Sunday, May 30, 2010

Stamp cleaning ...

Me again ...

Just found this post over at Studio Calico and thought it was very interesting ...

http://www.studiocalico.com/forums/topic/23034

The link to the original Tim Holtz topic ...

http://timholtz.typepad.com/my_weblog/2010/05/how-do-you-distress-day-4.html

You can also see Tim's other posts on distressing at his blog ...

http://timholtz.typepad.com/my_weblog/

Happy stamping!!

Clever idea ...

Hello ... I have been MIA lately but thought I'd stop by to post this great link ...

http://mayaroad.typepad.com/dt/2010/05/a-useful-post-color-swatches.html

There is also an example for fabric!

Obviously we may not have easy access to Maya Road mist but Tattered Angels Glimmermist is available locally!! :-)

Saturday, May 29, 2010

WOS - Tiff

inspo from Sandra with her picket fence with the roses poking thru it.




inspo from Color Room Palette 6 for the colour scheme and the bones of a sketch.


inspo from Twiddleybitz for the May nude chip challenge.


and of course inspo from e2c blog for getting me off my butt and getting this one done.


;p


cheers Tiff










(sorry Tiff but the bigger sized option is pixelating for me)

Love those 'nude' chip people. I much prefer chip to be left naked so this is a great challenge idea.

The look on Paige's face is pure love. This is beautiful... and the journalling spot on. Honest without bullshit and fluff. Brilliant.

Great job!




Sue's sketch- Janice



Hi Sue,

I have had this page done for awhile now and just never got around to photographing etc to put on the blog (Im not very good at the photographing and cropping bit).
After a phone call today from my good friend, I was asked if I would share it so decided it was time to send this email to you.
Thanks for another great sketch, look forward to the next one.

Janice

Wow Janice...thanks for sending this one in....i just love the colours and papers!! I love how you have mounted the journalling...i am seeing alot of this lately and just love it! Great photos and you have scrapped them beautifully!

Tuesday, May 25, 2010

Sue - WOS

When i saw this LO of Sande Krieger over at 2peas...i knew i had to lift her page...totally!!

With our bags all out ready to pack, travel brochures laying around everywhere and the excitement of actually going...her page was just the perfect idea for me scrap us getting ready for our first trip OS. So out came all my old 'mail art' stamps and new label stamps and away i went. I even had the OA Road trip range in amongst my stash...surprise surprise!

Here is my page:



Here is Sande's:

Like i said....an exact lift! But why change something if it is just perfect? I love her LO!

Monday, May 24, 2010

Tatum - WOS

Hi Amanda,
Here is my 3rd challenge Layout.

I've taken some of the common elements and style that the very beautiful Mardi Winen uses on her layouts. Mardi is an inspiration to me for so many reasons and I was lucky enough to do a couple of classes with her last year which gave me some great insight into the way she creates.

I have used some scrap strips from my recent projects, machine stitching, 8.5 x 11 and a story about everyday life...all things that I associate with Mardi's style.

As far as techniques go I have used my new favourite...a bit of heat embossing on the flower :)

Tatum xx





wow wow wow Tatum.

This is stunning. Amazing. Just awesome. LOVE your colours - i really am in heaven looking at all your beautiful elements.

Stunning use of colour.

and so glad to see some more Mardi inspiration :)





Marika - WOS

Hi Amanda,



A lift from fran tynans blog a layout called easter. It is great to get some pages done have used this green patterned paper that i think has been sitting in my pile for several years.


Thankyou Marika




and here is Fran's original:





Great work Marika. Fran is so inspiring!! Those red accents on yours really pop against the kraft and green. Beautiful job.


Karen - etsy and WOS

Hi Amanda,


Did a bit of scrapping yesterday while we were getting that lovely rain. First is my scrap lifted LO which I have lifted off of your "She" challenge LO from last year, I have also used some 7G gaffer tape (which I have been wanting to use for ages) also some OA rubons (which I seem to collect but never use) Second is the "Goodie Bag" challenge, while I didn't use the goodies from inside the bag I did use that gorgeous big flower that was on the outside of the bag! Thanks for looking.


