you need this Mummy?"

Made with the Tarisota kit last month, meet the Dammit Doll.  Because, you know... I don't make things without a purpose.... and apparently I've told Abby all about it... yes I sewed the whole thing myself.  Don't look too closely.

Laters.

Autumn Escape, Spring and a giveaway.

Spring is here.  We have sunlight.  We have new life in plants, we have spring winds and we have an overwhelming urge to sit in the sun drinking, more often.  (Anyone else?!)  Spring makes me feel optimistic, it makes me feel more social, it makes me overlook some of the things that annoyed me in winter.  How can one feel dreary when this is just two doors down...

This is the Awanui cherry tree that flowered a full two weeks early this year.  It's losing it's blossoms now.  In those Spring winds.  The Westerly that is currently flying thousands of pink blossoms horiztonally past my window at an alarming rate, and then plastering them all over the other neighbours car.  I might not feel so optimistic if it was my car.

I'm saving that photo to use on a special layout.  You know the one.  Where I use that special paper.  that I didn't use last time because I like it so much.  Honestly, sometimes I question myself. 

I chatted to Megan from Sketchbook during the week and she has some places opened up in her retreat.  6-8 November.  See more info here.  I've been to one of Megan's retreats and they are fabulous. 

Autumn Escape classes due to go up next week sometime, keep an eye out for those, as well as an email from Lucy packed with details of what Rachel Tucker, Kelly Goree and I will have to offer.  I'm slowly securing sponsors for our event, with Pink Paislee joining in the fun this week, plus a few other different kinds of sponsors that we'll keep a surprise. 

Thanks for your comments and congrats with the Big Picture Scrapbooking workshop I have coming up next year.  It's going to be chocka FULL of technique.  It's going to have 12 weeks of how-to and this-is-how.  Step by step instructions, tips and techniques with some manufacturer support ang giveaways thrown in.
The main question as I start to work on content is this though... what exactly do you want to learn?  What techniques?  What *kind* of stuff is it that you see that you wish you knew how to do?  I have a list about 3 miles long of possibilities, I have so much to say and show you, if you could help me narrow it down, that'd be appreciated!  Leave me a comment and I'll put together a giveaway to send to one comment, drawn next Monday NZ time.
Free stuff is always fun, right?

Apparently spring makes me feel more generous, too.

Leaving you with a layout from the last Tarisota kit. 
Fun at the Autumn Escape with some amazing ladies.  how 'bout that.
(Photo edited by LG).

Dimensional Details...

Scrapbooking for me is all about playing with paper, and glue and creating *stuff* out of *other stuff*. 

It's layering, it's bringing papers together to create backgrounds, it's dimension and detail.  It's clusters of embellishments and creative titles, it's seeing the embellishment opportunities in patterned papers and bringing them into a layout.  It's bringing all of this together into a creation that makes you look and look again, but still lets the photo and story shine.

That's my goal, anyway.

And this is exactly what I'd love YOU to join me in doing. 

As you will see on Stacy Julian's blog,  I am destined to be one of big PIcture Scrapbooking's 4Experts in 2010.  I'm keeping pretty good company with the following line up:

Cathy Zielske (January, February and March)
Nic Howard (April, May and June)
Claudine Hellmuth (July, August and September)
Donna Downey (October, November, December)

I'm pretty darn excited, I hope you will be too.
Bring it on...

A true purpose.

The library has to be one of my favourite places right now.  I drop my oldest off at an after school activity and relax with my other two kiddos at the library until he finishes.  We browse the shelves, we sit in the couches and read books, we do nothing but hang out among the rows of cleverly written literature.  I've read 24 books since the start of this year, making myself stand up and walk away from my work for half an hour at lunchtime to eat and read, and to read before I fall asleep at night is bliss.  I've gone back 20 years in time to where books are a constant again.

Not all books are loved though.  As we enter the library on a Monday I see the trolley of unwanted books sitting outside.  All or any could be yours for $1.00 each.  Many of them hardcover classics from times gone past, I browse them wondering about the things they have seen in the many homes they've visited, and perhaps, just perhaps I think I could give them a new lease on life.

Like this.

   

 

This old Western, once called "Rustler's Venom" and sold to me by the library as an unwanted book is now something else.  It's a piece of creativity fueled by the contents of this months Tarisota Kit. 

I so enjoyed giving this book new purpose, that I'm considering doing another.  Talking of purpose though, I do look at it and wonder what purpose it has.  Those that know me, know I hate clutter.  I don't have creative stuff everywhere, as cute as things may be, they have to have a purpose to be in my home.  I don't like stuff sitting around.  So I look at the book and really wonder what purpose I've given it. 

I pick up the book and consider sneaking it back on to the library shelf.  It might even become art once it goes back there.  I'm still thinking on that one.  I am concerned that someone might think it was an actual library book (and not one that has been sold out) that I had destroyed.  But just imagine the look on someonee's face as they pulled this book out and looked at it.  Confusion?  Wonder?  Curiosity? 

