Sue- matt title word challenge

Here is my example of Amanda's matt a word in a title challenge....i have stamped the word 'Santa' onto brown cardstock and cut it out, and mounted it...... I have used my '09 Xmas photo shoot of the grandies, i had them sitting very nicely(i had to be quick i must add) on a contour bank amongst the stubble and weeds. A photo that was popped in with all the rellies Xmas cards!

Amanda - colour challenge

Tracey - colour & sketch challenge

Howdy Sue,

Hope you have had a good summer and a break away from the riff raff of life!! Attached is my layout of your sketch. This is also Amanda's colour challenge. Two challenges in one!! I was very happy that I thought to use the hambly screen print thingies under my title, I love them but have no idea how to use them. Doing Amanda's class the other night has encouraged me to use diecuts and these screen print things. When I was cropping the layout I chopped off the edges sorry. The kids ended up swimming this day in the absolute freezing water in their clothes!! No sense, no feeling!!! Lucky they had a change of clothes. The journalling says 'Note to self ... when going to the beach in the middle of winter, children will always end up getting their clothes wet. You must take spares!!'

Cheers,
Tracey

Wow, you were quick off the mark Tracey....sorry i was a day or so posting it up....but what a great layout, and clever one....getting two of the challenges done in one layout!!

Love the patterned papers you have chosen, they look great together, and love the use of the hambly screen transparency!!...and yummy crochet flower!!

Great page Trace! Thanks for giving it a go!

Marika - colour challenge

Marika is inspired by our challenges already this month - thanks so much for sending them in Marika and getting us all enthused to give it a try.

(it's nice to know we aren't blabbing on to nobody!)

This colour combo is so fresh and you have done so very well. Love the 'yo yo' flowers and that tree + buttons is just gorgeous.

She certainly is a beautiful little girl.

February Sketch challenge

Howdy Everyone!!! Yes i am still about too, beleive it or not! It has been a busy couple of months for myself and everyone....

Wow Amanda, what great challenges you have come up with for this month. Lovely bright colour one and the title one is surely a bit different that will get us all thinking and inspired again.


Actually, i almost had my sketch & example done Saturday and was going to post it early to surprise you all...but the wheels fell off here and it got too busy to post it... i was inspired by a Jenni Bowlin page on her blog but then it changed a bit....so i turned it into our monthly sketch. It can be with multiple photos of any size, and embellish as you wish...Hopefully you will be inspired to scrap some of those lovely summery photos like i was.

Here's my example:

So have fun with it and look forward to all your examples coming in.

Suexx

the First of February!

WOW a whole month has sped by and here we are at the second month of 2010! Before we know it Xmas will roll around again!

I am so hoping to see some challenge pages being emailled to us this month, supporting us and this blog. It would be great to get past that holiday blah time.

I am sorry if i have personally been AWOL. My spare time has almost 100% been concentrating on the retreat and less on the blog and challenges. I know Meredith and Sue are feeling similar.

Colour Challenge

It's bright, it's funky, its blue, green, pink and dark brown.

Show me what you have got!




Amanda's Challenge

Now i know already that i am going to totally suck at trying to explain this but what i would like you to do is mat one word of your title.




HUH?

I first saw our very own Brigette S. do this at the October scrapathon. Instead of placing her thicker title directly onto her page, she matted them onto felt (if i remember correctly??!) and then cut around the felt leaving a tiny bit of felt border peeping out around the perimeter of the word. She then affixed the whole thing onto her page. It made the title really pop and gave it quite a unique look.

The layout below by Deena Wuest, featured in January 2010 CK magazine and poorly scanned by myself illustrates what i am trying (and failing) to explain.

Deena has heat embossed her 'candy' title and then cut around it. THIS is what i would like you to do for my challenge this month.

You can stamp, use thickers, print from the computer, whatever way you would like to make your title up BUT then mat it as shown and cut around for WOW impact.

I would definately like to try this and it has been in my 'must do' list since October and i am sure all your examples will inspire me to try it also.

Can't wait to see your work in my inbox!

stay tuned for the other girl's challenges.

hello?

hmmm i wonder if anyone comes in here anymore?

It has all been very quiet - a bit too quiet considering that there are

ONLY 55 DAYS TO GO UNTIL OUR RETREAT!

HOLY SMOKES!

Sue, Meredith and I have been busy as little bees getting things sorted and i am so excited at how things are progressing. I wasn't sure we could ever improve on last year's retreat but BOY OH BOY this is different, unusual and so damn cool! I am loving what we are sorting out for you!!!