Karen D


The original:


Love how you have changed the whole feel of this page Karen. In fact i did not recognize it at all! Yours is so bright and funky - i like it a lot more than the original!!


And here is her etsy creation:


I am just drooling over this. DELISH!! Love the simplicity - it makes a HUGE impact!

As usual you have totally wowed me Karen! Awesome.



Sunday, May 23, 2010

WOS - Sandra



OMFreakingGoodness.

This has blown me off my little computer chair. T.O.T.A.L.L.Y.  I.N.  A.W.E.


This is amazing Sandra. Bloody incredible infact.

She said:

Hi Amanda


Isn't this rain WONDERFUL?

Here is my Scraplift. It a photo of me and my childhood companion Pointer.

I lifted a layout by Wendela :



Love her work.


I found the process of using just a piece of cardboard as the 'background' instead of the traditional cardstock or pp VERY liberating!!




I think I will be trying it more often!!


Cheers

Sandra

Again i will say that you have blown my socks off Sandra. This is amazing.
 
 

WOS - Amanda

The next scrap item in my stash that i chose to work with and lift a layout which is based upon such item is....

Heidi Swapp mini clock overlays!

I had bought these some time ago and felt stumped how to use them. After a fair bit of googling i found this layout by Talia Audenart






Admittedly it isn't the same sort of clock - the one Talia used is the big 12x12 sized ones but i thought i could use it as a base or jumping off point.

Here is my layout:




I really liked the title on the original and how it worked in with the clocks so i tried to copy that. 

It's a bit of a nothing page - no meaning or substance to the words - which irritates me but i am glad to have finally used some of my HS stash!

Friday, May 21, 2010

WOS - Marika

Marika has stumbed on a layout on Mardi Winens blog and felt inspired to do an almost exact lift because she loved it so much.

Mardi is a very inspiring person, her scrapping style is so 'up my alley' that i always feel like delving into my scrap stash after looking at her work. The colours and fabrics she uses are so clever.... so i don't blame you at all for picking her Marika!

You have done a fantastic job! I love the alphas you have used, the beautiful OA papers, the cluster of beautiful elements in the corner and of course that stunning photo of Bella.


and here is Mardi's brilliant original:


WOS - Tatum

Tatum isn't lifting as such but finding inspiration in others work and the techniques that they use.

The first amazing example is inspired by Lou Nelson who has a very recognizable and unique style. Tatum was enthused to try hand drawn and cut elements ala Lou style. New product is the American Crafts Botanique range (PP and chippies)



The second page was inspired by Dina Wakely - in particular the glimmer mist and masking techniques.




These are fab Tatum. I just love your style of colour - it is like eye candy glancing from bit to bit looking at all your texture and detail! Beautiful.


Wednesday, May 19, 2010

Amanda - WOS

Ok here is layout two from my week of scraplifting.... although this is NOT a scraplift lol.

In my quest to use things up that are in my stash screaming 'use me' but i don't know how, i decided to pull out these babies:



These are little mini vellum journalling cards from Websters Pages that i bought a fair while ago. I have looked at them several times since, and haven't really known what to do with them, and really feel sick when i put them away again as they were quite expensive at the time.

Now i would suggest that they haven't been a huge seller for Websters, as when searching for a project to lift i could basically find NOTHING... not even on the Websters gallery. I am wrong about quite a few things in life so it's possible i am totally off track with that comment too.

While i didn't find a lot of vellum journalling card pages - what i did find is a whole lot of inspiration that made me come up with this layout.

Inspiration from

  • here for the blue dots to be teamed with it all

  • here for the cutouts of vellum and use of lots of flowers

  • here for the button and string
so here is mine (sorry about the terrible night lighting for the photos)










I really wanted that floral look, without being too fussy or busy. There was quite a story i wanted to tell so to maintain the space i hid the journalling under a flap. It is funny to think that these vellum notes have been in my stash for so long i was really regretting buying them and yet i really like how this page turned out!


Sue - WOS

I have completed a direct scraplift of a page of Leanne Stamatellos'... i like her simple and effective style...a great style for a nice quick boost of scrap mojo.