Still pondering where this book goes for it to discover it's true purpose.

Laters

Things come in threes...

They say things come in threes but this week has been such a run of bad luck that I truly think things run in more than threes.  From the cat that fell from great heights cutting it's stomach open (hello vet bill) to me falling heavily while out walking the other morning (I'm learning walking in the dark isn't a grand idea, I have people walking with me but clearly I need to see where I'm going), to the nit infestations (second time this term dammit), to the sickies.  Abby managed to throw up all through my bed before returning to her own and doing the same there.  The school rang me not long ago to go get Jacob. 

However we all have bad weeks, you know what they say, some days you are the dog, and some days the hydrant.  I was having a low moment halfway through the week and Brady walked up to me, put his arm around me and said "Hydrant day, huh?".  Gotta love the timing.

I also got a little giggle out of Jacob's homework.

Question: What sport would you be playing if you left after scoring a duck?

JAcob's Answer: Shooting.

In fact I'm still laughing at that one, the correct answer of course is Cricket, but I guess the teacher couldn't argue the shooting comment?!!

Off to finish playing with the September Tarisota Kit which was revealed a few days back.  I'll encourage sick kids to make Father's Day cards and hope things return to normal soon.

Just remembering a quote I heard yesterday saying that if everyone threw their problems in a big pile, we'd all quickly grab our own back when we saw everyone elses. 

Happy Day everyone, here's a layout from the  Aussie Scrap Source Blog colour challenge last week.  I'm off to do about the 15th load of washing.
Laters.

 

Kits, anyone?

ALL KITS SOLD OUT, thanks!

I've been cleaning things out.  Making my way through things that build up in my room.  Trying to create enough room to start working on new projects, and start storing things we are slowly collecting for the Autumn Escape.

And I have found kits.  Various bits and pieces from events I have taught at recently.  I'm putting them up for sale here.

Usual story, email me by clicking on the link on the top left of the blog ehre.
Please let me know your name, address, kits needed and for the Buffet kits please let me know if you need GlimmerMist and your prefered colours (cannot guarantee but will try). Payment by direct into bank, or by cheque or paypal if overseas.

Postage is extra - $5.00 north Island, $8.00 South Island. 
Can combine as many kits as you like into one postage cost.

First in, first served!

Multi-Media Mini Album (Autumn Escape 2009). (   2 left  ) $35.00

 

A little bit of this… a little bit of that…some gorgeous trim, flowers, throw in some of the Pink Paislee and Prima and what do you have?  A stunning multi media album perfect for any theme of photos.  Join Nic Howard as she pulls together all manner of materials into a gorgeous mini album packed with techniques you are bound to use for months to come.  Album will suit any theme, photos to be added later.  This class opens your mind to various techniques, meaning that you not only go away from this class with a large mini album ready for all variety of photos, but plenty of ideas and techniques up your sleeve to apply to your own work later.

Students also need:

General Tool kit.

Black ink/Stazon (own or to share)

Permanent tape runner or double sided tape

Crop-o-dile or access to one

Craft knife

Sandpaper

Photos: This is a technique class, focusing on the completion of the album.  Photos can be chosen and added later.

 

 

 

 

Autumn Escape Prima Card Buffet   (  SOLD OUT  ) $35.00

Join Nic Howard in most popular class - the Prima Card buffet!  This original Prima Card Buffet has been hugely popular all over New Zealand.  It's certainly different from your average class,  it's a little bit of everything ... it's fast paced, fun and sure to inspire!  You'll receive full instructions for 6 cards, plus sketches for a possible 20 more different cards.

 

Almost everything you need to create the 6 cards is in the kit but I will include a sampling of Prima flowers and other products in various colours as an extra - the more flowers, the more fun to keep on creating!

 

Extras needed:

Glimmer-mist

GlimmerMist part bottles supplied if requested, an extra $6 for a bottle that will have at least 1/3 in it.

 

 

 

 

Behind the Scenes - by Kim Archer, from Autumn Escape 2009. (   2 LEFT   ) $35.00

 

Multi photo layouts are becoming more and more popular and this layout is the perfect example!  Join Kim Archer as she takes you through techniques to make the most of the space on your layout!  Kim works with new Cosmo Cricket, especially designed handmade embellishments and a little bit of mixed media thrown in... and the clever part?  Materials are supplied in this kit to make the project suitable for the boy or girl in your life!  It's a perfect way to make sure you can include the whole story on one layout.

(note that full instructions are given using specific materials in this kit, but there are approx twice the papers you need, just incase you want to swap things around - BONUS!)

Students also need

General tool kit including Journaling Pen

Stapler/staples (your own or to share)

Embroidery needle

PHOTO: one enlargement - 5x7in portrait orientated photo works best.

Photos for inside the mini booklet - four 3x4” portrait orientated photos.