Amanda's sideways challenege - Meredith

May challenge

I really love this layout by Diane Payne  :

I know most of those elements coming in from the side are actually on the paper but wouldn't it be cool to do a DIY version??!!!!

So my May challenge is 'tucked elements'.

Tuck all your elements down one side or peekaboo type of style from an edge.

Hope you can join in with this challenge and give the ol' blog a shot of enthusiasm!

The "use it and lose it" Colour challenge for May!!

Okay so after The Biggest Loser finale last night and heading back to the Gym this morning I got inspired by my Instructor's "outfit"!! LOL

So using these colours ... Create a layout - you can add white and / or kraft!!

yummy green, beautiful blue and black

I don't think she thought I was too strange when I asked to take the picture 

... she does have a sister who scraps ;-)

Amy - retreat shares and mug whereabouts

Hi Amanda, here are the layouts I did at retreat. 'Forever in my heart' is my version of a layout shown in scrapbooking memories volume 13 no. 4. The layout 'if u can  dream it, do it' is not supposed to have a wonky O lol!! I had an awesome weekend and cant wait til the next one!! hopefully there will be a mini retreat to pass the time by faster…..

Also, this is where my retreat mugs live. On my new scrapping shelf. Unfortunately my 09 mug has gone walk-a-bout. happy scrappin! -Amy

oh the layouts are beautiful Amy! Stunning colours and banner in 'remember this'. Totally WOW.

 The 'dream it' looks almost fairytale it's so whimsical and gorgeous,  the stitched circle in 'a girl on a farm' is fantastic and the distressed look of the papers look fabbo in 'many faces'.

Your heart layout made me do a double take! (i have done a similar one in the past week… and now i am wondering if i spotted yours at the retreat and filed that idea to use later without realising it! Sorry if you thought i had copied yours!) Your page is absolutely breathtaking - just stunning. I really love the stitching detail as well as the paint splats. Just amazing.

Thanks Amy!

Amanda - Sue's sketch

The different elements are all there from the sketch - you might need to squint a bit to see my interpretation of it though :)

Sue's sketch - Karen

Karen said ...

I have been scrapping this weekend/school holidays and it has been nice.  So last night I thought I would give your Easter sketch a go 1. because I have never attempted a banner. 2. I think I may have scrapped myself out! :0

I hope everyones had a wonderful Easter!

wow Karen!! I love your first banner!! The stamping looks excellent and some mist flicks ... woo hoo!!


And as always love the colours you use ... fantastic!!

Sue's sketch - Meredith

My take on Sue's sketch ...

Hope everyone has had a wonderful Easter ... Meredith 

where is your retreat mug- from Sandra

Hi Amanda!!
Wonder if anyone else takes their E2C mugs on holiday?? Would be great to see other photos!!
We are in Venus Bay...Happy Easter and stay safe everyone
Sandra
Xx

great shot Sandra! Looks very relaxing!

I don't take mine on holidays - in fact they never leave my scrap room :

interesting to see if others actually use them for coffee or storage!! And where?!! Work or home? Take a shot and send it in.

Happy and safe Easter everyone.

Easter sketch

Finally it is here....the sketch for this month...well, i have called it the Easter sketch.....for those of you who are going to be lucky enough to be home over this very long weekend....and may have the opportunity to escape to your scrap space for some quiet moments. Hopefully this sketch can bring you some inspiration.

I have taken it from my 'Family Portrait' layout that i did at the retreat, you can see my example in a couple posts below....... hopefully i will see some touches of paints splats or some ring work, maybe a banner, an odd butterfly or flower too.........whatever, just have some fun with it.

So i look forward to seeing what you come up with!!

And i wish all you a Very Safe and Wonderful Easter with family and friends....and hope the Easter Bunny is very kind to each & every one of you!!! Sounds like the weather is going to be a pearler.....so enjoy!!

Take care,

Suexx

Kylie - retreat share

Hi Amanda,

Just sending through a piccie of a layout from the Retreat ... fresh from the framers in Lincoln today.

I fiddled around with this 'project' for the first 'day and a half' of the retreat (in between doing classes / eating / drinking / chatting / sleeping) ... until I was finally happy with it.

It's a present to give to Mum at her birthday party on Easter Saturday at Pt Neill and will be a 'mate' to hang alongside the one I did for my Dad at the last E2C Retreat.

Thanks to all of you for such a wonderful retreat yet again, it is always such an amazing weekend ... I will be sad to miss the next couple when we are travelling (but I could always fly back hey ! - some ladies travel miles for the retreats I guess I could become one of them !).