Here is Leanne's page:

Here is mine: using some new OA papers and some old American Crafts chip shapes that i got from Spotlight a year ago (i think?!). I love the embellie cluster in the corner that Leanne uses leaving the page with plenty of 'white space'.

Wow, i am feeling all enthused to scrap now......i'm off to find another page to do!!

Tuesday, May 18, 2010

Amanda - WOS

WOS (week of scraplifting) has kicked off with my new October Afternoon and Basic Grey papers.... oh how i love both of these brands!

I really wanted to do something beautiful and different with these new papers so i decided to look on the OA website. WOW talk about inspiration plus!

The layout i chose just happened to use exactly the papers that i had in my stash - so i have copied it absolutely.... it's basically a carbon copy. Usually when i scraplift it isn't so exact - but i loved this page done by Iris Babao Uy.

It is just so freeing (and quick) to copy a page... i love how it can fire up your enthusiasm again to scrap. The other thing is that i have used some of my new products in new ways - (all that fiddly cutting so isn't my normal thing) - so am trying to branch out and try something different and new for me.


here is Iris' page:



and here is mine:



Obviously i have changed the size and a few different elements but the 99.9% is Iris' work.

hmmm i wonder what products i have in my stash that can use up next?

Monday, May 17, 2010

mid month challenge...

Meredith's posts below have had me thinking a lot about scraplifting.... and this week i am going to celebrate the inspiration that i get from others by SCRAPLIFTING (and giving credit) a few layouts. Originally i was thinking 7 in 7 type of thing but i don't want to promise something i can't deliver ;-) so i will just see how life pans out as to how many i do.

Anyone want to join me?

For the past couple of weeks i have been feeling blah again with scrapping and mojo. We all know that this ebbs and flows and in an effort to combat this i did a mini clean up / clean out in my scrap room yesterday. I found A LOT of product which i have wanted to use for a long time but haven't yet found inspiration.

So i have done a back to front type of scraplift. I have found something in my stash that i want to use, say a Hambly transperancy for example, and found a page on the www. that i want to copy and voila...... i am scrapping again!

Two bonuses - use my stash and crank up the creativity.

(and also to say THANKS to those that inspire us!)

I hope others join me on this scraplift week. I wonder how many we can do?

Tatum - Sue's sketch



This is Tatum's scrapping - Sue sketch style! She said that it evolved a bit from the original sketch design (flipped on the side maybe?) but OMGosh isn't it all delicious!??


That bright red and white dot teamed with all those stunning brights are delightful. What a beautiful, inspiring creation and a great job making a sketch work for you.

Sunday, May 16, 2010

A little bit of Etsy - Meredith

I only had a few of the leftover Etsy bag goodies but thought I'd post this layout here! Twine, tapemeasure,patterned papers, ticket & a tag leftover from my class!!

Saturday, May 15, 2010

Okay further to my previous post ... !!!

Okay time for a few questions ...

Step 1.

Take a look at this layout ... here

Step 2.

Now look at my layout ...




Questions ...

Do you think it is a scraplift?

Do you think I was just inspired by the original design? Is that the same as scraplifting anyway?

Should I or should I not submit my layout to a magazine?

Oh just to add ... the little flag at the top was inspired by Waleska Neris in this post (fourth layout down)!!

The etiquette of inspiration (title title-lifted!!)

There has been two really thought provoking posts over at Studio Calico this week.

Post 1 ... here : How shall we be inspired?

Post 2 ... here: Shall we scraplift?


As well as ...


Post 3 ... here: Where shall we store inspiration?


I would be interested to hear peoples' thoughts on this!

Do you think this information is over the top or the right thing to do???

Friday, May 14, 2010

Sandra - gone etsy

Hi Amanda



I know I said I wouldn't send in another 80's photo, but I lied ;-)


This photo was taken of TWO of the retreat goers way back in the 80's.


one is me, ofcourse...but who is the other??


Taken on 'muck up day' ..


we rode to school on a motorbike (in our wedding gear ROFL) and even had the tin cans hanging off the back!!


and we received a few odd stares on the way let me tell you!!!

And the layout also has a couple of etsy items on it.... the crepe paper and the etsy bag itself.

