Disappointment....

I'm a very frustrated gal today....

My Hills Hoist layout got some really good reactions, not to mention a heap of views on SBB.... so I thought, hey, maybe I'm getting some recognition. I'm not the best scrapper around, I know that. But... maybe....

To get up this morning and discover that my latest offering had a grand total of 19 views and 1 comment. I was sad.... What am I doing wrong? I posted it on DSW too, and didn't even get a comment there....

I need to re-think my posting strategies I think.... this is pathetic. I feel like why bother posting in the first place??

*sigh*

Well, for what it's worth, here it is.....



Paper and elements from Fernlilis Dirty Boy kit - loved these colours... fonts used are Arcade Fire and Antique Type. Inked edge from, you guessed it, Atomic Cupcake.

I'm going to have some lunch and ponder the meaning of life...

Tyson's progress report!!

Thanks to everyone who commented about Tyson's swimming success... He has had 3 lessons since then, Friday, Monday and Today... I went yesterday, I can't go everyday, especially as I seem to be one of the only mothers who goes, and he gets very distracted when I am there, watching to see what I am doing than listening to the teacher. I'll go tomorrow instead.

NEway, back to Tyson... He was greatly improved yesterday, but the crowning moment of the lesson came right at the very end when he finally stopped hesitating and ducking and went properly down underwater to pick up a "sinking fish" that the teacher had thrown in. I cheered like an idiot!! I was just frustrated (again) that it had come at the END of 20 minutes, and then he got OUT!! But today he was over the moon to report to me that he had gotten 3 fish and was really enjoying going under water.

So, I'll go along tomorrow and cheer some more... I might even be able to smuggle in my baby camera and get some proof!! YAY!!!

So, there you go. Thanks for the support!

Quick shoutout for the day!!!

Way to go Amy, you're such a star!!

Digipick of the day no less!!

See it here

and

here!!

Love it!

Hills Hoist

I'm sure that my Dad could tell you more about these than I could... Hills is a good ole company that's been around for a VERY long time, and makes fantastic clotheslines (and swing sets!). Most of these original Hills' are still going strong - even after a hundred kids have swung on them over the years... and they are GREAT to climb!!



This layout was WAAAAYYY too much fun to make! I used Fernlili's Mothers Apron kit for all the papers and bits, made my own mongrams etc...

Used quite a few fonts - Splendid 66, Al Charisma, Journaling hand, Felix Titling for the monograms. Like I said, I had fun!! Hope you like it too!!

This was a strange layout to make though, cos I woke up with it... just complete in my head.... it wasn't even like I had been working on it the night before. It wasn't even on the radar, and then it was just, DONE, just like that.... all I had to do what get it onto the screen. Although it did take me a couple of go's to get the title just right.

So, maybe I scrap too much? Nah!!!!!! no such thing !!

Cassie

Checkin' in.....

Just so you all know I haven't dropped off the face of the earth lol... just been super busy, and tired. Stressed and I don't know why. *skip* and I are definitely coming down with something.

Have got a few layouts done that I will share next week. Have also been very busy re-scanning all of my parent's photos (inherited from their parents etc), which is a tedious job because I have to make notes of all the stuff written in old- spidery type writing on the back.... I think the oldest I've found that I can definitely date is 1889/1888 and is of my Great Grandmother's class at school. Way cool! Although there are a few of her parents and grandparents, but alas, no dates!! Naughty scrapbooker's ancestors!!

I've also been shopping digitally, have bought 2 new huge kits - Meredith Fenwick's True Colours and Trish Jones Eclectic CD. Not that I have any urge to scrap right now, but they are calling my name.


Of course, they were both on sale, so I just HAD to shop lol...

Got a couple of anniversary's coming up (including my own !! ) so might try my hand at some cards instead.

Ok, that's it for me....

Ciao!

Progress

Yipppeeee!!