Thanks,

Kylie :)

WOW Kylie! You always make the most beautiful presents and keepsakes on our retreats! What a thoughtful AND clever girl  you are.

That chipboard circle + flourishes looks like it was specially made for your 'layout' and ooooooh at all the lace and the perfect vintage feel that those papers lend.

I bet this will take pride of place on the wall next to last years framed gift!!

You will certainly be missed if you can't fly back to our retreats Kylie - it isn't completely a silly idea you know ;-)

Sue - retreat layouts

A couple of my favourite layouts from the retreat...i didn't add my LO's from the classes (which were favs of mine too, but you can peek at them at my own blog)......AND i am hoping to post up a sketch challenge this week!! :)

Marika - retreat layouts

Hi Amanda,

 

Thanks again for the retreat it was a fantastic time and so nice to have some me time.

 

Marika

and layouts from Fran Tynan's class

 thanks Marika = these are stunning. Sorry that they are smaller than i normally post but they pixelate when i make them larger. (if you send me bigger sized images i can enlarge them on here)

I am always really struck by how you use colour - fantastic and really inspiring. LOVE the banner in the Poser layout, the butterflies in that yummo rose ribbon in the family fun page, and the stunning simplicity in the M layout. The kraft and brown is delicious in the Dad page - really lovely and soft but masculine at the same time…

Thanks for sharing Marika. Awesome and so productive!

Ali Mc - Retreat Share

Hi Amanda, finally gotten around to reducing some photos of my LO's, haven't included them all, just my faves. Thanks again for a fabulous time, and seeing as you are talking about next years already, will keep my fingers crossed until next year that I get a spot!!

I have a big write up on my blog about the retreat, but I have made my blog private so if anyone wants permission, drop me a message through facebook or send me an email!

Thanks

Ali xxx

WOW Ali - you sure scrapped up a storm! I really cannot choose any favourites here - they are all STUNNING.

Of course i love your class layouts, they look so beautiful :) 

The colours in the six at six layout are so bright and gorgeous! Also love that title idea.

The black background in the BML layout is awesome against that teal! LOVE how you have done your title there! 

A couple of pinwheels spotted on your Friday Coffee page  - orange / yellow / kraft is delicious! 

Your painting on the last two make me green - yep so jealous that you can splash, splat and roll and make it look so damn good!! 

You are a clever clever chickie Ali. Thanks for the laughs and support at the retreat. A smile, funny comment and a laugh from you helped me relax and enjoy the retreat so much. 

Tiff- blast from the past

Heya.

I've just finished scrapping the 2009 E2C and thought you'd may like to post it on the retreat blog. Janice, Sandra and Maryanne have all given me the ok to post it on the www.

 

Lots of familiar faces there!!!!

 

Cheers and thanks

 

 

Tiff

This is great Tiff - and definitely a great walk down memory lane. I really like how you have used the retreat colours and also the butterfly, bird and vine / roses - looks awesome.

The photos tell a story of a retreat well enjoyed ;-)

Great journalling remembering good times.

what you have been waiting for ... THE RECIPES!!!

Roasted Pumpkin Salad Recipe

1.2kg pumpkin
20ml (1 tablespoons) oil
Salt and pepper, to taste
16g (about 2 medium) garlic cloves, unpeeled
40ml (2 tablespoons) balsamic vinegar
40ml (2 tablespoons) olive oil
20ml (1 tablespoon) honey
100g (about 5 loosely filled cups) baby spinach leaves
75g (1/2 cup) roasted pine nuts
100g feta cheese

Preheat oven to 220 degrees Celsius (190 degrees Celsius fan-forced). If you are not using a fan-forced oven, move the oven rack to the middle shelf position.

Cut pumpkin into slices about 2cm thick, and remove skin and seeds. Cut the pumpkin into pieces about 1 - 2cm square.

Place pumpkin pieces on a large baking tray, drizzle with one tablespoon of oil and toss to coat. Spread pumpkin out in a single layer on the tray and sprinkle with salt and pepper.

Cut a small amount off the end of each garlic clove (this helps prevent the garlic from bursting out of its skin when roasting) and put garlic on the tray with the pumpkin

Bake pumpkin and garlic for 15 minutes. Remove tray from oven and set garlic aside to cool. Turn the pumpkin pieces over and return to oven. Continue cooking pumpkin for about 15 minutes, until lightly browned and tender when tested with the point of a knife. Allow pumpkin to cool to room temperature

Make dressing (see instructions below).

Arrange spinach leaves, pumpkin and nuts on a serving platter. Shake the dressing and pour over the salad. Crumble feta over the salad and serve immediately.

