Scrappy Chic Room

Life is doing my head in ..... lol

OK .... so not the most eloquent of blog post titles, but at the moment life is driving me to insanity.  After 9 months, we have finally sold our house (horay!!!!) and of course Murphy's Law has kicked in with the date of settlement - it couldn't have come at a worse time.  I have major designing to do for CHA, as from today two little rugrats to cater for, plus packing to move, plus trying to find a temporary home, and making decisions about whether to buy or build.  Nothing Major.  Agggggggghhhhhhhhh!!!!!!

So as you can imagine, I don't know whether I'm Arthur or Martha, what day it is and on top of that there is a rumour that Christmas is fast approaching.  At our house.  Again.  Don't get me wrong, I am totally thankful for the selling of the house, it is a major worry eliminated, but unfortunately it has just been replaced by other stresses...... hmmmmmm and Im trying to maintain dietary discipline as well.  OK somethings gotta give.  And because it can't be my eating habits, I decided my insanity was up for grabs.  So please forgive me if I am ranting and raving ...... I should return to normal sometime next year ...... lol .......

Amoung that craziness, I did manage to take some photos of my sweet friend Molly's new little baby, Taylor Grace.  She is just beautiful.  It was so lovely to hold a newborn again, only 4 weeks old, so fresh and new.  I only had about an hour to get these shots in between sleeping, crying and other distractions (yes, you Miss Madi) but .... I really loved how these turned out.

How cute is this ... I was lucky to get this shot, because she woke up about 5 mins later demanding Mum !!!!

 

Beautiful Miss Georgia with her new baby sister.....

A personal fav. of mine, I just love the joy in this photo, it makes my heart sing...

and the darling little Taylor .... isn't she just divine ?

So .... scrappy stuff.

This was the layout I created for December BAP over at Prima.  I love these papers that were released quite a while ago, and seized the opportunity to use them again.... as well as Ingvild's beautiful resin. (I just can't get enough !!!!!).

I was also thrilled to have this layout featured over at 2 peas last week.  Icing on the cake .... lol.

This second layout is in the January Edition of Creating Keepsakes, a commission on how to use stickers !!! There are three examples, bling on stickers (round floral sticker, embossing on stickers (border underneath photo) and using stickers in a banner. I used alot of beautiful Melissa Frances (another sigh!!!) which i adore, her white resin is to die for. Anyhow this layout is how despite everything, the highs, lows, tantrums and laughter, somehow we still love each other after 15 years of marriage. Mark really is such a beautiful blessing in my life. 

Thanks so much for coming and visiting and listening to my crazy life atm.

Steph xo

 

Funtoolas - Guest Designer for December .....

 

Hey sweet readers, just want to share some creations that have been working on for the December Kit at Funtoolas !!!  The lovely Cindy asked me to guest ages ago, and we finally teed up a date ..... luckily for me the kit contained the beautiful Pion Design - Waiting for Santa II papers.  It was such a beautful kit to work with.

So firstly a layout, using Pion Papers.  The colors on these papers are heavily reduced and they give your Christmas projects such a gorgeous vintage feel.  In shabby blue, red and brown, these colors work together so well with the vintage images you can see on the papers.  Isn't the Vintage Santa so gorgeous ?

The next project I created was a card, again focusing on the sweet Christmas Vintage Images.  

 

Lastly a tag, (which I seem to be making so many of lately) - how lush are those antique wrought iron embellishments ?  Their beauty matches the cute little birdies you will find on the Pion Papers.

 Well its getting mighty close to Christmas, and the close of 2011.  This year has just flown for me, and already 2012 is shaping up to be an exciting year both creatively and in the home front.  I have so much to share soon .... I will keep you posted.

Have a beautiful, blessed week.

 

Freebie - Websters Christmas Tags !!!

How would you like some gorgeous Christmas tags for Free ......

Aren't they just gorgeous ... and this is just the first three !!!!!

