Birthday Sweets

I'm fascinated by the whole faux minature food thing. There are some amazing books about it all in Japan (might need to take another trip there!!!) where it's a huge hobby.  I've attempted to make a few bits and pieces lately, with the help of a variety of differerent clays, whipped creams, fake sugars etc.  And I found the perfect project to use them on - a special little box for my daughters upcoming birthday to put her presents and maybe a few little sweets into...

 

I loved decorating the ScrapFX chipboard cupcake stand with glitter and whipped cream!  Almost good enough to eat!

 

 

 It's an addictive little craft - this miniature food! (and quite calorie free!) But so enjoyable.  And it has loads of opportunity for using in my scrapbooking and cardmaking. I wonder how long it'll take before it takes the scrapbooking world by storm??!!!!!!

Thanks for stopping by!

Beautiful

So easy to create soft, feminine and pretty layouts when you have a gorgeous little girl in your life!!  Here's a layout done with Websters In Love range - simply titled 'Beautiful'  - because she truly is a beautiful little soul.

Happy Tuesday everyone!

News Flash!

And on the back of my last post, I received this lovely badge from Brandin O'Neill today...

Thrilled to be part of the Websters family - can't wait to get started!

Wonderful Websters

How many of you suffer this syndrome.....you buy some beautiful papers, so beautiful you can't bring yourself to use them just yet so you put them aside for later.  12 months later you revisit them and - hmmm, well - they just don't seem to strike a chord in that same way anymore???!!!  And you kind of wish that you had actually used them when you first bought them!

That's me all over - but I'm getting better at using up current stash while it's still fresh and new.

However...............this is one of the reasons I love Websters Pages so much.  No matter how 'old' or how long I've been hoarding their pages for - I still love them and find them equally as beautiful a year later!  That's got to be a good thing, right?

Case in point.  Last year I started a layout using some Lullaby Lane and Winter Fairytales.  I got halfway, then put it aside for whatever reason.  This weekend, I rediscovered this half finished layout - and guess what? I still really liked how it was shaping up.  So I put my apron on and set about completing it.  Here is the finished product...

Having a gorgeous wee girl who quite likes to be photgraphed makes my job so easy!  So, that's another one done and dusted and ready for the album.  Hope you like it!

Happy Monday!

Winter Holidays

The winter school holidays begin today in earnest!  We have a few movies to see, some birthday shopping to do for a certain lovely lad who's about to turn 10, and a few day trips to cool places that we haven't been to for a while - namely the Auckland Art Gallery  and the Auckland War Memorial Museum (who run incredible programmes for kids).  Interspersed with some bike rides and winter beach walks, I think the holidays are going to finish far too soon!  I know I buck the trend with school holidays when I say I LOVE them, but the truth is I relish hanging out with the kids with no set schedule to adhere to. 

Auckland War Memorial Museum

Our local - Cockle Bay Beach

And I do want to pack in as much fun as possible before SENZ, which kicks off in Hamilton 13th July.

My lovely - soon to be 10 year old son - had some amazing news this weekend!  He was participating in the Honda Winter Swimming Carnival, and was selected to join the Junior Olympians Swimming Squad!  Wow!  That means 10 plus hours of training per week and swim meets galore!  It's going to be a big committment (for all of us!) but one that Will really is passionate about.  Congratulations my wonderful boy!  We're right behind you.

I'll leave you with a few more pics from my Prima Pop Up Keepsake Book class that I'll be teaching at SENZ.  It's fully booked, but I may run it again at Scrapaholics if there is sufficient interest.

Keep warm, all my antipodean friends, and enjoy your summer you northern hemispherians! (is that a word?).



Getting ready...

For SENZ that is! Lot's of cutting papers, preparing embellishments and writing/reviewing instructions. I'm in the middle of running 'dummy' classes with my friends to test that the instructions read clearly. My friend Libby will be pleased about that! All my classes are pretty much fully booked - very happy about that too! Jodi (Mrs Scrapaholics) has put so much time and effort and preparation into her booth (as she did last year) that I know she is going to be very busy at SENZ. She certainly doesn't do things by halves! She has some awesome bargains that will only be on offer at SENZ (listen up Smash book lovers!) and her incredibly obliging better half has organized the manufacture of some very cool things (think gorgeous card/book binding bits and bobs!). Yay Paul! There is also a lot of brainstorming and planning going on for Creative Adventure Downunder May 2013. Registrations are now open - go to www.creativeadventure.co.nz for details and registration. We are really looking forward to hosting Heidi, Donna and Teresa together - and hope to spoil them and YOU rotten! I am busy designing my class for the event, it's going to be a doozy so I'll need the year to perfect it! So that's a quick run down on the state of play in my neck of the woods! I have some cool ScrapFX goodness to share shortly. So stay tuned! Thanks for stopping by!