(if you aren't coming you are going to KICK yourself!)

To top it all off at a recent scrap event it seemed that the 'direction' that we are taking is all the current rage! OMG who knew that we were soooooo cutting edge!!??

You will also notice that i have added more sponsors to our list down the side - the sponsors have been amazing this year. Very very generous considering the grim financial situation and down turn in scrapping. We thank them so so so much and we know that you will absolutely love what they have done for us. We are SO impressed!

Speaking of sponsors - Memories 2 Remember have a very special deal for our retreat go-ers.

This will be a pre-retreat special... something to wet our whistles so to speak.

This will take effect from FEBRUARY 1st so i will pop the details on what it involves in an email over the weekend. Let me just drop these words as a hint = discount vouchers, free postage, yummy product!

STAY TUNED as i am sure you do not want to miss out!!

Don't forget we love to see what you have been up to scrapping wise. Drop Sue, Meredith or myself an email and we can pop it in the blog and help inspire our little e2c community. (hopefully we still have one out there.....)

the sponsor list --->

Hi all :)

I have just been fiddling with the blog and have popped some links up to some of our 2010 E2C retreat sponsors. As the sponsorship comes in i will be able to add to that list. Check it out from time to time, follow the links and have a little look at what these shops can offer.

We thank them for helping us make our 2010 retreat GREAT!

Marika - Sue's Dec sketch

Hi Amanda,
hope you had a good christmas and new year just sending a very belated sues sketch from December the first thing I have done for weeks feels good pretty hectic like everyone. Can;t wait for school to go back so that maybe I can get back into it.

Thanks Marika

oh this is so cute Marika! Bella was absolutely adorable that day - what a doll! Love the title - awww - and those yummy colours you have used. The pink background certainly makes the photo pop and be the centre of attention! Great job!

I think we can all relate to school going back and the return of creativity / productivity!

No patterned paper ... Sandra

Sandra said ...

Now don't fall over backwards but I have actually scrapped a layout!!

I worked out the other day that the last layout I did was on Rememberence Day!!

No wonder I felt ill ... I thought it was early Menopause but it turns out to be scrapping detox!!



Sandra I think this is amazing!! Love the stamps and stamps iykwim!! LOL!! The Glimmermist is beautiful and perfect photos - Wow, wow, wow!!!
Thank you ... I think we would like to see some more soon please!!

New products galore!!

Have you seen some of the new Scrapbooking Company designs coming out with the Winter CHA (Craft & Hobbies Association) in the USA?

This site has an amazing collection of what's to come ... The Scrap Review

You may have to scroll through to several pages to check it all out!!

I am always a fan of Cosmo Cricket products ...

Their new ranges ...

Happy web surfing!!

So crafty ... LOL

kickstart 2010

If you are anything like me, your paper stash has grown to monster proportions!

2 peas are offering a FREE year long class on using your paper stash.

you can find the details here. They are in the form of a downloadable PDF.

This month's challenge is to use patterned paper as an embellishment. The cute class example is a fantastic demonstration of this technique.

get happy by Shannon Twidwell from 2 peas website.

Even if you don't want to upload them to the 2 peas gallery, a free class is great for inspiration.

I think i may use these classes to kick start my scrapping 2010! How about you?

Summer is ... Marika

Marika has had a lovely week going to Farm Beach ...

Another amazing shot from Farm Beach
... we spent every day there last week
... so lucky to have a beach like that.

Bella after a day at the beach too cute ...

Crabbing at Farm Beach ...

I totally agree Marika ... Farm Beach is one amazing spot to spend the day!

Thank you for the photos!

Summer is ...

impromptu Escape 2 Create meetings at Farm Beach ... complete with swim up bar and personal waiter for drink replenishment and nibbles!

Yes the planning discussions continue and if you hadn't checked the counter lately ... 74 days to go!!

Happy 2010

Just breezing though between shifts but thought i should pop my head in for a 2010 hello!

Hope everyone had a lovely Xmas and a nice quiet start to 2010.

Things for the retreat in March are gearing up - bits and bobs have been ordered and being sent as we speak! Sue, Meredith and I have our brains geared up to work extra hard in the next three months to make sure everything is A-OK, perfecto, fabo-licious for our retreat!! We want this the be the bestest experience for everyone!

It actually shocked me to see that little countdown box tonight when it said 77 days to go!! eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeek!

Anyway i must run as this post really isn't about anything but a general 'hello' to you all. Thanks to Sue and Meredith who have kept the blog pumping along while i have been awol. I will be back soon, hopefully with a scrapping itch that needs to be scratched! (it may even be contagious!)