Designer Julie Walton worked her magic and came up with these...all for YOU! (And me!) And there are MORE. Eight total. Some are tags you could easily use in your scrapbooking...others are To/From Tags for your holiday gift-giving. All are beautiful. 

Because the tags are made with Webster's pages digital collections, they coordinate perfectly with Websters' embellishments. So you can print them out and use your stash to create mini works of art for Christmas this year

You can go to the Webster's Pages Website and find our Freebies under the Digi Designs section or click on THIS LINK and download your very own free tags for Christmas. 

Here is what I did with these gorgeous tags ....

My favourite tag using Brandin's Winter Wings.  **Sigh** that little owl just melts my heart.

So enjoy these and your week.

I think its starting to look alot like Christmas ....

Steph xo

Thankful .....

for so many things.

One thing i love about the States, is their festival of Thanksgiving.

What an awesome concept.

I wish, that here in Australia, we too could celebrate and take time to get together to acknowledge the people that we love, and the many blessings we are so priviledged to embrace in our lives.

Day to day passes to quickly, and too many things are taken for granted.

Over at Webster's Pages, sweet Courtney thought of this idea to share with the Webster's readers at Thanksgiving time.  

How beautiful is that hey ??

It got me thinking about all the things I am thankful for.

My sweet sweet husband, who puts up with my erratic creative temperment, forgetfulness, and need to be constantly loved.

My darling little angels (well most of the time) who teach me every day how beautiful life is.

Mum and Dad, beautiful mature age people, healthy and happy.

The freedom to create on a daily basis.  

A roof over our heads, and no matter where we go we will always be together.

For the girlfriends I have met from every part of the globe, friendships with like minds.

Thankful for a God who loves me unconditionally, who continually blow me away with his blessings.  Like seriously......

****************************************************************

And so onto scrappy happenings .......

.... a tutorial on how to make a paper plate angel.  I first spied these over at Martha Stewart Craft, and was totally blown away by them.  Of course I put my own spin on it ..... and they are just so easy to make.

So let's break it down so you can easily see how to create this gorgeous paper plate angel place card. 

What you need:

• 1 Paper Plate (Dinner Size)
• 1 Craft Knife
• Scissors
• Double Sided Tape
• Decorative Punch
• Webster's Pages Digital Motifs
• Photoediting Software

I have used Photoshop V5, but you could use Photoshop Elements or any other photo editing software to achieve the same results.  

In Photoshop, open a new file (default A4 size/ or 8.5 x 11").  

For PS it is File - Open - (Adjust width and height) and press OK.

Next, pick out a color that for the Hybrid component of the project. I chose a vivid cobalt blue to complement my blue & silver Christmas decor, but the beauty of digital is you can make it whatever color you want!

Simple double click on the color palette in your tool box on the left hand side of this diagram below. (See the two little squares (they would more than likely be black and white default colors), that is what you want to double click.)

A new dialogue box appears called a color picker.  Select your color and press OK.  

Next, select a brush to easily create the beautiful bird at the center of the design. If you've never used a digital brush, before, it's very simple. Select the paintbrush icon from the tool box (as shown below). Once your cursor becomes a paintbrush, take it up to the left hand corner and click on the brush menu. Select your brush. 

I chose to use the Christmas Bird from our Botanical Christmas line, but feel free to change it up...we have so many cute brushes to choose from! When you go into the document to use your brush, it will automatically be the color you selected (in this case, blue). 

Tip: A shortcut for making your brush bigger or smaller is using the parenthesis brackets on your keyboard.  Right key for a larger size, and left key to go smaller.

Now that you know how to create using a digital brush, you can create the second part of this beautiful image: the frame. Once again, I used a frame brush from our Life's Portrait collection. Cut the bird out separately and layer it on top of the frame using foam squares for added dimension. 

 

Next, the paper plate angel. Talk about great repurposing! 

Start by tracing a paper angel shape onto a plate with a fluted edge, and cut out. You can use scissors or a craft knife depending on how much detail you have and remember to increase or decrease the size of the template depending on what size plate you are using. (I have used pen for this step for purposes of this tutorial, but use a pencil...easier to erase!

