Escape2Create mini retreat thank yous ...

A very big thank you to ...
Sandra for collecting the groceries and doing odd jobs for us
Carrie for donating the delicious desserts for the first night
Tania for helping with set up and pack up
Sue for everything she did to help us
Kathryn for the beautiful food and help
Sonia for her help in the kitchen and packing up
Amanda as always for being a wonderful co-organiser and friend
to the wonderful shops Sheoak Craft Cottage, Scrapworkz and Shabby Chic Shack for bringing their goodies for us to peruse and purchase
and finally everyone that attended and helped with pack up and so many of you for offering to help throughout the whole weekend ... we really do appreciate it.
xxxxxxxxx

If you created a layout over the weekend, that you would like to share with us, please send it through ... john.treloar@bigpond.com 

mini retreat / scrapathon

Colour inspired Challenge

I found this on pinterest last night and it just popped out at me. I fell in love with it instantly....i'm not sure what it was....i love the colours, i love those angled  shapes or just what....so i thought i would start this month with a challenge from this image....be it the colours, shapes... or the background, whatever you like.

Hope this inspires you to combine papers with photos and products and to share it here with us. Hopefully during this busy week i can cut, glue and stick down some paper!!

I have officially stepped back from the E2C team recently but i will still be popping around in the background - here on the blog, with setting the occassional challenge here for you. It has been a busy and fulfilling 5 years with Escape 2 Create but my life is too busy to fit everything & everyone in. So i hope you will all continue to pop in the blog here and to mine to say hello, particpate in the challenges and share the scrapping love!!

So i hope you all have a good week- and keep on scrapping!!

Suexx

Trends challenge - Trish

Here is my LO on the subject of trending. Hexagons being one of them..

Thanks for the challenge. 

Wow Trish!! Love the painted background effect!! The kraft and white look fantastic together and the sneaky hexagons!! Totally love this ... I need to scrap soon!!

Thanks for joining in :-)

Hexagon Trend - Sue

This challenge of Meredith's has inspired me with hexagons. I have been spying and loving the use of hexagons on layouts lately. Here i have used a WOW chipboard to use as a mask, and then used MFT hexagon die to cut my patterned papers which happened to fit exactly over my masked area.

What have you seen that you like lately with the trends???

Trending ... are you onto it?

So over at Studio Calico they have an on line class coming up ... Trendspotting!

So these are the trends they are focusing on ...

• triangles
• ombre ... Ombre
  n. A French term meaning "shaded." Usually a multicolored stripe, with colors graduating from light to dark. The color effect is woven into the fabric. Generally produced by arranging different tones in the warp.
  
  Source
• woodgrain 
• metallics
• sunburst 
• confetti
• neon
• arrows 
• banners 
• typography
• mist 
• hexagons

So lets see your takes on one or several of these trends on a layout ... :-)

PS If you want to do this on line class head over to Studio Calico for some fun :-)

Inspirational Title challenge - Sue

This quote led me to this photo of Rob & i taken by AmandaH some time ago....but the page itself  was a trial of using my oil pastels (hence the scrappy art paper backgound), so i added some yummy embellies from Amy Tangerine and some doodly rubons.....and a very bright layout was created....quite outside the box for me but lots of fun!!

Thanks for the inspiration & the challenge Amanda.

retreat 2012 photos

So i've finally gotten around to looking at the photos on the disc from Mum from the retreat.

oh there are some doosies!

Love this one of our teachers :

and of course our trusty kitchen helpers:

Sue, Meredith and myself:

and the group:

gone wild:

So i have sent these group images out in an email tonight to all retreat attendees- hopefully it's in your inbox right now.

 If not, let me know with your email address and i can try again.

Lou - Pennants & flags challenge

HelloHello Amanda, Sue and Meredith :)

Please find attached my layout for the B's & P's challenge. I have used handmade calico banner from A lil Something.

Cheers and Ta Muchly, Lou xox

Louise Nelson
[aka] Lou  loolabelle  bell & fess
Blog: An interupted view

Wow Lou....this is fantastic as always!! Love your paint work and dribbles :) and that cute calico banner with the paint over it looks very effective!!....a fantastic setting for that lovely bright photo.

Love it all Lou !!

