It's been one of those days...

The cone fairies, a chilly thursday and getting motivated

I'm an earlybird.  I'm out of the house by 5.20am every weekday.  It's a different world at that time of the morning.  The streets are full of people walking, running, exercising the dog.  It's pitch dark, the reflective clothing lights up on the footpaths as I drive past.  I wonder sometimes agenda these people have.  Why are they out so early? What does their day hold that means they have to be out when it's so dark?

Most people won't realise what driving dangers exist before 5.30am.  The 'cone fairies' come out in the cover of darkness and shift roadworks cones around the town.  What once was a round-about closed for roadworks suddenly becomes fine to drive through, not really, without cones there to close it, it's a gamble if one should be driving there... with the cones mysteriously shifted 50m down the road where they lie across the road for no reason.  Seriously.  I play cone dodgems on the way to the gym every morning.  it's a scary situation for someone that is barely awake, never mind having to figure out whether the cones are guiding me where they are meant to. 

By the time I return home the cones have somehow shuffled back to where they should be, traffic is heavier, people are out and about, and noone is any the wiser to the cone-moving that has gone on during the night.

I might do a layout about the mysterious shuffling road cones.  Note to self.  Get photo.

I'm scrapping today.  I have assignments to do and I've been doing everything but create layouts.  I have sorted a humungous amount of product, class supplies, prizes, giveaways and other random stuff for Autumn Escape.  I've read a little more about the study I'll start next month.  I've paid the bills.  I've come to the conclusion that procrastination really is an essential part of the creative process.

While I was not creating anything I was also updating facebook and blog-hopping.  While reading Tracie Hudson's blog I was inspired by a few things.  Firstly, all the layouts - that lady is a scrapping machine.  But secondly, the way she includes a summary of her day within the post.  I'm inspired. 

The Thursday that showed us Autumn is here:

listening - a playlist my SIL created on my iPod before she went home to London.
feeling - anxious about allowing Jacob to bike to school.
creating - nothing.  I'm still in procrastination stages.
wanting - to finish two assignments today.
needing - to finish two assignments today.
thinking - I need to go buy slippers.
enjoying - the small patch of sun next to my desk.
wondering - whether I'll be awake enough in the morning to take pics of the mysteriously shuffled road cones.

Procrastination over.  Time to create.  I'm in the mood to tap my inner Karola and create something soft and detailed.  Kinda like this layout I created for Prima for CHA.
laters

 

 

 

No more procrastinating. True Scrap!

If I was hanging out for a weekend of full-on inspiration, 12 amazing teachers, 12 classes and virtual make n takes, but I couldn't get to any events, TRUE SCRAP might be the event I'd choose.   You don't have to leave home, heck you could even stay in your jammies if you want.  Tune in for the classes and be inspired right.where.you.are.  Those of us that are clever will be stocking on food and refreshments and not even getting out of our seats.  OK so maybe once or twice. 

I'm here to give you the details of my involvement and how you can get yourself a little package of happiness - enought little bits and pieces to get you started in my class!  Every single person that clicks my link, browses, registers for True Scrap and sends me their receipt, will be sent this little package of bits and pieces. 

 

The thing is that human nature makes us put things off.  How many of you clicked the link and thought "That looks cool, I might register for that" and then you forget and when you've heard it's started, you'll kick yourself?  Hmm yea I do that too.  No more procrastinating!  Although I do feel that procrastination is key to the creative process.  NO more!  Register and send me the receipt and I'll send you a cute little gift.  No matter where you are in the world.  It's on me.  Because I think we should all be inspired, and sometimes a little encouragement is all it needs.

And what can you expect from me?  "Touch me" - a lesson in texture.  A superspeedy everything-you-ever-wanted-to-know about the texture I pack into my pages.  Visit True Scrap to find out more.

 

Giveaway closes April 1st 2011.  True Scrap must be purchased through linking from this blog.  Receipt sent to me by email is required. 

 

Sunday Summary

 
Another week comes to an end.  We had a fun working bee over the weekend, my house was full of music, laughter, scrapbooking products, glimmermisting, cutting, creating and the occasional empty wine bottle.  As much as I enjoy the whole amazing atmosphere of the Autumn Escape weekend, I also love the weeks leading up to it.  My house was positively overflowing with inspiration yesterday. It was one of those yesssssssss moments that doesn't happen very often! 

So Autumn Escape registration is being wrapped up about now.  Last days for registrations. Yes, we still have space!  (If you have been thinking about coming along, please do so!  It was previously sold out, then we had a few cancellations, it'd make my day to have it sold out again and we are SO CLOSE!)

For those of you that had no idea I had gone all techo, Autumn Escape finally has a home on the web.  Info about the event hadn't always been readily available to those of you that weren't registered, but with the new website, it's there all the time.  It's easier now to see what goes on - well you see the official stuff anyway.  You don't see the unofficial-behind-the-scenes-weekend-working-bee-fun stuff, but that's probably lucky in some regard.