I'm pretty excited to be able to share this news with you!

I will be teaching at Creative Adventure Downunder next May (2013) alongside the very talented Donna Downey, Heidi Swapp and Teresa Collins!

Here is the link from Scrapaholics...http://www.scrapaholics.co.nz/Ramblings.aspx  and here are some details..........start saving your pennies my offshore friends.  It would be FANTASTIC to see you there!

Creative Adventure Downunder

      
       Heidi Swapp           Donna Downey                            Teresa Collins

3 of the most exceptional designers around today, here to teach in New Zealand!

accompanied by talented New Zealand tutor, Maggie Armstong.

We are very excited to tell you about an event called "Creative Adventure Downunder". Michele Widdows and I will be hosting Creative Adventure Downunder 24-26 May 2013 at the Novotel in Greenlane, Auckland.... 
   
As you can see from the pictures we have a fantastic line up of extremely talented tutors. We are so excited to be able to bring you this event and I am sure many of you will join Michele, Maggie and I in welcoming Heidi Swapp, Donna Downey and Teresa Collins. 

Both Donna and Heidi have been to New Zealand previously and are very keen to return. This will be Teresa's first trip and I know she is very excited. 
   
If you would like more information on Creative Adventure Downunder please contact either Jodi Tomlin (Scrapaholics) or Michele Widdows (Memories Forever) and keep an eye on our Creative Adventure Downunder Facebook page where we will update you with all the LATEST happenings...

Registrations will be out very soon but before then if you wish to register your interest please email us at info@scrapaholics.co.nz

Happy planning!

The Creative Adventure Downunder Team

C/- Scrapaholics
Shop 9
219 Moore Street
Howick 2014

P: 09 533 5490 or 0800 678 258 
F: 09 533 5491E: info@scrapaholics.co.nz

Artful Evidence Workshop and Stencil1

On 19th May Tina and I hosted a local scrapday for 15 like-minded ladies  Included in the cost of the day was a 3 hour workshop, focusing on techniques with some very unique stencils from Stencil1, and the use of mixed media in scrapbooking.  Here's a pic of the layout we created:

We used the Patterns Stencil with Ceramic Stucco texture paste to achieve the honeycomb effect - highlighted with a touch of gold patina wax. The little dove is created from a mold and polymer clay.

For this tile we used the Hummingbird Layer Stencil with texture paste, distress stain, Shimmerz and gold wax. 

To get this layout done in 3 hours was quite a challenge but with the aid of an industrial heat gun to dry off the texture paste we were able to speed the process up.  The result was 15 STUNNING layouts.  Each and every hummingbird looked different, since handpainting was the key.  Lots of mess and happy chatter too!

Our next workshop will take place in August - and again will be featuring Stencil1 - using this Typewriter stencil.  For those Mixed Media artists out there I recommend you take a look at Ed Roths very cool stencils (Stencil1).

Thanks for stopping by.

SENZ 2012

Well, SENZ (Scrapbook Expo of New Zealand) is once again just around the corner!  I'm excited to be teaching 3 classes this year, one of which is a beautiful pop-up book created exclusively from Prima products.  To top it off, Scrapaholics have had custom made cherrywood spines to bind the book onto and the result really is rather lovely.  It will be very a special keepsake.

Here is a sneak peek of one of the pages!

And here is another sneak peek of a whimsical layout I am teaching that incorporates a pop-up mechanism.....

Lastly, a quick look at a very technique-full mixed media style layout....inky fingers guaranteed!

Keep an eye out for SENZ updates on their website - classes and pics are due to be released soon. http://www.senz.co.nz/

Thanks for stopping by.

Homegrown

Hi ladies

I have had lots of fun lately, playing with Wordlets and a cute little ScrapFX wooden fence. I’d like to share the end result with you. I created this layout starting with Prima Sun Kissed paper as the basis. Love the turquiose colours and splashes of yellow.

When I received the Post & Rail Fence I knew immediately what I wanted to do with it! If you look carefully, you’ll see that I have cut out the fence that the children are sitting on in the photo. And I have arranged them so they are sitting on the chipboard fence instead. I had to cut the chipboard fence up into parts in order reassemble it to fit the photo. Yes – it was actually quite tricky – much like a jigsaw puzzle, but I’m really happy with the result.

And the gorgeous little Wordlet ‘Homegrown’ was the perfect title for the layout. This was painted and patinated to give a worn old shabby feel.

I have to say that Scrap FX chipboard really does stand up to a lot of punishment! I have painted, sanded, soaked, carved, crackled, enamelled – you name it! And not once has this chipboard disintegrated on me! Fantastic stuff!