For most of you, this won't seem like much, but to me it's such huge progress!! Tyson has always had trouble with swimming. He went to 20 lessons when he was 4/5 and he really made great progress.... however that just seemed to vanish overnight and he, although acting "enthusiastic" about going in a pool, once he actually gets there, is very timid.

Next year his school swimming lessons will not be conducted in the little school pool, but in a local pool where they do all sorts of interesting things like jumping in fully clothed etc. Which is going to be a nightmare for a kid that still can't swim, and refuses to put his face in.

Swimming is very important. You miss out on so much in the Australian culture if you are unable to swim. And this will really hold him back, so I told him THIS was the year!! His lessons started today, so yesterday we raced off to the shops and got him some REAL good goggles.... He promised that he was going to have a really good try.

Fast forward to today, where to my great dismay, he didn't try hardly at all.... he got the tip of his chin and nose wet, and that was it. He was the only kid in a group of 10 that managed to get out with half his hair still dry.

I hate to admit it but I snapped. I know he can do this, he just lacks the courage and conviction to TRY.....

So, we started off small, with the bathroom sink, and that was too easy. Next came the kitchen sink....




In case you can't tell, in the first picture he is REALLY blowing bubbles underwater... not just putting his face near the water and huffing.

And the look of glee on that wet face tells the story - in his own words it was 'FUN'....

By the time we had finished, he had his head in as far as the bottom of the sink, and he could hold his breath for 14 seconds...

My how we CHEERED!!!

FINALLY the penny has dropped and he realises that he can have FUN with swimming.

Of course, tomorrows lesson will tell the tale, but I hope that we have crossed this bridge, and the future is a little brighter....

And of course, I can't wait to scrap these pictures. I can't believe it, but the 350D makes even my messy kitchen look fab.... Who would have thought??

Ok, dinner beckons!!

Later all...

Photo shoot!!

I was blog-hopping this morning, from Tara Whitney's blog and all over the place. Got some great new ones to share when I get my links organized. I was inspired to experiment with some photoshop techniques.... a little rusty, but basically overwhelmingly happy with the results. I had a quick photo session with the boys today, and this is the first pic that actually came onto a layout. There are plenty more to come though...

Papers all from Amy Knepper's Downtown collection, this one is "At the plaza" I also used an element cut out from the paper to make the hinges.
Eyelet is from Amy's Beachside Holiday kit, Fonts used were Tin Birdhouse and Dreamed about You. Inked edge action from Atomic cupcake. Created in Photoshop 7.

I think that this picture is next, but it's got to percolate for a while first...



It's funny how it happens, this was the very very last photo that I shot... the shot was in my head, and it was hard to get the little rodents, I mean, children, to co-operate.... But then, there it was - SNAP.... It's funny, somehow I love it so much, I don't even actually think it looks like them, Sammy in particular looks a bit different.... but it's a gorgeous photo, and I am so happy I got it.

Meanwhile, lots of love and hugs going Peta's way.... Thinking about you honey, and your sister and her family...

Signing off.....
C

My Blue period

Hehehe I love that line from Lilo and Stitch.... the challenging layouts continue. This one was a bit different to the last, as it came together very quickly, then I changed a heap of things and wasn't happy with it for at least 10 minutes.... Of course that didn't last, and now I love it!

Paper is Amy Kneppers Downtown Collection, In the City pack.

Brads are from her Beachside Holiday kit, Inked edge action from Atomic Cupcake. Fonts used are Bulky Refuse Type, Ville de Geneve ES, and Another Typewriter. Created in Ps7.

I think the hardest thing was finding the quote, once I had that, the rest was much easier.

I love these new paper packs that Amy's put out, they are really extending my style and making me think a lot more than I had been (a scrapping rut perhaps?).

So anyway, there you go! I've got no inspiration at all today to scrap, although something might occur to me later. Right now, it's just surfing, catching up on emails etc. I'm seriously blocked on some of my holiday album, so really need to knuckle down and work through it.

