Webster's Pages Christmas Event - Have You Booked??

Playing with Scarlet!

Hi girls!
This week I have been digitally altering some photos, using the Scarlet range by Marion Smith Designs.

When physically printed off, these photos look completely amazing! The depth of the digital detail really shows through.

Looking forward to transforming them into layout!

Thanks for stopping by!

A Little Bit Hybrid

I love the freedom and possibilities that hybrid scrapbooking bring.  I was completely inspired by this picture I saw on Pinterest the other day...

So I overlaid a gorgeous picture I have of Meg onto a Marion Smith digital paper called 'Just My Type' from her Vintage Telegram set, and altered the opacity slightly so a hint of the background paper shows through her face.

Printed and mounted onto chipboard, then decorated with loads of bits and bobs and leftovers from my stash to get this...

I was tempted to gesso it all then grunge it down a bit a l Finnabair, but decided against it in the end.

Meg loves it!  And is taking it to school tomorrow for morning talk!

Thanks for stopping by!

Marion Smith Designs

Happy day today!  I am thrilled to be part of the Marion Smith Design Team.  Marion is a former Prima Design Team member and educator who has launched her own line.  Click here for a video link to her new CHA releases.  Looking forward to creating with her beautiful designs and being part of such a talented team of ladies!

Here is a link to her products.  Enjoy!

Fairy Folk Layout

For those of you who missed out on my Fairy Folk layout class at SENZ this year, here are some further pics of the project.  If you would like a copy of the instructions, lease leave me a comment with your email address and I'd be happy to post them through to you.

This is the front of the layout. Although it's hard to see in the image, there are about 4 layers here, each separated by foam tape - so it's quite a dimensional piece.


 
This is a close up of the door, that opens to reveal a special photo!  I used lots of moss to embellish the door to give it that enchanted feel.

 

 





 Loads of fussy cutting in this one! And lots of lace, muslin and delicate trims!  Lot's of fun to put together.

Happy crafting!



Enchanted Cards

Following on from my Fairy Folk layout class at SENZ, I have been captured by the whimsical genre of enchanted little people!  So during the week I put together some cards that I intend to save for my daughters birthday and her 2 BFF's birthdays later this year!  And I have to say that my new WRMK envelope making board has come in very handy!

First, here is a totally OTT card (this one's for Meg!)

Florists wire attached to a painted chipboard archway, punctuated with flowers, stems, pearlescent stamens, silver birds nest complete with tiny pearl eggs and some little toadstools on the corner. G45 Once Upon a Springtime provided the little fairy and bluebird images which are ever so lightly brushed with a Tattered Angels aqua glitter glaze.  I made the white resin bird at the top of the arch from a cake decorating mold! The centre of the arch is cut away and replaced with soft baby muslin.

Here's a closer look...

Next up are a couple of cards I made using some tiny paper tole fairy images by the famous Cicely Mary Barker.  I picked these up at SENZ,  knowing instantly that they would make gorgeous additions to my stash!

My 'yellow' card...

And a closer look...

 

Finally, my 'pink' card...

And a closer look...

Paper tole huh?!!!  Who'd have thought...

Hope you have enjoyed the images  - leave me a comment and tell me if you dabble in paper tole from time to time.

Happy crafting!

Discover Create Learn Event 13 and 15 December 2013

 
 
 
I am thrilled to announce that I will be heading to gorgeous Sydney in December to teach a Webster's Pages Certified Christmas Workshop.

 At the invitation of Evelyn Lloyd from Discover Create Learn I will be teaching 3 classes, one on the Friday night 13 Dec and 2 on the Sunday 15 Dec, leaving participants free all day Saturday to shop around Sydney - maybe even visit a scrapbook shop or 2 or 3!

I hope you will join me for a fabulous weekend of crafting and shopping!  To register, contact Evelyn on evelynll@bigpond.net.au

July in Cockle Bay

What a mixed bag!  One day it's glorious winter weather, the next it's bleak, cold and quite miserable! But that's how our winter rolls, here in the antipodes!  It's the time of year that many Kiwis go overseas to tropical Pacific destinations for a decent dose of sunshine, swimming, tropical fruits and seafood, like Fiji, Rarotonga and Northern Queensland (a personal favourite!).  So I guess that's the upside!

It's also perfect weather here at the moment for a decent dose of guilt free scrapbooking!  Who minds a rainy wintery day spent inside while crafting?  Not me, that's for sure, and my delicious 8 year old daughter usually joins me in my art room for a spot of scrapbooking too, which is something I totally adore.  It's uninterrupted quality time to chat, create and giggle together.  This surely has to be one of the best 'side effects' of being a scrapbooker!  "Long may it last", I hear you ladies with teenage girls chanting!  I know, I know - there will come a day when it's no longer cool to hang out with me, creating paper masterpieces, but while she's keen, I'm in 100%.

So on that note,
I'll leave you with another pic of a kit I created for SENZ this week. Happy crafting to all.

SENZ 2013

It's just around the corner!  Figuratively and literally!  Next weekend at the Telstra Clear Events centre in Manukau (about 20 mins from my house!).

As always, there's lots of prep work involved in getting classes designed, tested and kitted up.  But I'm 90% of the way there (with the help of Jodi - aka Mrs Scrapaholics).

I mentioned on Facebook that Scrapaholics are renowned at SENZ for their Project Kits.  When the SENZ doors open on Friday morning, there is a mad rush for our kits!  So this year, Jodi and us tutors have worked really hard to bring you a fantastic selection of layout and card kits!  Just to tempt you, here are a couple of kit sneak peeks....

Remember, first in - first served.  The kits are limited in numbers.  They are fantastic projects to keep you going over the winter months, and particularly useful for taking to scrapbooking events since you don't have to pack everything including the kitchen sink!  They come with full colour printed instructions so there is no guess work involved.  It's a sit back and create type of thing!

Leave me a comment if you are coming to SENZ - better still, come and say hi at the Scrapaholics stand!  We're looking forward to seeing you!

Cheerio!

Vietnam Scrapbooking Retreat - Red ChiChi

Some of you may have been lucky enough to meet the gorgeous Aussie gal Lucy Muraca at Creative Adventure in May.  Lucy sported that magnificent pink sequined apron!  You couldn't have missed her!! Lucy is the owner of Skatkatz (who also very generously donated a great prize to C.A.D) and runs fantastic scrapbook retreats around the world. 

In October this year she is hosting a tour to Vietnam.  The itinerary sounds just luxurious!  So I wanted to share the details with you, you have to go take a look....

I have personally taken a class by the accomplished Angela Peardon, who will be teaching on the tour, at the Brisbane Expo and I can promise you she is a very clever lady!  Her work is incredible.

Click on this link http://red-chichi.blogspot.co.nz/p/vietnam-retreat-2012_06.html to read the full itinerary with pricing options.  It'll be a marvellous trip, a perfect mix of crafting, sightseeing, local activities and relaxing!  Sorely tempted I tell you!!!!  I'm guessing spaces are limited - contact Lucy on info@skatkatz.com.au to find out.

So, who's up for it?

Never a Dull Moment!

Not around here, anyway!  After a week of being housebound with a sick son (and me!) it's time to get cracking with preparations for SENZ (Scrapbook Expo of NZ).  I am teaching 3 classes again this year for Scrapaholics,  all of them layouts and all quite different in their own rite.

Prima Multi Layer Faerie Folk Layout - Mixed Media Scrapbooking

Strong - A Masculine Layout featuring Authentique's 'Strong' range

I Love You - A Webster's Pages Certified Class

 

 

If you are interested in taking any of these classes, click this link here http://senz.co.nz/Scrapaholics.php

 

Looking forward to a nice, quiet weekend.  Relaxing, maybe a bit of crafting and some baking are sure to be in order.  We are enjoying some lovely sunny, but chilly, wintery June days at the moment.  As much as I bemoan winter, it is nice to cuddle up in the evenings with the family and enjoy each others company.  It's also a time when we catch up with old friends for winter dinner parties, which is always fun.

 

Till next time!

 



It Was Wonderful.......

Creative Adventure Downunder 2013, from wo to go, was FANTASTIC!

So let me tell you all about it and show you some photos....

We kicked the event of on Friday morning at 9.00am.  I taught the first of my classes to the Pink Group, who were just amazing!  Buzzing with excitement and eager to learn.  And they all created gorgeous layouts. 

My class was a commemorative layout of CAD 2013.  One less thing the girls need to do when they get home right?  It was designed to showcase their photobooth pics that they enjoyed posing for on Friday night at the Carnival Dinner.

We used refined NZ beeswax melting it over a chipboard 'Create' word then sprinkling  blue/green/bronze coloured perfect pearls over.  The results were stunning.