Inspired by Anna Christen-Larson


Well bye for now...


and I Pinky Promise no more 80's photos!! ;-p


Sandra





This photo is a classic. I can pick 'the groom' EASILY LOL.

Beautiful layout with awesome title Sandra!! LOVE LOVE LOVE that big chandelier. Inspiring work.... brilliant.

Jenny - Sue's sketch




Oh Jenny those photos are precious! What a classic 'surprised' expression in the last one. The run of photos really tell the story.

Beautiful colours in the papers look great with that black 'dymo' type of font.

Great work from our resident digi girl!

Tuesday, May 11, 2010

Hey, hey, hey ...

I heard a little whisper today ...

something is going down later this year ...

it involves ...

1. food

2. drinks

3. paper

4. sleepovers

5. fun

6. sand

oh whoops I meant sanding

7. fun

oh sorry I already mentioned that!!! ;-)

8. adhesive

whoops that naturally goes with paper doesn't it!! ;-)


Stay tuned for more info ...

Cant say when the information will be supplied but hey it might be worth the wait!!!

Tiff - all etsy

Hiya A.

My Etsy answer. I carefully opened the bag along the seams and used a piece of that on this LO.
Its also a colour and sketch response over at The Color Room as well.
cheers
T


I like the paper bag on there Tiff... perfect! That ribbon is delish too!

'80s Guess Who?

Hi Amanda, ok this photo isn't strictly 80's but very early 90's all ready to go to the pub, could have even been underage (eep) p.s. I'm the one on the left!!



whit wheel!! (wolf whistle) Loving that paneled jumper! Not quite as shocking as the '80s fashion though!

Hmmmmm possibly a tricky one unless you went on the 2010 retreat!

Karen - Sue's sketch

Woohoo! Another Sue's sketch entry!

This girl 'has it' in my eyes. I remember first coming across her work at our very first retreat. I had no idea prior to that who this funky chick was!

I do remember Meredith saying 'Amanda - check this girls work out' and we went over there and i was blown away with what she was creating.

So in a few words - Karen ROCKS and this is one example of why i think that.

Monday, May 10, 2010

Lauren's gone Etsy



Hi Amanda!
Hope you had a fabulous weekend.

I love love loved playing with all the bits from the goodie bags- thankyou for giving me the kick in the pants to pull them out and use them :)

xx Lauren


Oh Lauren this is just DELICIOUS! There is so much to look at here - and everytime i see a little etsy goodie it gives me a thrill! LOVE what you have done with the dress making pattern as a scrunched background - unreal!

The kaiser pearls, the tag, the crochet flower, mini labels, birdie tag, the vintage papers..........oh it is so clever.

Thanks for showing us. Brilliant stuff.


Sandra - Sue's sketch

Hi Sue

Here's my entry for your sketch challenge.
Have a great Mother's Day, hope you get spoilt rotten!!

Sandra xx
Thanks for sending this one in Sandra....i just love everything about this page, the colours are great ....so fresh with that splash of green glimmermist. I love your red stitching and also your freehand journalling!! Great page!

Sunday, May 9, 2010

Sandra = '80s archives

Hi Amanda!



Look what I found in my travels through my photo archives!!


In this photo there are FOUR girls who were at this years retreat!!!


Might be fun to see if anyone can pick them out of the line up .... so to speak lol!


night!
sandra
xx
 
 
 
The only person i think i can identify is Sandra in the bottom left.... so i hope others in the photo do not mind it being on the blog. I simply cannot put any other names to faces here!!
 
This one has bamboozled me  -  i have sat looking at it for a long time and am still none the wiser!
 
Looking forward to a few guesses and enlightenments!
 
 
(and maybe some more fun '80s photos in my inbox?!!)
 
 

Saturday, May 8, 2010

Tatum - gone etsy and Sue's sketch!




Hi Amanda....


I have been itching to do this since I very first looked through the goodies in that little paper bag :)

Sue's sketch challenge is first up on my scrapping agenda for this evening!


Happy Mothers day to you & all the Escape to Create mums :)


Have a great weekend!
Tatum xx


This is lovely Tatum. I love looking at all your elements. It fascinates me to see how you have used our etsy goodies! The blue is delicious and i love how you have used the tape and journalling notes! Great candid photos which really tell a great 'fun' story too.