...and Thanks Muchly for joining in here!!xx

Pennants & Flags - Tiff

hey Sue,
one more, then i won't pester you anymore :0)

the pennants are punched with a Stamping Up punch (can get these from Carrie Speed). Ive off set the bottom layer to look like a shadown. October Afternoon Rocket Age was PERFECT for this LO.

cheers, Tiff.

I love the colours n papers on this Tiff. I loved the Rocket Age range too, so much fun and good for boys!!
I love your pennant banner, the cute little flag, and those yummy orange alphas. Gorgeous Layout!

Thanks for joining in with this challenge Tiff, love to see your pages!!

Suex

Inspirational Quote Title - Ali

Hi Amanda, my LO is based on a fridge magnet I have had for as long as I can remember... 

I'm not free until I believe in me.

I slapped this down in record time. Used what ever was right there. Which wasn't much, but great to sit and create for a short amount of time! 

Thanks Ali Mc

oooh Ali  look at your SUPER SASSY photo  - love it you hot mumma.


Also loving those splashes of teal paint that are perfect with the pink and the embellishments. 


I am so jealous that your random, quick layouts look as awesome as this.

Tiff - Pennants & Flags challenge

Hi Sue,

I've attached a LO that i've used a string with pennants on them. The photos arn't flat on the page, they take a bit of a sweeping dip in the middle with either end raised off the page.

cheers Tiff.

Wow, this is a great LO Tiff....love the photos hanging on the string with the pennants- with the 3D effect!! The colours are very effective on the green background....and a touch of paint splattering too i see?!! Love it!

Thanks for joining in with this challenge and sharing with us!!xx

Amy - Pinterest / Inspirational Title challenge

hi Amanda. this is my LO for the inspirational titles challenge. I used my March studio calico kit 'story hour'. Now to move onto the pennants & banners challenge......... Amy F

oh i love the colours you have used here Amy! Those yellow letters just POP!


Great title too! Love the alphas and the stitching up the top! Fabulous use of space too… delish!

Amanda's Pintrest Quote challenge - Meredith

Pennants & Flags Challenge

This trend has been floating about for awhile now- and this challenge has been looming in my mind for some weeks.......but i still love it!! At the E2C retreat i saw a number of layouts donned with the pennants or flags & there is still plenty of pennant & flag inspiration in the magazines & on blogland. They can be at the top of the page, or the sides, a row of them under a photo- horizontally or vertically, big or small, they are used in alsorts of ways.

So i challenge you to show us your layouts with pennants or flags - and they can be pages from the retreat (which i'd love to see still) or new ones.

This is my page(one from the retreat):

Hope this inspires you to get scrapping in this wet cold indoorsy weather!!

Have fun,

Suex

Challenge - Inspirational Titles

I just stumbled upon this little board at pinterest:


Inspirational Titles.

We all know that sometimes the title is the hardest part of your page…and it is also one of the most important. It links the photo to the journalling and brings the whole page together. Without a strong title, one that is punchy and sparks interest right away, the layout lacks oomph.

This particular pinterest board has some wonderful words and mottos to live by, like the one below   :)

 

Source: s1042.photobucket.com via Heike on Pinterest

 See if you can find some words, pictures, fonts from this pinterest board only and use it as a jumping off point for your next layout. 

A Picasa Collage ... how to!

I don't make time to work out Photoshop but I think I could do this!!

You need Picasa ... a free download :-)

Go here for the details!!

more about the scapathon 2012...

So Meredith has given everyone the date of the e2c scrapathon for 2012 and a few details here.

Apparently there is some chat around town regarding it clashing with the Cummins Show, and a wee bit of bad feeling regarding this.

For one, i am really sad and disappointed to hear of this second and third hand as no-one has actually said a thing to me.

However, I wanted to let people know that date wise, there wasn't much left to choose from when we made our booking at Trinity Haven in October last year.

The choice we were faced with was

a. the weekend of the 13th and 14th of October

or


b. not have a scrapathon at all.


We apologise that the only weekend free for Trinity that is suitable for farmer's wives (ie. not too late for windowing), free from the long weekend (family holiday time), dodging school holidays and free from sport (footy/netball finals) just happened to coincide with the Cummins Show.