The rest of the week in a Sunday summary...

* The new Prima BAP is out - it's the March sketch with room for 3 photos and plenty of embellishing.  My version is below.  See the sketch here, create your own version, send it in and be in to winfree stuff with Prima.  Prima and free stuff in one sentence.  Love it.

* My new website is live - it's a home for Autumn Escape.  About time, really!

* I've just had a new 4 week workshop approved for Big Picture.  YAY!  I'll be creating that through my winter.

* I've also just finished a 'Project Now' instant download class at Big Picture - I'll let you know when it's gone live!

* I'm gearing up for TRUE SCRAP.  My class is called "Touch me!"  That still cracks me up.

Anyway - have you seen my floor?  Me neither.  It's buried. In boxes.  And flowers.  And other stuff that makes my kids stop and yell questions at me from the other side of the room because they can't walk through it.  Fun fun fun!

Enjoy your week - I'll be updating again in a few days with an incentive to join in on True Scrap!

Leaving you with my March BAP - this was my Chrsitmas card pic this year.  Abby has less of a smile on because she didn't want to be beside Jacob in the photo. Apparently big brothers are stinky.  I knew that already.

laters

 

 

 

 

True Scrap

A little while ago I got an email from Lain Ehmann.  For those of you that aren't familiar with Lain, she is a former editor at Simple Scrapbooks magazine, one of the 4Experts at Big Picture Classes, and she runs challenges on her website Layoutaday.com .  So I get this email addressed to me directly and I think hmmmm does she have the right Nic Howard?  And I mean, there is a famous landscaper in the UK called Nic Howard and a famous videographer in the USA called Nic Howard but I don't think either are scrapbookers so I guess it was me she wanted... so anyway, it was an invite to participate in True Scrap.

True Scrap is a massive online scrapbooking weekend.  April 7th, 8th, 9th.  It involves 12 different teachers teaching 12 different classes, steaming live to you, right to your computer.  Teachers from Shimelle Laine, to Kelli Crowe, to Jennifer McQuire, and a keynote welcome from Ali Edwards.   Class topics covering alsorts of stuff from photography, embellishing, using your stash and a whole lot more.
I'll be there teaching a class on acheiving a little dimension in your pages - something I love - so that's very cool!

There are also virtual make n takes as well - it's a whole lot of scrapbooking!

Which is cool because although we have a lot of cool events around the world we could travel to, it's not always easy or accessible to everyone.  To have all these teachers in one place with an option to access the recordings later - it's got to be a good thing.

So there ya go!  This is the link to find out more - take a little time to read the teacher bios and class descriptions, have a little listen to Lain's video  - see if True Scrap is something you might be interested in. 

And something else cool - Lain has said she will donate $1 from every ticket sold to the Christchurch Earthquake fundraising efforts.  That just blows my mind.  Support from the scrapbooking community in the USA.  It makes me feel incredibly humble and super proud to be involved with such a great group of ladies :)

Hoping you can join me!

Laters

 

 

Fundraising

A week later.  At 12.51pm today I'll observe the two minute silence as a mark of respect for those in Canterbury that are hurting after the earthquake. 

The Canterbury region remains in the front of my mind daily.  I still worry.  I worry more and more about the economic effects this will have on the area.  It breaks my heart to see the mass exodus of people leaving the area.  I understand, it's likely I'd be doing the same, but it's so sad. 

Residents in that area must find it hard to think that the rest of the country is continuing their daily routines while they are hurting so badly.  The truth is though that you are all still in our minds, in our hearts and as a country I am proud of how we are pulling as many resources together to fundraise where we can. The effects of the earthquake are being felt all around the country, you aren't alone.

Louise Williams has been doing a fabulous job of gathering items for auction for Christchurch.  If you aren't familiar with what I am talking about, please search Auctions for Christchurch on facebook. 

Lucy & I have donated an Autumn Escape package for one to the auctions.  Those of you out there that wanted to come to Autumn Escape but couldn't quite make it - please bid!  It's a chance to donate funds to the earthquake appeal AND enjoy an amazing weekend away in April.

Better yet, ScrapbookOutletNZ has donated $500 towards travel costs to get you to Autumn Escape within the same auction.  It's $1000 in value.

Please search the "Auctions for Christchurch" group on facebook and bid!!  Please bid as much as you can afford to donate to the Earthquake appeal!  How about two or three people pooling their bidding power and combining to win the auction?  Then splitting the prize between you so that you get half a free registration and some travel costs covered?  There are still other spots available at Autumn Escape too.

 

Dig deep NZ and please spread the word that these auctions are going on.  There is a whole pile of cool stuff up for auction!

Still thinking of you, Christchurch.

Laters.