Storyboard Kits ...designer search

So, I'm thinking that there might be some totally inspiring scrapbookers out there who would love the opportunity to play with my kits each month...am I right? Of course I am.

Here's what I'm looking for...

• Someone to create 4 layouts per month using the contents of the current Storyboard Kit
• Someone who has a blog and is willing to promote Storyboard wherever possible
• Someone who is passionate about scrapbooking
• Someone who is willing to devote 6 months of their scrappy time to Storyboard

Is that someone you?

The successful applicant(s) will receive:

• the main kit each month plus an add-on kit every three months
• a generous discount for other items sold at Storyboard
• promotion of their work through the Storyboard website and blog

All you need to do is...drop me an email to storyboardkits@gmail.com with the subject header "DESIGNER", listing:

• Your name
• Your address
• Your blog link
• Attach three (3) of your favourite layouts that best represent your style, using a mix of manufacturers products

Please don't worry about writing up a long blurb...your work will speak volumes.

I had in my mind that this call would only open to Australian residents at this time, but if you live o/s, drop me a line anyway...you might just blow my socks off and force me to choose you!

Submissions close 15 May 2010.

Successful applicant(s) will be notified soon after and will receive their first kit asap so you have plenty of time to play before the first release on 1 July 2010!

Want to know more about Storyboard?  Click here.

Good luck! Lis.

Pebbles Inc reveal...

In honour of Earth Day this coming Thursday, 22 April 2010, the Pebbles Inc team are creating projects with this theme in mind.  You can check out the team's projects on the Pebbles Inc blog.

Here's my project.  When I think of Earth Day, I instantly think of recycling and ways that I can incorporate everyday products into my layouts, instead of throwing them out! For this layout, I have repurposed a used takeaway coffee cup and a packing box. The waffle pattern on the coffee cup was just fabulous, and it was easy to peel the outer layer off, then punch out into stars. The stars were finished off with Pebbles Candy Dots. I also peeled the top layer off the packing box to reveal the waffle core. This box actually held all of the Pebbles Inc products sent to me when I joined the DT ... love that I've reused it for a Pebbles layout!

Pebbles supplies used:

PP - Downtown Manhattan (50921)
PP - Downtown Lexington (50926)
PP - Miss Sunshine (50954)
PP - Buddy Bundle (50944)
Candy Dots Orange (44206)
Pebbles Chips White (44102)

Other supplies used:
Cardstock (Bazzill Basics)
Alphabets (American Crafts)
Pen (Stampin' Up!, Uniball)
Punch (Stampin' Up!)

Have a look around your surroundings and see what you can reuse for your scrapbook projects.
tfl, Lis.

Challenge Heaven...

My friend Michelle runs this fab community group call "Challenge Heaven" and I've been meaning to play along for the longest time.  There are seven different challenges each month, and great prizes to be won.  This weekend Michelle is hosting the first Challenge Heaven Cybercrop, and I've finally had a chance to tackle the challenges.

One of the challenges was to scraplift a layout from the Challenge Heaven gallery.  I chose this layout by Ali.  I loved the mixed title, the loads of white space, and I happened to have a single photo sitting right in front of me...

Here's my take...and all I had to do was work with some paper scraps I had in my stash.  PP by Basic Grey, Scribble Scrabble and Crate Paper; lettering by October Afternoon, Jillibean Soup and American Crafts.  I think I've been true to the original layout, but managed to make a layout in my own style.  The flower is handmade and finished with Scrapware leaves and a feather. Lastly, some new October Afternoon "Thrift Shop" stickers to complete my layout.  It wasn't until I was sitting down to scrap this photo that I noticed that Seth was poking his tongue out at me...hence the title.  He is a very cheeky boy, and I love him dearly.

Another of the challenges was to create a layout using these "puzzle pieces".  I've never done a challenge like this one before, and it was loads of fun.  You can interpret the pieces anyway you like, as long as they're on your page.

Here's my take...some of the pieces are obvious like the star and circle. I've used a Basic Grey decorate clip to represent the arrow; one of the journaling spots has a scalloped edge, and the rectangle can be seen in my photo, the journaling spot, stickers and the green patterned paper.  This pic is of my beautiful sister...who's going to make me an Aunty for the first time in a couple of months, and I'm beyond excited!!  I don't tell her often enough that I love her, so here it is for the whole world to witness...love you Beth!

I still want to tackle the colour challenge and blind scrap...thankfully entries don't close until Thursday.  If you want to play along too, come and join Challenge Heaven.

Cheers, Lis.

Inspired Blueprints - