Out of the Hat August Challenge!

Talk about pressure scrapping! I just managed to complete and upload my LO in time for the August challenge at Out of the Hat. This month's criteria were use at least 2 arrows (my criteria), use handmade buttons (I used some gorgeous chippie bookprint ones made by my friend Vicki) and also to use glimmermist. You know how much  I LOVE grunge and paint, so my black glimmermist and red paint were the starting points for this LO of my DP & his best mate - love how it came out...

If you haven't already done so, make sure you visit Out of the Hat and vote for which LO you like best HERE (I would LOVE your vote please!) Voting is open until 31st August.

PS - Getting close to 50 followers now...might be time for a giveaway soon! ;-)

At last - a scrappy share!

OK, having been 'offline' for 2 weeks, I at least have SOME scrapping to share. (These were done last week - before I got the man flu...LOL) This first one was done for guest DT Nikki's "Kids in the Kitchen" challenge for the SBT50 "What's Cooking?" CC. Criteria was to create a layout about kids in the kitchen and include ink / texta, staples, hidden journalling and a paper rolling / curling technique...

This one was also done for the CC, for Ant's "Made with Love" challenge. This challenge had to be about a recipe, and had to include a pp base, at least 2 flowers, some distressing and an embellishment cluster. I chose to scrap a copy of a handwritten recipe of my nana's, along with a picture of her. I inherited all nana's handwritten recipes when she passed away and I treasure them. This one (for her 'Nutties') was a particular family favourite...but somehow, despite having the recipe, they are NEVER as good as hers were!

Close-up of the embellishment cluster...

I'm back!!!

Well here I am - back on my blog after a couple of "issues" this past 2 weeks. The first was a technical one - my monitor died and it took me a few days to be able to organise buying the new one. Then it was my birthday (no cheers thanks, I am trying to forget I am 35 now...LOL), and then the final issue was the "gift" that my DP gave me for my birthday...THE FLU! Argh!!! That has seen me sick all week and totally lacking in the mojo department, as well as absent from my computer for much of the time. So to all my friends in cyberland out there, I am sorry I havent been visiting you, I will be trying to catch up on all I have missed in the next day or so.

Here's a quick share of a photo of myself, Brielle & Shannon we had taken at Australia Zoo yesterday - with a totally GORGEOUS 18kgs of Burmese Python named 'Jenny'. Brielle loved her and couldnt stop touching her. She also gave her a kiss and told the snake handler "I love Jenny"...LOL (I wish we could have taken her home!)

The last bit of Peacock Lane...

This is it. The very last scraps of my Bo Bunny 'Peacock Lane' DT kit sent to me from Handmade By Suzanne. :-(  I sooooo loved this range, and am happy with all the creations I made from it. Here is a card I managed to squeeze out...

Besides the 'Peacock Lane' pps, I also used one of the matching cardstock stickers, Green Tara mini flowers (I adore these!) and some green rhinestones all available at Handmade By Suzanne!

Ant's Sketch Challenge!

A quick share of a LO I completed for Ant's monthly challenge at Scrapbooking Top 50. The criteria for this challenge was to use the sketch provided and include something clear (I used some transparent flower die cuts) and a journal block / tag. Here is my take (yes, still challenging myself to use up some old stash)...

Pretty Petals!

Just thought I would let you know of a brand new venture thats about to begin - Pretty Petals! This Etsy store will specialise in handmade flowers so to celebrate the launch Vicki is giving away a pack of gorgeous tissue paper flowers...

Pop over HERE to see how you can win!

My2Angels Scrap Relay LO!

This week I signed up to take part in a scrapping relay being run as part of the birthday celebrations at My2Angels. Everyone was assigned to a team with 4 other members (go team one!) and then each day a member of the team had to complete a birthday themed LO incorporating a daily criteria. I was the last member of my team to participate and my criteria was CANDLES! (I made mine by rolling up some paper and inserting a small twine 'wick'.) We also had to use as much My2Angels product as possible, and here is what I came up with (not entirely happy with this, but no time left to procrastinate...LOL)...

My2Angels products used: Sassafras Lass 'Apple Jack' & 'Nerdy Bird' pps; American Crafts 'Dacquiri' Thickers; assorted mulberry flowers; glittered brads; princess crown charm; plaid fabric brad.
The only things I used that aren't available from My2Angels were 2 buttons (there are other buttons available though! LOL) and the tiny alphas (although Tracy does stock Carolees Creations tiny alphas too!)