Thanks for stopping by!

Parisian Themed Album for Scrap FX

Excited today becaue I can finally share with you a project that I've been working on for a little while now.  Jill Wheeler from Scrap FX asked me to do a Guest Designer spot on her blog so I decided to create a Parisian Themed Album using the Scrap FX Gate Book as the basis.  Here is a quick pic..

To see the whole album with a guide as to how I created it click here to go to the Scrap FX blog.  While you're there spend some time looking at the magnificent work by the other DT members.

Thanks for stopping by!

NZ Paperchase Video Tutorial

I thought I'd share with you a video tutorial I did recently for NZ Paperchase magazine.  The template for the project can be found on their blog at http://paperchase.typepad.com/.

Hope you all enjoy it!

Artful Evidence Workshop

On 19th May I am co-hosting a scrap day in my local area.  We will be kicking off with a Second Hand Stamp and Punch sale (a good opportunity for everyone to sell or swap their preloved stamps and punches while they crop).  And an optional workshop in the afternoon where we will create a single page layout, incorporating texture paste and Stencil1 Layered Stencils.

Contact us on artfulevidence@hotmail.co.nz

Details below in the video!  Hope you can make it!

NZ Paper Chase Magazine Cover

Woohoo!  My first magazine cover...so thrilled!

Just Because...For No Reason At All!

Just felt like creating a card today, no particular reason or occasion - just because!

The French Pastry Doillie die from Cheery Lynn Designs came in handy (again!) for this card.  I wanted to keep the card relatively simple - not everything has to be chock full of detail to be attractive.  Simplicity is also rather beautiful.  So here is the result...

Battling a very annoying head cold today - change of season and all!  That said - I'm off to make a cup of tea and enjoy a little sunshine!

Take care.

NZ Paperchase March Challenge

This month over at NZ Paper Chase the challenge is to create a layout based on a sketch.  This is my take on it.

This is one of the polymer clay flowers I made from a mold - painted and patina waxed.  Love how it came out - and I love that it's lightweight enough to use on a layout.

In my previous post, I wrote about the amazing layered stencils from Stencil1.  Here is the butterfly I made, starting with Distress Ink on plain old card stock, then texture paste detail, painted and waxed.  IRL it has a very velvety look.  I adorned it with a soft brown feather (from a Christmas decoration!)

So pop along to the NZ Paper Chase blog to see the sketch - I challenge you to come up with your own take on it!  Great prize for the winnner!

Mixed Bag

Today I have a bit of this and a bit of that to share with you.

First up, is my entry for the Cheery Lynn Designs Lots of Layers challenge.  I created  a little Easter Pillowbox, to fill with mini Easter eggs for a friend.  I used the Cheery Lynn Designs French Pastry Doillie to create the fans on the left side, and the French Flair die for the artisan frame.

Earlier this week I received some stencils from a company called Stencil1 - based in the USA.  What struck me about their stencils was the very cool and different designs.  I bought a couple of Layered Stencils - birds and butterflies 3pack stencils.  What a fabulous idea these are. 

Basically, you use the 'solid' stencil to create the base of your image.  Then you layer the detail stencil over the top and apply whatever medium you choose to create the detail. I experimented with Texture Paste and was pretty please with the result.

Here is a card I made with a cutout of the Hummingbird I created...

And a close up of the bird...

I'm hoping that I get some more time to play with these stencils this weekend, we are expecting a weather bomb apparently!  We had plans to go to the ODI Cricket NZ vs South Africa but I can't see us going now!  Instead, it'll be hunkering down for another wet weekend.  Not a good start to Autumn really!

Take care and thanks for visiting.

Liebster Blog Award

Thank you so much Lisa.  I am delighted and very honoured that you picked me for this.

I came across Lisa's blog Adventures in Paperland through Moxiefab World.  I love Lisa's style of work, part vintage, part shabby, with links to some great challenge sites.  Pop by Lisa 's blog and say hi!

It's a great feeling to know that there are people who regularly read your blog! And more so, to know that they take inspiration from your work. There are so many talented art and crafters out there. And so many wonderful blogs to visit.

The idea behind this award is to spread the love from one small blog (under 200 followers) to other small blogs. This helps to spread knowledge and readership. To accept the award, you must:

1. Link back to the person who gave it and thank them for thinking of you.
2. Post the award to your blog.
3. Give the award to 5 bloggers (with less than 200 followers) that you appreciate and value.
4. Leave a comment on the blogs of the five people you have chosen to let them know.
So with this is mind, here is my list of 5 blogs that inspire me on a regular basis, and are well worth visiting.

http://delightfullycrazytoo.blogspot.com/  Sandie - for the most stunning array of cards.  Sandie has an enviable style about her work, and the photos she takes of her projects are beautiful.  Sandie has some fabulous tutorials on her blog, so make a cuppa and sit down to watch.  Check out her hand dyed lace!  All these 'how to' details, IMHO, make for a exceptional blog.

http://www.paperscissorschocolate.com/ - Louise, a multi-talented artist.  Check out her latest mixed media work. Wow!  She has 2 cute little boys too!

http://blissandgesso.blogspot.com  Gayle -for her imaginative approach to art and craft!  Love all the details in her descriptions.

http://illbeblessed.blogspot.com.au/  Rae does amazing projects - and I will have the pleasure of meeting her in April at the Autumn Escape Rettreat in Taupo.  Rae also  takes the time to add 'how to'  and 'what I used'  details into her blog, which is a real bonus!

http://www.trinamcclune.typepad.com/  Trina - for her yummy recipes and wonderful chicken stories thrown in amongst her gorgeous crafting!  If you want to know how to use anything 'Prima' - or you're after a good cake recipe -  go see Trina!

Thanks ladies, for taking the time to share your work with us.  Congratulations, I hope you will accept the award...

Bathing Beauties

This months challenge at the Paper Chase was to interpret a layout and create your own based on the rough sketch.  Check it out here on faceboook https://www.facebook.com/#!/groups/362066385406/ or here on the blog http://paperchase.typepad.com/nzpaperchasemy_weblog/2012/02/three-days-left.html.

Another requirement was to use some sort of medium to create texture, so I modpodged tissue paper to the background, added some texture gel then paint. I've also used Liquid Pearls to give extra texture. So here's my interpretation.

You have until 29th to get your entry in....check the NZ Paperchase Magazine blog to see the goodies up for grabs for the lucky winner.

Mini Break

Back from a short break at Ruakaka Beach.  Love it there - only 1.5 hours from Auckland and an easy drive. Beautiful, unspoilt beach with 'squeaky clean sand' as my children call it!  Wonderful summer days.

'Frame It' Challenge at Cheery Lynn Designs

I've been enjoying playing with my Cheery Lynn Designs dies (again) and I have to say that their frame dies offer so much potential.  I created a card today for the 'Frame It' challenge, using my favourite Daisy Lace Frame.  Reminds me so much of a beautifully ornate wrought iron fence - the sort you'd likely see in Florence or somewhere equally as romantic!

I first created the Daisy Lace die cut from cardstock then adhered it to scrunched up Tim Holtz printed tissue paper to get a bit of texture going on behind it.  Then I gave it a paint with watered down white acrylic paint to give it a base from which to work from. This also enabled the diecut to 'sink' into the tissue. Using gold patina wax and Distress Stain in Victorian Velvet, I built up the layers to give it a pale pink/gold vignette.  Once dry I rubbed a conservative amount of black ink over the raised areas with my fingertips.  To finish, I applied Liquid Pearls to the perimeter to give it a studded look.

The cameo is my own creation using a mold, which I inked up to give it the pink/gilt effect.  I mounted the cameo on another Cheery Lynn Designs die from the Coved Rectangle Classic stack.  The seam binding I hand dyed with Victorian Velvet Distress Stain to ensure the colours throughout were uniform.  And the clock hand and watch part are courtesy of my local manufacturing jeweller.  Thanks Mr Honeybun (yes - that is his name!).  The centre of the watch hand is filled with a few pink seed beads.

Thanks for visiting.  I'd love you to leave a comment, especially those visitors from far away!

Cheery Lynn does it again!

I'm fascinated by the endless possibilities that Cheery Lynn dies can offer the average crafter.

In my previous posts, I told you I have been experimenting with making molds and clay embellishments.  Who would have thought that Cheery Lynn dies are actually perfect to make molds with?  So with that in mind, I would like to enter this project into the Weekly Challenge over at Cheery Lynn - "Frame It".  I have used the dies as 'frames' for the molds.

This is a clay butterfly I made, using the Cheery Lynn die to first make a mold.

Here is a video I have put together for you to show you the process involved.  It's so easy, and the results are fabulous.  The background music comes and goes - slight technical hitch!!

And here is yet another use for the good old French Pastry doillie die...

I placed the die on a circle of ironed and starched calico, then sprayed it with Shimmerz.  In other words, the die acts as a mask.  The result is this fabulous batik like effect.  I love it.  The piece begged to be made into a pin cushion to house my own handmade stick pins.  They look so pretty in there.  I think this would make a lovely gift for a fellow crafter.  And it only took me half and hour tops to make.  Would have been faster had I not opted to hand stitch the sequin trim in place!

I hope this post inspires you to look at using your Cheery Lynn dies in other ways.

Thanks for visiting.