Use a decorative punch to adorn your angel and have fun decorating the wings.

Next, cut around the pencil outline on your paper plate. This is where your craft knife will come in handy, giving you a little more precision on the curves and angles. The two cuts you'll make for the wings are different, one made from inside out, the other from outside in.

Next, assemble the angel. Stand the plate up and with the angel facing you, and then shape her skirt into a circle.  Next you will need to slide the outside cut over the inside one to make wings. You can use double sided tape at the back to reinforce the wings, and if you want to bring them down a little lower, use glue dots.

And don't panic if she's not stable the first time. Keep playing with the shape and eventually it'll all balance out...

 

 

Don't forget to upload your Webster's Pages projects to InspireMe! We can't wait to see what you're creating this holiday season!

And one last project using Winter Fairy Tales Line.....

Until next time. Thanks so much for visiting again.

Stages of Procrastination, no more.

So is this you..... ??

well, when it comes to losing weight and getting healthy this is me.

So now I am on a journey.

And this is where my mind & spirit has arrived.

Want to join me ??

If you need support, chat time, or just simply knowing that there is somebody walking this path with you .... join me.

I finally enrolled at Weight Watchers a week ago, and have lost 2.5 kg.  I still have ALOT to go.

I know there will be days when I fail.  There will be days when I don't want to do this anymore, and there will be days where I lose the plot.  But I know this is something I have to do.  I need to be able to dance again.  I miss that part of my life.  I want to teach babies, toddlers and girls how to dance and to express their love for movement.  But I need to be able to move myself.  

I figure by making this public, I am held accountable, and by asking for some sweet girls to walk this path with me, Im sure we could all benefit from working together.  You don't have to do what I am doing - a organised weight loss program, you can go your own way, but how nice would it be to swap recepies, and encourage and edify each other.  If you have 5 kg to lose or 50kg, every woman knows how much they need to loose to look good and to stay healthy.  What do you think ?  Sound interested ??  

Its not something that I will continually blog about, apart from milestone losses, so let me know.

Another realisation ....

you know, its all about the flowers.  Bright, pastel, tiny, big, textured, smooth, silk or paper, I go simply silly over flowers.  Seriously.  They make my heart sing.  I would love to share this layout I created for the most recent CHA, using the beautiful Pixie Glen Line, and custom coloring the large Fleur De Lys flowers with Glimmermist.  I sprayed these delicate flowers with Chalkboard Mists, because I love the chalky shabby chic finish those colors give the flowers.

This second layout shows the diversity of the Printery Patterned Papers and how with a little bit of color, black can showcase beautifully any color or B&W photographs that you have.  You will find that if you use a color frame, the colors within will just seem to merge and flow onto the photo mat whereas a black frame will contain the image so it doesn't allow the eye to wander. Black also seems to that provides perfect base to showcase a pop of color - as you can see from the hybrid flowers just under the balloon.

Another short and sweet post.  The days just seem to get busier, and life can be so demanding when it comes to time.  Hope these projects gave your a little inspiration for whatever you might create in the future ..... thanks for coming and visiting.

Lifting Steph Garbett ........

One of the things I love about being on the Webster's DT is that once a month we get to lift talented scrapbookers from all around the world.  This month it is the wonderful Steph Garbett from the UK.  Steph has amazing design skills and her use of white space is just beautiful.  Lifting Steph was an interesting process, I kept wanting to add more - lol, but the result was really refreshing and I found it so easy on the eye.  

 So here is my lift of Steph's work ..... 

 Also over at InspireMe I am hosting the November Digi/Hybrid Challenge.  This month the challenge is to create a small collage using Webster's beautiful digi motifs and then use them in a project.  It can be a layout, a card or OTP, what ever you choose, then upload it at InspireMe for the chance to win a one of Websters Paper Lines.

Here is a card I created as an example, using the WINTER FAIRY TALES story.