Nothing else to report today. Looking forward to the ScrapArtist Mission Impossible crop tomorrow..... that was so much fun to take part in.

Ciao!

New papers, new layout, new look!!

I've been drooling over a lot of layouts over at SBB (Scrapbook-bytes to the uninitiated, gallery here). There is a real trend at the moment to use SPACE on your layout. Not necessarily WHITE white space, but that is the term for it. For some obscure design reason, the empty space adds more weight to the space that has bits in it. So we group our elements, and then leave the rest blank.

I really admired this look for quite a while before getting up the courage to give it a go myself. And this seemed to be the perfect opportunity. I needed a new profile pic, so *skip* and I had a little photo shoot. I got to use these yummy new papers from Amy, her Downtown paper collection. This one is called Coffee shop - lovely cocoa/latte and rose colours, and such gorgeous patterns. She's one talented designer, just go ask Kim at DSW lol...

And thus, this layout was born.

Papers from Coffee Shop by Amy Knepper, Alpha stamps from ScrapArtist.com Schmootzy alpha, Corner stamp from the SBB Vintage Artistry kit, Inked edge action from Atomic Cupcake and stitching from ME!!

I'm comfortable with the style, and everything else about it. I'm at a great spot in my life, and I'm HAPPY about it... really I am.

It's a cool feeling.

On a funnier note, I'm thinking of emailing the girl that runs Atomic Cupcake and asking for a commission.... I've gotten a few ppl to buy those 2 new actions because I've been using them and raving about them everywhere!! I want a cut lol....

Ok, that'll do for now... there's scrapping to be done.

C

Charli's turn!!

Last baby layout for a while....

This is Charli - Madison's baby sister (by 15 seconds lol)....

She loves the camera, and the camera loves her, although at nearly 12 weeks, she doesn't look like this anymore...



Again used Announcing Ella from Fernlilis.com. Also used chipboard and torn edge actions from atomic cupcake. Fonts used were Fulton Artistamp, Adonis and FB Sprinkles.

I spent over 4 hours on my feet doing canteen at the school today and I'm SO sore... I think I slept funny as for the last 2 hours I had terrible pain in my right leg from hip to toe....

So taking it very easy tonight....

Not to mention that for some reason I'm very tired... might even go to bed early!! (what a shock!)

Hopefully have something new for you tomorrow though!

TTFN!

HOT and tired...

Ok, so I'm too hot to be bothered doing much today.....

Here's Samuel's layout, as promised. I totally love how it came up, great work honey.

Papers and elements and all those yummy yummy ribbons from Fernlili's Announcing Ethan kit. Told you it had heaps of elements in it!! Fonts used were Adonis, Another Typewriter, FB Sunrise and Halbstarke. And again I used the Inked edge and chipboard actions from Atomic Cupcake. Yummy !!

I just can't believe he was ever so tiny - those are his feet curled up just past that buckle. Well, ok, he's still on the small side, but he looks like a doll here...

Ok, the floors are calling me, gotta go.

Charli tomorrow, I promise!

C

Inner or outer critic??

I love scrapping, but sometimes I'm a bit quick to call anything "finished".... So I really owe some thanks to my 2 best critics, *skip* and Peta!! The number of times Peta and I have been on Hello for ages, tweaking layouts and chatting, sometimes I feel like I owe her half my album!! But when *skip* did it to me last night, I was stunned.

Yesterday I blogged that I had a whole lot of layouts ready to go... and then when I showed one to *skip* he said, how about you change - that..... and then when I started playing, I ended up changing a whole lot. That was on Sammy's layout which you're not getting until tomorrow! :P

Today's offering is Madison - where *skip* tweaked the fonts.... and he was right, too....

All papers and elements from the twin to my post from yesterday - Announcing Ella. Love these little flowers and that paisley paper is just to die for... check out the site here if you haven't already.
Fonts used were FB Sprinkles and FB Buttercream.
Used the fabulous Torn Paper action again - woohoo!! love it!