This was not at ALL planned to be this way.

We understood that it would impact a few but we also hope that you can understand that this is the only date free for our venue.

Thanks for your support.

Cute idea for a layout :-)

A hand made envelope ...

Found here :-)

Retreat layouts - Marika

Hi Amanda,

 

Thanks for the most amazing weekend everything was perfect you girls do an unbelievable job and we all thank you for it. I completed i think a record for me 15 layouts mostly scraplifts i find it hard to make up my own layouts in that atmosphere i have enclosed the one i did sunday using a few scraps and the left over paper from Mardis class and one of my favourites of Eli a lift from the cover of the August 2011 ST.

 

Thanks once again

Marika

wow wow wow Marika - i love them both. Those scallops with the funky backgrounds look fantastic in your page of Eli and i ADORE the design in the red 'grandies' layout. It pops so much against those papers and the kraft - delicious!!

I am itching to use that little banner from Shabby Chic Shack too - so beautiful here.

Thanks for sharing and for your e2c support.

Teeny tiny challenge - Meredith

Goodie bag items ...

Flower from Scrapapple

Ribbon and chipboard heart from Sheoak Craft Cottage

Chevron bag containing 2 doilies and chevron badge from Greatest View

Rubon purchased from Scrapworkz

Brads from American Crafts

Tape, apple button, large button bought by E2C

Extra bits ... alphas, label, vellum, cardstock and date stamp :-)

E2C retreat projects - Kylie S ...

Hi Meredith,

Just sending through some snippets of my Retreat Projects !

I made an album for Ted's and my parents to give to them before we head off on our trip. I bought the albums from Bridgette H at the last retreat so it was great to finally put them to use. I've just picked out a few pages of each album ... and have plans to try and attempt some 'home photo booth' style family photos to pop under the back covers (the last page opens out so I'll sneak them in there just for fun).

The photos were taken by my niece Lisa, she did a great job with her little cousins !

Thanks again to you, Amanda and Sue for such a wonderful retreat !!

Kylie :) x

Wow Kylie there is a lot of beautiful work there!! Your families will be thrilled to bits to receive them I am certain :-)

You are so good at doing special projects (remembering the frame you did at another retreat :-)

The photos by Lisa are gorgeous too ... well done to her :-)

Thank you for sharing :-) and be sure to let us know if you set up a travel blog ... we would love to follow your adventures :-)

Teeny tiny challenge - Ali McD!!

Hiya Meredith, here is my LO for the teeny tiny challenge....

I used my ink from the goodie bag around the edge, Scraps from Kate's class, paper doilies and flowers, wooden plain button and wooden apple button and other button from the bad. I also had the enjoy today tag in there but am unsure if that was included in the bag or I popped it in there as a quick place to put it.  

The black letters are american craft, the little ones are unknown as I've ripped the top of the package and ditched it. Oh and the little butterflies are Studio Calico.

Feels good to be unpacked and having a slap down on a page again!! 

Oh and also added a photo of my washi tape holder. Kate had the cutest wire coathanger with all her washi tapes on it at the retreat. 

While at my Mum and Dads last night I asked them for a wire coathanger and Dad came out with a plastic coated one, I asked him to make it so I can open and close it, and voila, I have a speccy washi tape holder too!! Loving it!! 

Thanks!!  

Ali xxx

Go girl!! Loving everything about your post!! 

Those tapes look amazing ... I bought something from Ikea that I thought I might use but haven't got it rigged up yet!!

Beautiful layout and use of bits and bobs from the weekend!! The photo is VERY special hey :-)

Love your handwriting once again :-) 

Thank you :-) xxx

Scrapathon 2012 ...

Okay chickadees ... this is not the sign to email me but just a heads up FYI and to put it in your diary or book your husbands / baby sitters / etc!

The Scrapathon dates are ...

Friday 12th October - Sunday 14th October 2012, with a chance of an extension until check out Monday morning but will need to confirm that later :-)

Shopping anyone ... ??!!

I think I'm doing this the wrong way around LOL

I post an idea or something inspiring on the Escape2Create facebook site and then think I should share it here too when in actual fact if I post here first it will pop up on our FB site anyway ... oh well I'll get it right soon!