Dressing
Squeeze garlic from its skin into a bowl

Mash garlic with a fork.

Place garlic, balsamic vinegar, olive oil, honey, salt and pepper in a screw-top jar .

Cover jar with lid and shake well to combine the ingredients. If it is a cold day, the honey will take a little longer to incorporate.

Approx. 8 serves.

© www.exclusivelyfood.com.au

Cranberry Broccoli Salad

4 cups fresh broccoli florets

½ to ¾ cup cubed red onion

1 cup dried cranberries (craisins)

1/3 cup crumbled well cooked bacon

½ cup Roasted slivered almonds

½ cup Shaved Parmesan cheese

½ cup mayonnaise

½ cup thin cream

3T sugar

In a large salad bowl, combine the broccoli, onion, cranberries and bacon. In a small bowl, combine the mayonnaise, cream and sugar until smooth. Pour over the broccoli mixture with parmesan cheese and almonds, toss to combine.

Refrigerate until serving.

Serves 6

Recipe from www.tasteofhome.com and modified by Amanda Hall

Sticky Date Pudding

Ingredients (serves 8)

• 250g pitted dates, chopped
• 1 teaspoon bicarbonate of soda
• 1 1/2 cups boiling water
• 125g butter, softened
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 eggs
• 1 3/4 cups White Wings Self-Raising Flour, sifted

• Caramel sauce
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 300ml thickened cream
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 60g butter

Method

1. Preheat oven to 180°C. Grease and line the base of a 7cm deep, 22cm (base) cake pan.
2. Place dates and bicarbonate of soda into a bowl. Pour over boiling water. Allow to stand for 20 minutes.
3. Using an electric mixer, beat butter, sugar and vanilla until pale and creamy. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Using a large metal spoon, fold through date mixture and flour until well combined.
4. Spoon mixture into prepared cake pan. Bake for 35 to 40 minutes or until a skewer inserted into the centre comes out clean. Turn onto a plate.
5. To make sauce, combine all ingredients in a saucepan over medium heat. Cook, stirring often, until sauce comes to the boil. Reduce heat to medium-low. Simmer for 2 minutes.
6. Pierce pudding all over with a skewer. Pour 1/2 cup of warm sauce over warm pudding. Stand for 10 minutes. Cut into wedges. Serve with remaining sauce along with thick cream and ice cream.

Super Food Ideas, July 2004, page 49  www.taste.com.au

Thank you for sending them through Kathryn!!

Lou's retreat shares...

Hello Hello Guys

Well what an awesome time you organised for us!!!!!!!!! Thank you so so very much for all of your amazing hardwork in putting together another wonderful Retreat!!!! I felt lucky enought to just be able to attend, but to be asked to do a workshop surpassed my expectations, I was so honoured and excited!!!! Again THANK YOU!!! I so love doing the workshops and sharing my passion, the enthusiasm of those who attend is so wonderful and it keeps me on a high for such a long time!!! Thank you Girls for that particular bonus!!! it was an additional bonus for the weekend!

Ive attached 2 of my fave layouts for the weekend, they were the first 2 that I created. You will notice that I have used the same tree template in both, thats becuase I dont like to waste, so after doing the first one [on chipboard background] I flipped the template over on to the second [black cardstock], and used it like a large stamp.

For the first layout [which was for last weeks Colour Room Challange] I first scraped on some white paint, then some green, and then used the tree template over the top with white Studio Calico Mister Huey mist. I was a bit chuffed to find that the first layout got featured on The Crafters Workshop Blog so that was another little bit of excitement to add to the weekend!!! :) :) :)

Girls again THANK YOU and I do hope that you consider doing it all again next year!!!! Otherwise Ill see you all again in October!!... I hope LOL :)

Lou xoxoxo

Thanks Lou - it was so good to see first hand the thought processes that go into your pages. I certainly LOVED seeing how they come together - so inspiring, creative and unique compared to main stream scrapping. Even if everyone has different styles i am sure many people who did your workshop can incorporate some artistic techniques and / or inspiration from you.


LOVE this tree stencil and the wire and buttons and our retreat girl Wendy! Absolutely STUNNING against the black background! Those brights against the black are totally WOW.


Personally i find it amazing that your pages look so random and yet from your workshop i learnt that what you aim for is 'predictable outcomes' from your paint / mists etc. Also that your pages look so delicate and yet due to all those glue stick layers are very robust!


Thanks Lou - you really opened our eyes up and i was like sponge bob square pants soaking up all your creative info!

E2C 2011 retreat show off time ...

So we all scrapped layouts, as well as off the page items, at the recent retreat ...