Charli's layout is going to have to wait it's turn, I'm still not happy with it.... so I have to get *skip* to tell me what's missing tonight when he gets home from work...

Later guys and gals!
C

Tag I'm it!!

I've been tagged in the current game - thanks Sharon!

2 names you go by:
Cassie
Ummmm does Mum count? rofl....

2 parts of your heritage:
Yorkshire
Scottish

2 things that scare you:
spiders
failure

2 of your everyday essentials:
cup of tea (black, no sugar)
coffee (white, 2 sugars)!

2 things you are wearing right now:
My FAVOURITE pair of jeans!!
glasses (sigh)

2 of your favourite bands or musical artists (at the moment):
Anastacia
Nickelback

2 favourite songs (at the moment):
Lose Control, Missy Elliot/Ciara
Don't Cha, Pussycat Dolls / Busta Rhymes

2 things you want in a relationship (other than real love):
laughter
comfort, but mostly laughter

2 truths:
digi-scrapping rocks! (well, it's true!)
kids will always be kids


2 physical things that appeal to you (in the opposite sex):
strong arms
cheeky smile

2 of your favourite hobbies:
digi-scrapping
photography

2 things you want really badly:
Bigger monitor
Telephoto lens for my baby...

2 places you want to go on vacation:
Paris
failing that, Queensland

2 things you want to do before you die:
pay off the house
make peace with my mother-in-law

2 ways that you are stereotypically a dude/chick:
I could shop all day long!
Love wearing a strappy pair of heels

2 things you are thinking about now:
the dog needs a bath next really hot day
time for my first coffee of the day..

2 stores you shop at:
K-mart
Bi-lo (sad, aren't I!!)

Ok, well, that's it for me.

Now for the hard part, please forgive me if you have been tagged before, but I tag
Beth and Suzy

New CT layout!!

I've been a busy girl the last couple of days....

I got that great layout of Sam done yesterday, and have been working on those baby photos as promised.

This offering I actually made today, but I am so super happy with it, it couldn't wait its turn!! The photo was taken the day we brought Tyson home from hospital and it's always been one of my favourites... Now I know how well it converts to b&w will have to scan some more in and do them too.

Everything used from the Announcing Ethan kit at Fernlilis.com HERE . I can highly recommend the special offer, you'd never need anything baby again, these kits are bursting with great elements and papers.

Fonts used were FB Buttercream, JulesWriting and FoxScript. Inking action from Atomic Cupcake. (woo-hoo love this action!! and I converted Amy too ;) lol).

Ok, I've got a busy night, so I'd better go....

Ok, one last layout then, but only cos you asked nicely!

Papers from a new freebie at ScrapArtist by Faith True, Beachworthy. Distressed frame from Schmootzy frames, also from ScrapArtist.

Used fonts JULES P.C. WIMMIN and Jules Writing

This was a 2 minute job for the font challenge at SBB... I don't mean to put DOWN the font challenge, I totally love it and would normally spend hours on my entry, but this layout kinda just happened. Before I realised what was happening it was done. Not at all my usual style, but I love it!!

So, there you go! More to come, I promise.... they are all impatiently waiting their turn!

Later guys
C

Funny how this happens....

I swear I was just trying to find some baby photos for my new CT assignment.... I have NO idea how I ended up making this layout.... Not to mention that I conned some more digital supplies out of *skip* (lol)

There really are only 2 things that I miss from paper scrapping - torn edges, which are hard to duplicate and I'm not very good at it, and inked edges.. I mean, I can duplicate that through an inner glow, but it's not random enough, looks way too "contrived". So now I've got both in Photoshop Actions from the marvellous Atomic Cupcake site - check it out HERE. Thanks honey!!

So there you go... I ended up with THIS and I'm SOSOSOSO happy with it. I mean, REALLY happy with it. I mean, really, I can't remember when I was so darn SATISFIED with a layout. And look, I mean, it's *almost* collagey, which is even scarier.