Thanks Tatum. Beautiful and inspiring work.

'80s Guess Who?

Oh this is a classic - too good not to post!


This totally *IS* the '80s. Brilliant!!!

Loving the big hair, bright blusher and teamed with the shell necklace you could not go wrong! It looks like a very big night was about to be had by this lucky lady.





I really hope we can get a few more photos up here... they are so good for a smile! Thanks to the ladies who have been brave already and posted their fantastic fashion!

80's- Guess who?

Taken in 1983- no great fashion statements here, just a fine, flouncy, frilly frock..(now try saying that quickly 5 times!).....some of you might recognise some-one or two in this photo.....

Ali's gone all etsy + Sue's sketch!



Hi Amanda,
I tried to combine the two challenges... Loved using all the etsy yummie bits and pieces, tipped my bag out on the table and away I went. I will definately be going to those shops!! And also glad to see that there will be a 2011 retreat by the looks of the top right corner of the blog!! Can I just say... YIPPEE!!!



Ali xx

This is stunning Ali. What a thrill seeing all your bits here on the page! Absolutely adore the vintage feel this page has, but at the same time is so funky and fresh.
 
Oh i just noticed you used the little sticker tags as well! Amazing - everything looks incredible together!
 

'80s Guess Who?

This lovely lady was VERY pregnant when this shot was taken. The type of top that she has on looks so very 80s to me!

What a brilliant smile. She looks so happy! Must have been all that young love!


Even though it is a classic 80s photo, the beautiful smile and that lovely belly makes this photo extra special!

Thursday, May 6, 2010

Marika - Sue's sketch



Marika always amazes me with how quickly and brilliantly she gets inspired by Sue's sketches. They are a great starting off point and motivator!

The blues and greens against the lined paper is beautiful here Marika.

Very cute photos too! Love how you have done a 'series' with the door. Lovely.

'80s Guess Who?



LOL i think this one is super easy!

She says that it was way back in 1988 and she can't rememeber the occasion for such a flash outfit. She says that she quite likes the photo apart from the massive hair bow!

Big hair and big bows were very 80s so it is a great, appropriate photo!

Classic!

Wednesday, May 5, 2010

80s challenge


ok there are a LOT of things wrong with this photo.

Cumberbuns + big silk sash + drop waist + horizontal lines + big ear rings + massive hair flick + salmon colour on a male + huge clown collar =

Shocker.

Tuesday, May 4, 2010

Sue's sketch ... Meredith

Journalling says ...
"this is the sequence of events
you start by trying to ignore me
the you realise it isn't working
then you finish off with the very cheeky look"

Kerryn - gone all etsy


Hey Amanda



Hows it going?

I always keep an eye on the E2C blog but don't really get to do any of the challenges. But I do love seeing what everyone else does with the challenges set.

Anyway, I saw the challenge about using stuff from the retreat goody bags. I've actually used quite a fair bit so far from it. I've used a couple of tags, journal spots and I'm sure there was something else as well.

I completed this layout on the weekend (for a colour challenge site) using the bag that some of the bits were packaged in so I thought I'd send it through. (oh and just in case you are wondering about the title, my DS calls Lego Le Go, like it's 2 words LOL. He is very insistent that he is correct).


I loved everything that was in the goody bag and know I'll be using all of it at some stage.




Thanks and have a great week :).
Kerryn x

 
 
Fantastic Kerryn! A great example of our goodies being put to use = in a stunning way! Those bags were 'found' by Sue on blue bazzaar and we instantly fell in love with them - they were where the whole idea of going 'vintage etsy' stemmed from!
 
The orange looks amazing with the browns of the bag, string and other kraft elements. Incredible stuff!
 
Thanks for sharing and i hope you continue to drop by!

Bazzill at your fingertips



Ever wanted a range of bazzil colours/shades/names at your fingertips without the hassle of a massive keyring of samples?

There is a new ipod app that is all that and more!

This has been around for a little while, but i thought i should let you know it is 'out' there anyway.

Here is their blurb:

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IMO it is still a bit pricey ($12.99 au) so i can't give a personal review.  Check it out here on itunes if you are interested.