I know ...

cause when you are the last to bed, with my scrapper accompanier, Amanda, you get to wander around the shed and look at what everyone has been creating

... organisers' privilege ;-)

... hope we didn't splash any cosmo on your stuff ... just joking ... we had finished consuming by then!!

So how about you send a photo of some or even just one of the layouts that you did at the retreat and we will post it here on the blog.

If you haven't done this before please don't be scared ... we love to see all layouts!! See our email address down a little on the right ...

I will get organised tomorrow and post some over on my blog ... My Cutting & Creating ... not sure if I'll get the infamous "the big bed" layout completed though ;-)

I started 8 layouts at the retreat and didn't finish any of them but I did get my layout from Tatum's class finished so I will post that tomorrow.

Please send in your layout photos or off the page items ... we all love seeing other people's stuff!!! :-)

e2c 2011

It has taken me 5 days to think of what to write here. I want to start by saying a massive THANK YOU to Sue and Meredith - i think we have created something special.

Thanks also to Tiff who was a founder of e2c - we don't ever forget your enthusiasm and willingness to work in the first few years. It is as much your baby as it is ours.


Thanks also to Val, Kathryn and Sonia for all that incredible food. WOW. What amazing food!!! To think that you girls do this out of the goodness of your hearts is just mind blowing.

I cannot say thank you enough to Andrew - our man in pink. OMG he was incredible. What an amazing man to have - he was helping everywhere from the minute he and Michelle arrived on Thursday - setting up, helping in the kitchen, IT consultant, fire warden, pinwheel gluer and so much help to us packing up. I could rave on for hours about him --- i honestly do not know a man who could have done what he did for us. Just brilliant.

Thank you to our awesome teachers - Lou, Fran, Michelle and Tatum. Wow what an inspiration you girls were. Right from the beginning when we asked if you would like to be involved in a teaching capacity you were all thrilled at being asked. It was such a delight to work with girls who were as excited about the retreat as we are. Thank you girls - you are wonderful! To think that these girls have travelled so far for e2c is a bit of a spin out. I personally feel very proud of what we have created and to think that people - famous scrap people WANT to come and teach is so cool!

Thanks to Mandy - magic fingers - who worked her guts out on Saturday massaging all and sundry.

Thanks to Mum / Ann Starke for taking the photos on the Sunday. They are great memories to keep and we really appreciate you coming along to do it for us.

Thanks to the 5 retailers who pack up their entire wares and take them along to the retreat for us to peruse and buy up until the wee hours of the night! This is such a huge thing for them to do (imagine packing up and setting up an entire shop for 3 days and then packing it up again and going home!) and it is soooooooooooooooooooooo appreciated. I can't imagine having a retreat without that lovely 'instant' shopping option.

Thanks to our sponsors - the goodie bags and prize table looks fantastic. Special mention to Studio Calico who were so very, VERY generous. Also a big shout out to our local scrap businesses who searched and searched for the items in our class kits - Shabby Chic Shack, Scrapworkz and Sheoak Craft Cottage - THANK YOU!

A few snaps from the weekend. I hope you ladies that attended had fun too.

and ooopsie:

mugs and pinwheels on arrival.

the e2c team enjoy an annual 'pre retreat' moet to settle nerves and get us excited about the weekend ahead...

Bev and Sandra hard at it!

you can almost feel the mojo happening here !

Sue and Fran in action on our table:

The afternoon tea and lolly bar.

mugs and lanyards:

that ticker...

well it felt like forever to get down into double digits, and then i panicked when it was down to single and now it says 1 day to go………………eeeeeeeek

Meredith, Sue and myself will head down tomorrow to set up.

Guest start arriving at 1pm on Friday.

It such a wonderful time - when all those 'loose' ideas come together to form something fantastic… well we hope you will think they are fantastic too!

To be honest the E2C retreat is more than just scrapbooking. 

It's about mum's having a well deserved break, women getting together. Having a laugh, a few drinks and enjoying finding time for themselves again. It's about not having to get up to children, deal with husbands or other demands on our busy lives.

I always find the Sunday goodbyes hard - because the retreat means SO much more than scrapping and when you say goodbye you are also saying goodbye to that little bit of escape.

So with that - bring on tomorrow's set up. Bring on Friday.

Bring on saying 'hello escape2create.' 

Bring on saying 'hello me.'

***

and don't forget those baby / toddler / under 5 photos of yourself for our 'who's who' game. The more that join in the more fun it will be.

oooh getting closer….

Hello, hello lovely ladies.