All papers, alpha, journalling mat, ribbons, flower from the Fabulous Jen Wilson's New Look freebie from SBB, Staples from the free kit included with Digital Memories Magazine issue 1 (Team Kit Winter 2005). All inked edges by Atomic Cupcake. Fonts used are FB Sunrise, Dancing Superserif, 28 Days later and FB Flamingo.
Created in PS7.

So there you go... I'll go hang out some washing and then give those baby layouts another go... hmmm.

The cat is out.....

.... of the bag!!

Thanks Peta!

I've been holding off announcing it, a) because it wasn't actually final until Friday, and b) because there had been no announcement by the other party. However, it appears that now there HAS and thanks to Peta, I can SPILL!!

I've gotten accepted onto ANOTHER Creative Team. This was one I really wanted to get on, the minute I saw this Designer's work in the Breast Cancer Kit, and then followed that to her website, I was really impressed. And then when Peta spotted her ad, well, it was just going to happen. (Thanks again Peta, we'll talk later about that finders fee lol...)

I am now on the Creative Team for FernLili. You can check out her fabulous site here. I just love her style, and once again (like Amy, still luv you hun) she is amazingly generous with her kits. I was totally blown away when I unzipped my first toy and discovered how much she has put INTO these kits... not just plenty of paper, but the QUANTITY, QUALITY and VARIETY of elements has to be seen to be believed. There are just so many talented designers out there, and I'm very happy to be associated with the ones I am.

So there you go.

Great news, huh!

There is, however, still more news to come.... it's just taking a while to get here.

and NO I'M NOT PREGNANT lol.... breathe Dad...
C
(and look at that, a post without ANY pictures...... SAD, huh.)

More Holiday photos...

I'm working on a HUGE album with all the great new stuff that Amy made me....

I LOVE working with a co-ordinated kit to make an album, especially when it's such HIGH quality!! But I'm going to wait until I've done a bit more before showing them. But here's some photos that I don't *think* I've posted before. I have done so many here and there, I'm starting to lose track.

Waves near the Breakwater at Warrnambool

Sun on the ocean, Thunder Point, Warrnambool

The boardwalk at Tower Hill.

I'm sure that I've been busy scrapping all day, but I can't remember what I've actually DONE! I really need to update my project lists etc, and I've been getting so many new great kits, thanks to Amy and some freebies from Digiscrapdivas, that I'm going to have to burn another new cd...

Big shout out to my new visitors, Suzy and Justine! And everyone else who stops by, don't be shy, say hello!! (I don't bite, nor will I try to sell you anything lol...)

Ciao
C

More holiday layouts!!

I got this one done quite quickly yesterday. After all that photo posting I was in the mood for some fun. Used Jen Wilson Layer's collection again for those awesomely coloured/textured papers. Fonts were ummmmm Carpenter ICG and Century Schoolbook.

I am such a lucky digi-scrapper. Not only am I getting SOO much satisfaction from doing something that I love, but I get to "meet" some pretty amazing people too. One of those is Amy Knepper, my "boss". She is a fantastic designer, and a wonderful person too. She asked to borrow some holiday photos to have a play, and used them as the inspiration for her new kit!!

So of course, I am now starting a NEW holiday album, all co-ordinated, for our whole holiday, not just a few special photos. Stay tuned for the layouts, which I have already started on, but in the meantime, head on over to Digitals or to ScrapDish and check out the new kit!!

{{hugs}} to you Amy, I love my present!

Ok, I can't go without one more layout... I've just been churning them out lately. But they don't feel "mass-produced". I'm just lucky to be in a creative hot-spot at the moment. I think it's the move of my desk (thanks *skip*) to a more creative spot in the house!!

Once again darling little Remy. I made the background myself with one of Dianne Rigdon's brushes. The other elements are by Holly McCaig, the original Digi Chick, and the flower is from another kit called Grandeur of Spring that I dont' know who made.