Anyhow short and sweet today, thanks for visiting and I will be posting some Prima DT work at the end of the week.

Lots happening in my part of the world ....

For a starter, Miss Madison started Fairy Ballet yesterday.  After months of flittering around the lounge, dancing whenever she could, I finally enrolled her for class.  Oh my - was she excited !!!  We had purchased a new tutu (which apparently every fairy ballet girl just HAS to have ...), cross over, and pink satin ballet shoes.  Luckily at the ballet school where she takes her lessons, they have a huge screen in the waiting room, so you can watch the progress of your child, without being a distraction to them.  Having danced professionally myself, I watched quite attentively, and of course, was very proud of my little girl, and how she pointed her toes and lightly floated through the class.  
She had so much fun and I have
no doubt she will continue with these classes for some time to come. 

So ******  news ****** - we have sold our house !!!!! after 8 months on the market, and although it went for the minimum price we could afford to take, we still have a few options open to us.  We have included a clause that if anybody offers a higher amount, we can accept it.  So fingers crossed girls.  We have three viewings by appointment coming up over the next three days. I just need to KEEP the FAITH. After so long, its so easy just to put all my hopes in the too hard basket.

On the scrappy front, I have been offered something very exciting that I just can't share yet, but its one of those emails that takes you by surprise !!! I will keep you posted when all goes public !!!!

Just want to share with you some new Webster's Pages projects for October. I have used the romantically girly Western Romance for this layout, with lots of inking, layering and fussy cutting.  I am especially loving the Webster's pages feather flowers, they are so soft and delicate and can enhance any project either by themselves or being altered.

I am getting alot of joy out of creating cards lately, and I have done one here using the "Let's Celebrate" collection.

 

For this card I have used papers from the "All About Me" line and the "Dress Form" from the Postcards that Websters have available. The size of the dress form was perfect for card making.

Anyhow, thanks once again for visiting.  I have a post going up over at the Prima Blog very soon, so I will post my projects in a share soon.

Have a great weekend xo

 

Webster's Pages Noveltree - So Exciting ♥

Webster's Pages My NovelTree

So I design for this amazing company. And by amazing, I really mean ah-may-zing.

It's called Webster's Pages. They make the world beautiful. 

 

I would love to introduce you to Brandin's new baby.

 

They are the most beautiful photo books you've ever seen. Coffee table books, really, only they feature YOUR photos. Brandin's passion for helping people preserve their memories in a beautiful way is totally infectious. I think she's rubbed off on my a little. At least I hope so. 

I love that even my non-scrapbooking friends can now create keepsake albums quickly, easily and without spending a bunch of money. And as a scrapbooker, I love that I can make albums quickly, easily and without spending a bunch of money! 

I mean, let's face it, none of us can scrapbook everything we want to. 

Or wait. Is it just me that still has shoeboxes from 1998 waiting for my attention? 

(I didn't think so.) 

Anyway, I could go on all day about the perks of these albums, but why don't you just see for yourself?

Here are four of the covers. You can find so many more HERE. 

They're all designed by professional designers using Webster's Pages products. They lay completely flat when you open them and AND! they have this gorgeous matte-finish cover. And a vellum inlay/title page. And perfect print quality. And...

I know. I'll stop. But I have a sample book in my hot little hand so I know how beautiful these books are. 

Please wander over to HERE and pre-order a book because if you do, you become part of the Founding Members Club. Which means 20% off of ALL NOVELTREE PRODUCTS. For LIFE. 

Plus a free gift with each NovelTree purchase. 

This is an amazing product no to be missed out on.

 

Some Prima Goodness ♥ ...... and a tutorial..... ♥

I would just love to share some work that I recently had posted over at Prima, starting with a layout where I have used the beautiful Londonerry Papers and embellishments.

Next I would love to share the first of two OTP items that are going to be a set.  I have taken a cup and saucer and altered it, using Prima's beautiful new flowers, vines and butterflies. The addition of the Shabby Chic Resin gives the cup a whimsical touch and adds to the charm of this altered item.