Add in some soft white and teal polka dot feathers, with a trail of little paua shells and the result is a little 'Kiwiana' to remind our international visitors of the beauty that is NZ.

Lunch then followed, with classed resuming for the remainder of the day, taught by Teresa Collins, Donna Downey and Heidi Swapp.  Enjoyed by all.

Then on to the Carnival Dinner.  Delicious food and sterling entertainment!!!  And guess what?  We even had Ellen DeGeneres turn up!  Lots of laughter and fun, let me tell you!

Saturday we were back into it at 9.00am again.  A few jaded faces early on, but everyone soon got into the swing again!  More classes and more fun!

Sunday I taught my class to the Red and Orange groups.  Once again, a great group of ladies who embraced the messiness and experimentation that was part of it all!  Well done Red and Orange!

I was honoured to host our international guests along with Jodi, Michele, Michelle and our T.As for dinner at my home Sunday night.  Traditional kiwi roast lamb, followed by home made pavlova and hokey pokey ice cream.  18 litres of it!!!!!!  But let me clarify - even though there were 26 of us for dinner, I still have several litres of ice cream left!

Auckland turned on some beautiful weather on Monday so we took our visitors out to Maraetai for lunch and some fresh sea air. 

That night we said farewell to Donna who flew back home.  Heidi also left for home.

Teresa and her gorgeous daughter McKay and our cute friend TC Dye came to stay at my house for a few days before they went home.  Tuesday was rainy and cold so a heavy duty shopping day was in order.

Once again, Auckland came to the party and put on a stunner of a day on Wednesday.  So we hopped on the ferry to Waiheke Island and took the girls Zip Lining!  Michele and Michelle joined us.  I think there were a few nerves to begin with but once the adrenaline kicked in we were good to go.

Eco Zip on Waiheke is a fantastic operation, highly recommended to all!

 

What goes down must come up right?  Which meant that after the 3 zip lines we needed to walk back up the 'hill'.  A scenic and gentle 25 minute walk through native bush.  Peaceful and beautiful.

Back to Auckland on the ferry then a hurried but sorrowful goodbye to my sweet friends as they boarded a shuttle for the airport. 

Farewell till next year and roll on Creative Adventure Downunder 2014.  Teresa is coming back to join us along with Diane Shultz and her daughter Amy from Graphic 45 and Joey from Bazzill!  What a line up!

Till next time.



It's Nearly Time....

For Creative Adventure Downunder that is!  Less than a month to go before we kick off our amazing 3 day workshop and fun filled weekend with Teresa, Donna and Heidi! 

I have finished designing my class and I'm getting ready to kit it up ready to teach on Friday morning 24th May and again on Sunday morning.  In between, I have the greatest pleasure of assisting our American tutors with their classes. 

Can't wait! 

Nervous?  A bit. 

Excited?  Lots! 

Honoured?  Yes - to say the least.

Here are some sneak peeks of my class.  The layout incorporates some really beautiful and different mixed media materials and techniques which will be sure to kick start the creative juices!  I am especially excited about showcasing one technique in particular.  But keeping it under wraps for the time being.....

On a side note, we have just spent a couple of days here http://www.waipamustation.co.nz/about.html.

It truly is a slice if Kiwi Heaven, one that we plan to invest in, in the very near future! The fresh air and country side certainly elevated the childrens appetites!  Might have to take out a second mortgage just to keep up with the food bill!

Also popped in to Taupo to watch our nephew compete in NZ Secondary Schools Sailing Regatta.  So lucky with the weather for this time of year, the lake was superb.

Thanks for stopping by my blog.  Comments are always appreciated.  And if you are registered for Creative Adventure Downunder - then I'll be seeing you soon!

75c Workshop

Back in February I travelled to Hamilton to teach my Kaisercraft 75c 1 Day Workshop at Paperzone.  It was a fabulous day with some fun Waikato ladies!  Yesterday I taught the same workshop at my LSS, Scrapaholics - once again a great day!  I thought I'd share some pics of the projects.  The 75c range is one of my all time favorites - the colours and patterns lend themselves to so many themes and photos.

Layout 1:

And some close ups...

Layout 2:

Close up...
 

 

Then we created 4 cards:

Thanks to Paperzone and Scrapaholics for hosting me.  Looking forward to next time!

Cheerio
Maggie