I made this layout to kill two challenges with one stone so to speak - font challenge at SBB, and weekly challenge at Scrapboxx. The font of choice was FB Flamingo (used for "16 weeks") and the weekly challenge was to use Aqua. And don't tell me that this isn't Aqua, cos I really don't want to know! :P

Have a great night everyone!
C

Trip photos....

Ok, so all the nagging has worked :P

Although I won't vouch for any editing, adjusting or cropping that has or hasn't been done.

Feast your senses, mostly the Great Ocean Road, except for the waterfall which is upstream on the Hopkins river from Warrnambool, and, not surprisingly, called Hopkins Falls... hmmm.







On a slightly different note, the new Scrapbook Creations magazine comes out today, adorned by none other than yours truly!! (well, the boys actually, but they are my layouts). It's such a relief to finally hold it in my hands and go - look! I did that!! It's a marvellous feeling.

Later dudes!!

Holiday photos - sort of!!

Well, I don't know if these completely count as holiday photos, but here goes anyway!

I made this one late last night. Love this photo.
Jen Wilson's Layer's collection paper, ScrapArtist Schmootzy Frames and alpha. Fonts used are Typewriter and Texas Hero.

This is an offering from today, for the Ad Challenge over at DSW.
Background paper by Tammy Bankston, Dreamy H2O freebie from Scrapartist, Shabby Princess brads, all the rest is just fonts and stuff... Carpenter ICG and Typewriter (again!).

So, these are holiday photos, and also holiday layouts.... so does that count?

Rain, rain, go away!!

Man, I am so tired today. We had a massive storm last night, and I was awake for most of it. AT 2AM I might add. I just can't fall asleep when my room is lit up like a disco and boom boom rattles the windows. Call me silly, but there it is.

However, that didn't stop me from going to the hairdresser, (sick Sam in tow and all). When Andrew gets around to taking a nice photo of me, I might just post it for you!!

Meanwhile I got the new Notebook today, and instantly started scrapping up a storm. I don't know what it is about magazines in general, and that one in particular, but as soon as I read one, I get itchy fingers and usually don't even make it half-way before I have abandoned it and hopped on the computer.

Here's one of todays offerings, the others are under wraps a while longer.

These yummy papers are another FernLili freebie. Love these 50's kits she's putting out.
Font used was MKLimesCondensed.

and I do promise that I will get to the holiday photos soon. I'm just not very motivated at the moment, and it HAS NOT stopped raining for most of the day.... and night so far too.

So, night all!

My garden is glowing

I came back from our trip to discover all my rose bushes covered in flowers, not to mention several other plants and bulbs that were all shouting spring spring spring!!

One of such, is my Dragon Arum... I have a modest collection of more readily available arums, a white, a green, a black, a funny green one, and a dragon arum, which is not a 'true' arum as such. With a latin name of Dracunculus Vulgaris if you want to do some more research on it. My mother got these bulbs for me, but as I was slow to get the garden ready they lived and flowered in her garden for a couple of seasons. I dug them up and planted them here last autumn I think, so this is the first flower. And then, I get 4 flowers, all at once!!

Although i have to admit, they DO pong a bit. Just for the first couple of days. These fascinating plants are pollinated by FLIES. They have no nectar for bees, instead they emit this smell to attract flies, who crawl all over them, looking for the source. A commoner name for this arum is "Dead Horse" arum, but never having smelt a dead horse, I can't testify to it's literary truthfulness. To me it smells like, eewwww someone forgot to empty the rubbish bin and it's been sitting in the sun. Not vilely throwing up in the gutter bad, just an unpleasant, move along kind of smell.

But the flowers are irresistible!!

They are also quite big, over 30 cm long... You don't easily over look these flowers.

My roses are all looking stunning at the moment. It seems that I did get my pruning right this year, as they say a good prune makes for more flowers, and that is certainly what I've got.

This is my Rhapsody in Blue rose.