Summer is ... Marika

Marika sent this in ...

Just sending you a couple of photos from Farm Beach the last few evenings.

Great photos Marika ... Farm Beach is such a wonderful spot! Wouldn't mind that boat either!

I think we might have to head there in the next few days! Along with everyone else!!

Scrapbooking Japanese style ...

I came across a blog for a Japanese scrapper ...

http://chelseavn.blog43.fc2.com/

very little of it is in English but her work is amazing and so different to any style I have seen before.

Today I clicked on a link from her page ...

http://scrapstations.blogspot.com/

from what I can work out it is a team challenge type blog ... even more interesting and inspiring work!

Kathryn's December challenge

Hi,

Here is a photo of the kids decorating the Christmas Tree a couple ofweekends ago. Thought you might like to add it to the blog for Decemberchallenge. Sorry I haven't been involved much, but do enjoy getting ontoblog and seeing what everyone is up to.

Kathryn xx

Thanks for sending in your Christmas tree photo Kathryn, sorry it has taken me a couple days to post it up!! Kids love to put up the Christmas tree....you can see the excitment in their faces,..and they know that surprises are just around the corner once the tree is all ready!! Hope they had lots of fun at Christmas!

Kylie's been busy!

Kylie said ...

I don't 'scrap' as often as I'd like to so while I had a couple of things to share, I thought I would !

I made Ted's Mum (and Dad) an album for Christmas. I started it at a Scrap night at 'Sheoak' back in September, worked on it at the Karkoo Scrap Weekend, then didn't touch it again 'till the week before Christmas (silly me to leave things to the last minute !!).

Anyway, after 3 months, 83 photos and many late nights leading up to Christmas Day, I stuck the final letters on the front on Christmas morning and WA-LAH it was done (yay)! The kids presented it to Nanny after Christmas lunch, she opened it, had a flick through, started to cry and ran over to give me a big hug (then I started to cry too !!). I was so pleased that she loved it, she looked at it on and off throughout the afternoon and passed it around to everyone for a look. Even some of the 'Shep' male relations commented on it which gave me a buzz (normally scrapping's a bit of a 'chick thing' so when a fella comments on something you've made it makes you feel really good!).

I did a page on each of our kids, a few family pages and on one Ted's folks, but won't 'clog the blog' with every page so have just selected a few to share.

WOW, WOW, WOW ... I can see why she cried ... that is a marathon effort and a wonderful collection of photos for Ted's Mum and Dad to have!!! So very special! I am sure many more people will get to see it when they visit them ... it is a very rewarding feeling when someone shows their appreciation for a handmade gift!

Thank you very much for sending that in ... very inspiring! And you have put so much thought into your gifts Kylie ... this one and the scrap kits ... good on you!

Christmas gift idea ...

Kylie S said ...

Happy New Year !

Just thought I'd share these on the blog ... some little craft packs I made up for Christmas to give to some of my teenage nieces (who are getting harder to buy for each year as they get older !).

3 out of the 4 already 'scrap' and the 4th is keen to start (I sussed her out awhile back without giving away what I was doing) so I hope they enjoy them.

I said ...

WOW that is a brilliant idea!! Might have to keep that one in mind for next year!! Thank you so much for sending the photo in Kylie!

Happy New Year everyone!!

So I hope everyone had a great night and if you made any resolutions that they are ones that you can keep!!

So how about a couple of challenges ...

No 1 ... a layout with no patterned paper!!

I posted this one a few days ago on my blog ...

So use your imagination a little and definitely no patterned paper!

I scanned the dockets from the bakery and printed them onto plain paper.

No 2 ... Photo Challenge ... "this says Summer to me" ...

I think we had this last Summer but post a favourite photo of something you have loved doing this Summer ... no rush ... you have the whole month!!

No 3 ... Representation through elements ...

Ooohh that sounds good doesn't it!! ;-)

I have done this a few times lately so though it might be good to explain with this example ...

1. the yellow paper ... the stubble
2. the stitching ... header traveling through the paddock, round and round
3. the clock ... time waiting at the silos
4. blue pearls ... rain
5. yellow and green brad ... colour of the header
6. twine ... harvest wrapping up
7. brads ... a truck looking element ;-)
8. chipboard star ... start of harvest

So if you do this challenge when you send your layout in add an explanation of your elements and what they represent!

January 2010 challenges ...

I know that most people are away for at least some of January but I thought I might post a couple of challenges on January 1st for those who are home!

Stay tuned!

New year's resolution ... LOL

Sandra wrote to say ...