So I came to share this one ... flair badges that are a little different ... I have ordered from this site myself :-)

Blog: http://scrappergirl.typepad.com/aflairforbuttons/

Etsy shop: http://www.etsy.com/shop/kidsmom1999?ref=seller_info

Fontalicious ...

If you are crazy about yummy scrummy, delicious fonts and get inspired by their fantastic-ness

go and check out this Norwegian site ...




http://hellotypo.com/

Teeny tiny challenge - Mel Forbes's canvas take!

Loved Kate's class so inspired by her - used a canvas that has been floating around my scrap room for quite a while..... and created this with $3.00 napkins from Ned's WA equivalent Red Dot..... and some chippy - also in bag I think!! (butterfly from Imag Designs..) along with the rubons both in the bottom right and under the tree. Also used the alpha's from Mardi's class  

Will be a special present tomorrow for a 90 yr old

xxxx Got my scrap on today - and very E2C inspired - you guys simply throw the best retreat ever... Bev I know was just so blown away by it all - she never felt like an outsider and everyone welcomed us with open arms... It was wonderful to have so many welcome me back and remember me and know what I have been doing since rofl! Will do a special post on my blog when appropriate as I don't want to share it with other required posts!!  I will help any way possible!!!! Just let me know even if you just want my muscles rofl!!!  

XXX

Mel

Mel's blog ... Mel's Place

Thank you for sharing Mel - so beautiful and very inspiring ... great additions to the base canvas to create a wonderful variation on Kate's class!

Teeny tiny challenge - Mardi's LO!!

Hi Meredith....

Couldn't resist your challenge... I actually should have been sleeping as I'm in between nights.....but as you well know....sleep is grossly over-rated...LOL

From my goodie bag I used.....

black map paper

banner

date tag at top

black flower (cut my large one smaller)

alphas

washi tape

glass pin

paper doileys

Added...

green base paper

note pad look paper

sticker for flower centre

and ‘weed’ alphas

Hope you are catching up after such a huge weekend....

Thanks so much again for having me.... and for an absolutely wonderful weekend..

Mardi xx

Fantastic goodie bag usage there Mardi!! 

Love it!! I really love the red stitching against the black flower - so beautiful!

Thank you :-)

OK a teeny tiny challenge ...

see this ... ???

Go forth and use as many items in your E2C retreat goodie bag to produce a layout ... extra bits okay :-)

Send your layout to me ... 

john.treloar@bigpond.com 

and let me know which bits are from the goodie bag!!

Also make sure you check out the discount voucher in one of those glassine chevron bags ... and go shopping here ... Greatest View

Mardi's class layouts by Lauren

Lauren said ...

Hi Meredith,

I'm not sure I can ever stop saying Thankyou! for such an amazing weekend- it seriously is the BEST!!

Here are my two layouts from Mardi's class...I think I had a phone call when Mardi spoke about the glue dots and glitter so I missed that step and actually didn't realise until seeing other layouts of the blog what was going on! doh! But I will definitely file that brilliant idea away for future use.

I am in LOVE my class layouts.

I finished up the weekend with 12 layouts & 2 nearly finished canvas', I will popping them up on my blog soon- I promise!!

Again girls- THANKYOU!! for everything- can we do it again now??

xx Lauren

Wow I love your take on the class layouts Lauren ... your funky extra bits are perfect!!

And always I love that you do your hand written journalling ... go girlfriend!!

Thank you also for your very kind words :-)

E2C retreat layout by Tiff ...

Tiff said  ... "The journaling says it all!!!  Tin Pin by GG and Lou. Can't get enough of them. I have at least one on nearly every LO  ;o)".

Those alphas are yummy Tiff and the green and black looks great, with a hint of red!!

If you keep checking out Tiff's blog I'm sure she will be posting some more layouts soon :-)

E2C class layouts - Sue

I really enjoyed the classes from the weekend, here is the layouts from Mardi's class:



And here is my canvas from Kate Mason's class on friday night. This one was a great starter to the weekend, it really got those creative juices revved up. So easy to do yet very effective. Loved it!! And to see all the different canvas' around the shed over the weekend was amazing!

I will post more layouts from the weekend next week.

xx