I bought it for $3 at K-mart from the 'dead' plants section. Well it took a while to recover from it's shaky start, but the past couple of years, it hasn't looked back. This year it is already SMOTHERED in flowers. The only sad part is, they just don't cut. They only last a day inside, so when I want to enjoy them, I go out the front to the bush instead.


And my lavender bush is humming contentedly, it's simply COVERED in bees.

More holiday photos soon, I promise!!

Baby layout

Gone off holiday photos again.... :(

My friend came over again yesterday with her little boy. He was in a great mood, and I was bored, so we had an impromptu photo session, on the lounge with a curtain as a backdrop. Does anyone know where I put my calico backdrops? I can't find them and I'm annoyed....

So, then, when I was supposed to be doing other stuff, of course I had to scrap one of the pictures straight away. Definitely not my usual style, but I'm feeling a bit stale at the moment, so I thought I'd mentally stretch as it were. And this is definitely one of the best shots I've got of him yet.

I used paper and stamp from the SBB Vintage Artistry kit (again!) how versatile is that! Fonts were McGarey, Lainie Day SH, KissMe KissMe KissMe, Minion and Speed Bowling. Photo edited with Virtual Photographer.

More tomorrow, but now it's nearly bedtime. Sammy has a NASTY cough, and I'm a bit worried about him, might even have to get up to him tonight... shock horror. I am so PAST getting up in the middle of the night. Sad, really.

Ciao all!

More Pictures for you!!

Ooops! I can't believe that I forgot to post any more pictures. I spent MOST of yesterday on here. *blush*. But didn't blog.

I also have some news, but I can't tell you yet!! Stay tuned. So now, let's get on with the show....

12 Apostles (well, not ALL 12 obviously!)

Gibson's Stairs

Surf at London Bridge

Flagstaff Hill

Most of these are self explanatory. Flagstaff Hill is in Warrnambool. It was a bit pricey to get in, but was a very well put together and maintained old seaside village, with lots of different stores that you can walk into and look at all the things they used. Bit of an experience for the boys I hope!

This photo editing business is harder than it looks.... I think it will take me a few weeks to work out what I want to do with them all in cropping, adjusting levels/curves etc. I have to say, the b/w Pillar shot (see an older post somewhere) is still my favourite!!

Will try to get some more done soon, but really have to go buy FOOD now.

Ciao!

Holiday layouts!

Well, I still haven't even got around to the mountain of photo editing waiting for me. I'm just NOT in the mood today. I also didn't think I was in the mood to scrap, but 2 layouts later and maybe I was wrong about that.

These are both from our trip, pretty self explanatory.

This layout was for this weeks font challenge at SBB. Title using Jack Lantern BB, Journalling etc in Kelly and Chonker.

This layout is for the weekly challenge at Scrapboxx, about a "first". Fonts used are 2 fantastic Melissa Baxter ones. FB Buttercream for the title, FB Sprinkles for the journalling.

I did mention yesterday that SBB had an amazing free kit, called Vintage Artistry for download at the moment. Both of these layouts use papers and elements from that kit (some recoloured). The only thing that isn't from it, is my stitching. It's an amazine kit, and it's free which is fantastic. Top quality designers, and I love the colours and papers in it.

I love proving that even though a kit might look a bit girly with florals and swirls and flourishes, you can still make a very powerful boy page out of it.

The bane of my life (don't even get me started) is the huge disproportion of Female to Male things.... Clothes and shoes to start with. I have 2 boys to dress, and dress well. It is a real struggle sometimes to find nice clothes for them, whereas the girl's section will always be half as big again as the boys, with much more variety. The same does ring true of Scrapbooking kits sometimes. They all seem to be a bit girly, especially the good quality ones. Sigh. One of the reason's I like Amy's work, as she HAS a boy, and so isn't afraid to do boyish designs, and they scrap fantastically!

Ok, enough ranting. Might go get some lunch or something now.

More pictures later, I promise!