 

 

 

 Lastly I have another OTP creation using a wonderfultexture technique that you can mix and match with Glimmermist and Inks.

You will need a Multi Medium Gel, (I used Claudine Hellmuths Studio Line)and Glimmermists and Inks of your choice.  I combined both the Chalkboard and Traditional Glimmermists for a more matte approach to create the final result for this canvas.

 Firstly, you will need any Prima Mask -  I have chose a gorgeous flourish for my 5" circular canvas.  Position your mask on the surface, exactly where you want the design to appear.

Next using a palette knife, apply your Medium Matte Gel horiontally over the mask.  Smooth it with the bottom of the knife and you can even use a small square of cardstock or old giftcard to distribute the gel evenly.

Once you have lifted the mask off, you can either dry in the sunlight, or if you are impatient like me, a heat tool helps speed up the drying process.

I started by applying Glimmermist over the dry surface area - concentrating on the textured area.  Dry off lightly with heat tool and repeat the process with deeper, richer colors, customising appearance of your project.

I puddle my deeper colors to draw the eye to the texture created by the gel.

Lastly I ink the edges to define my surface and blend lightly with a dauber sponge or if you like getting messy like I do, your finger works perfectly !!

So here is the finished canvas ready to hang up or pop on a easel ..... 

and I have used Imaginarium Designs Chipboard (the beautiful dressform which I designed and the gates).

 

and some close ups ....

Well, thanks for taking the time to visit, and I hope you have fun playing with this new technique ...

A beautiful day ....

My husband Mark, works every 3rd weekend as part of his job at the Mt. Lofty Botanic Gardens in Adelaide, South Australia.  The sunny weather has made a welcome appearance here in Adelaide, and the girls and I decided to spend some time soaking up some Vitamin D by visiting daddy !!!  The gardens are so beautiful atm, everything is so lush and green, signs that spring has truly arrived.

I decided to take my camera just in case the girls felt like have a shot or two taken, and in between rolling down the hills, I got these shots which once photoshopped, had a beautiful charm about them.

This one of the girls is so gorgeous - they both love each other to bits, but lately, to catch them not arguing is pretty rare, making the moment even more precious !!!

I was so dissapointed with this series of shots of Emma, but with an action, some tweaking and brushes, it ended up telling a story to me, which i instantly fell in love with.

Miss Madi, caught in one of those off guard moments where her personality has the chance to burst out in cheekiness.  She is such a funny kid, still hiding behind my legs when I'm in a conversation with friends, and still hardly talking at all out in public.  Yet, get her home - and yes, its a completely different story.

I now have stereo at home.  Both girls don't even stop for air.  Add the violin into the equation and it makes for an interesting noise frequency in the Devlin Household.

Lastly, this photo of my Emmy, looking more like 14 than 8, giving me more than a hint of the young woman she will be one day.  Its all happening too fast.  I forget to stop and look during day to day life, and its only when i take snapshots of the girls i see the everchanging aspects that escape me in everyday life.

On a scrappy note, the new Kaisercraft Mag is out for October, and my CHA work is featured in this issue.  One project I haven't shared, was an OTP Manequin that I had the pleasure of creating.  I used the Bonjour Range, due out in October, lots of tulle, flowers and girly stuff.  

A different view from the back .....

I decided to pop a floral cluster down at the bottom of the project because it looked so bare, compared to the colors and texture up top.  All I did was just measure the diameter between two opposing legs and cuttlebug a circle.  Then I cut a small slit from the edge to the middle and inserted it so it fit snug around the base.  I used my hot glue gun, and once dry decorated the top with flowers and rub ons.
 

Lastly and by no means least a couple of cards I created for Webster's Pages using the new Western Romance line.

and this beautiful card, with Melissa Frances Resin and Kaisercraft Rub-On Quotes ....

OUT FOR PUBLICATION

 

Anyhow, thanks for visiting again, have lots more to share soon.

Have a great weekend !!!, its nearly here !!!