My Cyber Crop Challenge!

If you haven't already popped over to Scrapbooking Top 50 to check out the 'Whats Cooking' August CC, then pop over HERE to see what happening. There is still one challenge yet to be revealed, and there are also daily giveaways happening with lots of free goodies up for grabs. My challenge has already been posted and it is a good old 'Recipe Scrap'! Up for grabs for the winner of my challenge is a gorgeous handmade embellishment pack from Purple Pumpkin. Here is my LO...

Close up...(the gorgeous flower and doiley are both My Vintage Blossoms from Krissy at Wicked Princesses)...

Win a Little Bit of Whimsy!

Stephanie is going on vacation so to celebrate she is having a super duper giveaway at My Little Bit of Whimsy. There are lots of ways to win, so make sure you head over to the MLBOW blog to check it out! (I have only just discovered MLBOW and I think I'm in love...LOL) Here's a sample of some of Stephanie's delicious creations (warning: serious drool material ahead!)...

HBS August Sketch Challenge!

The August sketch challenge at Handmade by Suzanne features another gorgeous sketch from Natalie Elphinstone. I have AGAIN used the Bo Bunny 'Peacock Lane' pps I received in my DT kit and have almost nothing left of them...LOL...well, maybe enough for a card! ;-) Here's my take on the sketch...

I have also used some of the matching 'Peacock Lane' stickers on this LO (but sorry, these are currently sold out), Bazzill Dotted Swiss cardstock, BG 'Olivia' micro mono alphas, AC glittered Thickers and Green Tara mini flowers all from the store.

In addition to this LO, I have also managed to complete 2 others in the last 2 days...but you will have to wait for those, coz it's secret squirrel stuff! ;-) LOL

Another Purple Pumpkin Giveaway!

You heard it! Sam is having another giveaway at Purple Pumpkin for some of her yummy handmade goodies. (You already know I love them and you would have spied one of Sam's buttons on a recent LO of mine.)  Doesn't this look GOOD...

If you would like to be in the running, simply pop over to Purple Pumpkin HERE

What's Cooking? Our August CC is!!!

Get out of the kitchen and get cooking with us instead...

Don't forget to pick your bingo words before Monday night HERE and also make your selections for the "Hamburger with the Lot" challenge HERE. There will be lots of awesome prizes up for grabs, so register your interest in the forum HERE...we would love to see some new faces come along! :-)

Wanna win some bling?

If the answer is "yes", then you have to check out the amazing giveaway happening over at the Imaginisce blog HERE Up for grabs is the awesome "i-rock" tool, which you can use to bling up just about anything, plus a gorgeous album which has already been given the "i-rock treatment"! Check this gorgeous stash of goodies out...

Now wouldn't you love to win that??? I think I would start with my jeans...LOL

Stuck?! Sketches August LO!

Feeling inspired at the beginning of the month and with a kit of gorgeous Bo Bunny "Peacock Lane" goodies from Handmade by Suzanne, I decided to play along at Stuck?! Sketches with their August 1st sketch. Here is my take on Sara's sketch...

Here's a close-up of some of the yummies on this LO...

BB "Peacock Lane" cardstock sticker & BG "Olivia" glazed brad both from Handmade by Suzanne, spotty fabric button from Purple Pumpkin and the stunning beaded butterfly is from my darling friend Treens in an embellishment swap. (I think some serious bribery is in order for some more of these...LOL)

btw - Stuck?! Sketches are currently celebrating their birthday with a blog hop. You can join the fun HERE

My Monthly Challenge @ SBT50!

New monthly challenge time again at Scrapbooking Top 50! This month my challenge to everyone is to draw inspiration from an item of clothing! The only real criteria for the challenge is that the item must HEAVILY influence the layout (eg, colours, elements, design) and that the inspiration must be clearly visible in the LO. I used my favourite t-shirt as inspiration for mine...

Can you see the inspiration in my LO???

Most materials for this layout were supplied by My2Angels. I have used Teresa Collins and Bo Bunny pps, black velvet ric rac, black rhinestone chain, camera charm, small silver key and small heart locket charms, 10mm rhinestones, grey mulberry flowers, and plaid fabric brads.

I used some of the mulberry flowers and rhinestones (along with some Stickles glitter) to make these flowers...

And just another close-up...

My2Angels currently have a store-wide sale on, so if you like anything I have used here (or are just looking for a bargain), head over to the shop HERE! Just make sure you tell Tracy that I sent you! ;-)