Hi Meredith!
I saw on your blog that you are thinking of doing a Christmas project every month getting ready for next Christmas!
I was thinking of doing the same thing...but I think you have more commitment than I have lol

I found this in my travels ... see below!

I thought of you as soon as I saw all those ideas. It is a free download I hope you like it.might be a good share for the blog??

Cheers for now, Sandra
Have a Happy New Year!!

http://scrapbooking.about.com:80/gi/dynamic/offsite.htm?zi=1/XJ/Ya&sdn=scrapbooking&cdn=homegarden&tm=18&gps=342_277_1020_597&f=00&tt=14&bt=0&bts=0&zu=http%3A//www.shabbyprincess.com/downloads.asp

Thanks Sandra ... as I said on my blog ... I'm not being held to my idea!! ;-)

But I think a collection of recipes suitable for Christmas is a great idea as each year I go looking for those special ones that I have found through out the year and waste a lot of time looking!!

Cute Xmas decorations

Whilst putting off going to bed and laying in a sweaty, hot room (bugger at another day of the heat tomorrow!) i stumbled on a couple of other cute litle chrissy decorations.

This is a super cute garland! Isn't it adorable with those little buttons on the string??!! The instructions can be found here on the Fancy Pants website but i think you could use any paper at all with those sorts of ornament designs on them. Basic Grey had some a couple of years ago and also i have seen Kaiser paper with similar designs.

And i also found this gorgous little tag. The clever creator has made one for each member of her family and popped them on her tree as decorations! What genius!

Another gift card idea ...

Janice sent this link in ...

"Hi Meredith,

Have found this “groovy packing for gift vouchers” and thought it looked like a good idea.

http://kayewinieckidesigns.com/blog/?p=495


You may like to put it on the e2c blog.
Thanks for all the other links.
I have made the Christmas card/ Gift idea from Making Memories, really easy to make.
The candles you have made look beautiful.

Wishing everyone a Merry Christmas.

Cheers
Janice"

Thank you so much Janice ... they look wonderful and easy!

I am glad you have been able to use some of the ideas ... makes it all worth while for us!!

I think next year we will have to do one post with all the links we found this year as a reminder for us all of what we thought we would do "next Christmas"!!

Maybe we could start a bit earlier next year!! Like July!!

Table decoration, next to the candles ;-)

Picture from here ...

http://madeitdotcomdotau.blogspot.com/2009/12/table-decorations-paper-christmas-trees.html

Originally made in fabric the printable template is here ...

http://thesmallobject.com/stenopad/wordpress/?p=822

Candle creations ...

So today a little candle decorating happened ...

It was a little bit of trial and error ...

Extra tips ...

• Heidi Swapp said to stick the tissue paper to card stock ... we found a sheet of A4 paper was better
• Use a wooden rubon stick to smooth out the image as you go
• do a test run on a sheet of A4 paper to check that the image will fit onto your chosen candle
• you can trim around the image rather than having the tissue paper wrapped right around
• if you are careful you shouldn't need adhesive to stick the tissue paper onto the candle while it is being heated
• re positional adhesive is the way to go with tissue paper adhering to the A4 paper
• leave a 1 inch gap at the top of the A4 paper (so that the tissue paper is NOT right at the edge of the A4 paper) to give your printer something to "grab onto"

• Please note: this is a heat tool not a hairdryer

Images from House of 3 ...

If you don't want to pay for images ...

• google images, better if they have a white background

• use Word Art and various fonts and colours as this image shows ...
  

Let us know if you give it a try and send any more tips and photos in!

You could also use just patterned tissue paper ... there are lots around at News agencies and Supermarkets

Crossing over to patchwork ...

This card was made by Ingrid Kennerley, using a pattern by Nancy Halvorsen.

The original pattern was not for making a card but I thought it was so good that it was worth a blog post so I asked Ingrid for an example!! And my suggestion of using Pritt to stick the fabric down worked!!

Christmas tree decoration ...

http://crafttutorials.wordpress.com/2007/12/05/paper-globe-ornaments/

These ones are beautiful too ...

http://livelifecreateart.blogspot.com/

- using either a plain circle punch or a scalloped circle punch and some Bazzill dots cardstock looks good too.

I can imagine using Cuttlebug embossed cardstock in several colours too!

Sweet gift idea with a message ...

Saw this idea today ...

Put some M & M's into a little plastic bag and tie it with ribbon, print this verse out on some cardstock, decorate it if you want and attach it to the bag ...