 

Well it is not at all long until we see you again. We hope you are SUPER excited and prepared for a fun filled, relaxing weekend. The final bits of our preparations are falling into place and after 4 years i think we may have planned you the BEST RETREAT EVER!

 

If you haven't started getting your class photos organized - then snap to it!

 

Go to the link below if you need clarification on what you need for your workshops / classes.

 

http://escape2create.blogspot.com/2011/03/e2c-class-requirements.html

 

The classes and workshops are scheduled as following:

 

Friday evening - Michelle's Stamping Workshop

Saturday morning - Fran's two layouts class

Saturday afternoon - Tatum's two page layout class

Saturday evening - Lou's texture workshop

 

We would appreciate if you could also bring along large acrylic stamp blocks for Fran's class - if you do not have one DON'T PANIC or buy it specifically. Hopefully we can get enough on loan to pool our resources!

 

Again we will re- enforce some points :

 

1.  There will be 5 retailers attending our retreat and they will be 'onsite' for the entire weekend.  DON'T FORGET YOUR MONEY / PURSE / CARD / CHEQUE BOOK!

 

2. If you would like an iron on transfer for your t-shirt (black - supply own) please let Amanda know ASAP - ga.hall@bigpond.com . Transfers will not be given automatically to everyone in 2011 - so please ask if you would like one! 

 

3. The group photo last year looked fantastic with everyone in their black t-shirts - yes even the sneezing photo was brilliant!! We are hoping most people will join in and bring a black shirt so we can have a similar 'group' appearance this year -  even if you don't want a transfer. This group photo has been planned for 10.30 am on Sunday.

 

4. Our exclusive e2c Masseuse Mandy will be available Saturday and Sunday. Booking sheets will be circulating on Friday. This year Mandy has invited a friend to help her - Carly. They will both offer 30 minute back and shoulder massages for $25 during Saturday and Sunday. Please be mindful of your classes when booking your massage!

 

5. You will need to BYO esky and ice for your own BYO drinks (alcoholic or non) for the entire weekend. Ice will be available at the Nt Shields service station across the road to top up eskies as needed. Please note that there is no spare fridge space so personal drinks will be your own responsibility.  You will also need to bring your own wine glass / cocktail glass / cocktail ingredients. Blenders will be supplied. There will be a special 'eskie cubby' for all eskies which is near to your scrap area.

 

6. Make sure you have plenty of photos and projects to keep you busy for 2.5 entire days. Take much more than you think you could ever scrap and hopefully your creative mojo will floweth over!

 

7. Tea and coffee facilities will be available all day, evening and until the wee hours. Afternoon tea will also be supplied on Friday afternoon at 2.30pm.

 

8. A small selection of nibbles will also be available. If you have particular eating desires - bring them along for yourself to nibble on over the weekend. If you have a hankering for chips and cheeses please note that they will not be supplied this year. (sorry!)

 

9. Don't forget to pack bath towel, bedding and toiletries!!

 

10. There are 6 beds per room - 3 bunks. 

 

11. Arrival time is from 1pm on Friday the 1st. YES we have listened to your feedback and have opened the retreat doors much earlier than ever before. No early callers please.

 

12. The retreat will wrap up around 4pm on Sunday :( This is to ensure we have enough time to finalize retailer accounts, give us time to clean rooms and remove ourselves!

 

13. There will be a cuttlebug, sissix and some folders plus plenty of sewing machines set up at the retreat to borrow. If you would like to print journalling there will also be a printer / laptop. Please supply own paper/cardstock.

 

 

If you have a sensitive back or bum you may want to bring along a pillow or cushion as the chairs can become a bit hard after a few hours and we would hate that to interfere with your creative energy!!

 

We have a creative challenge to do prior to the retreat if you are feeling keen! We will display the tags on a wall at the retreat if there is enough interest. Absolutely no pressure if you do not have time.See the details in the link below:

 

 

http://escape2create.blogspot.com/2011/03/retreat-girls.html

 

 

Finally we would love you all to participate in a group fun activity. If you could please bring ONE baby/toddler photo of yourself OR photocopy of a photo of yourself as a baby/toddler along to the retreat. It doesn't have to be large (preferably with just you in it to save confusion). These photos will NOT be damaged, scrapped or copied in any way and will be returned to you completely intact. No names on back or labels on photos please!! If they could be dropped off to Amanda on arrival that would be appreciated. A guessing game of 'who's who' will follow!!

 

Please don't hesitate to contact us if there is any questions or concerns. We would be pleased to help in any way possible and strive to make this a great, fun time for everyone.

 

Safe travels and see you at 1pm on Friday!!

 

Sue, Meredith, Kathryn, Val and Amanda,