As you hold these candies in your hand
And turn them,
you will see The 'M' becomes a 'W',
An 'E', and then a '3'.
They tell the Christmas Story-- I'm sure it's one you know.
It took place in a stable A long, long time ago.
The 'E' is for the East, Where the star shone so bright.
The 'M' is for the Manger, where the Baby Jesus slept at night.
The '3' is for the Wisemen, Bearing gifts, with which they came.
'W' is for Worship, Hallelujah!
Praise His Name!
So as you eat these candies Or share them with a friend,
Remember the meaning of Christmas: It's a love that never ends.

Written by Pam Ridenour

Here is another version ...

More Than Colors

These special little candies,
Come in colors bright and fun.
There’s more than color to be found;
A story of God’s Son.
The M’s turn into W’s,
If you turn them upside down.
A few more turns and E and 3’s
Are waiting to be found.
M is for the manger,
Where Mary laid her precious boy.
Little did the world know,
This baby would bring great joy.
The W is for the Wise men, Who followed a bright star.
The star revealed a king was born,They came but, oh, so far.
In Bethlehem they found Him,
Just as they had been told.
3 is for the gifts they brought;Frankincense, myrrh and gold
W is also for their worship,
As they bowed before their King, Salvation is the promise given,
There’s nothing we can bring.
Faith alone is how we come
He died to set us free.
E is for eternity,God’s gift to you and me.

Barbara Hooks' Version

While Googling to find this verse I can across a kids craft site for Christmas stuff ...

http://www.daniellesplace.com/HTML/christmas_page2.html

It also lists the poem above.

i am totally going to try this!!

blog hopping

In my extensive research for this blog ;-) i have been looking at other blogs around the traps.

I have found a couple that make me laugh:

• lollychops
• Cathy Zielske

and check out these cool downloadable Christmas tags from CZ's blog

tags here.

There are also some beautiful downloadables here at the House of 3 (these will cost but OMG they are STUNNING!)

and another thing i found on my travels is this CUTE countdown book from Heidi Swapp.

Christmas Quotes

Have you ever heard a quote about Christmas that really speaks to you? Maybe it is a passage from the bible - about the true meaning of Christmas?

The one that i just adore is from the Grinch by Dr Seuss. This really brings home that the real meaning, and feeling of Christmas and how it gets lost in amongst all that comercialism, that feeling of 'having to buy something for someone just for the sake of buying'. I know i personally am feeling that way at the moment about myself. Greg is asking me what i would like for Xmas and i have no idea! I have all i want at the moment and anything extra would just be unnecessary money spent!

so here is my fav. quote.

And the Grinch, with his Grinch-feet ice cold in the snow, stood puzzling and puzzling, how could it be so? It came without ribbons. It came without tags. It came without packages, boxes or bags. And he puzzled and puzzled 'till his puzzler was sore. Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn't before. What if Christmas, he thought, doesn't come from a store. What if Christmas, perhaps, means a little bit more. ~Dr. Seuss


I would love to see your comments below about a quote that really talks to you.

Gift card enclosure ...

Image from Hambly Screen Prints blog

http://hamblyscreenprints.typepad.com/screen_prints_blog/2009/12/holiday-dt-tutorial-dina.html

12 tags of Christmas ...

Head over for a look ...

http://timholtz.typepad.com/

Even if the tags are over whelmingly beautiful you may pick up a technique or two!

They are certainly beautiful and I think he has done them for a few years now so check the side bar for more details ... 2007 and 2008.

Christmas card / gift idea

Image from Making Memories blog

http://blog.makingmemories.com/2009/12/leahs-christmas-card.html

This is a great idea!

Kylie - Christmas photo challenge

"Hi Amanda,

Here's a couple of snaps for the 'December Photo Challenge' ...

'Our ChristmasTree' which we excitedly decorated a couple of weekends ago when my parents were visiting. I put the lights on first, then let the kids 'go for it', decorating it with Nana and Pa. There's no pattern or uniformity to it but I don't mind it that way at all, it has the 'kids touch' to it !

and the kids special little 'name baubles'. The boys also have a little ceramic angel each with their names printed on them (a bit hard to see in the bright 'flash') ... they got them from their Aunty Stacey a few years back but she wasn't able to find a 'Bree-Ann' one, not such a common name I guess ! They're very sweet and I make sure they are packaged away carefully with the baubles each year !

Thanks Amanda,

Kylie "



Great shots Kylie! Just for interest sake i noticed a special bauble box in Kmart the other day and thought of all these specially packed keepsakes!

I think we can all relate to the tree and all the bits from kindy and school adorning it!

Wonderful!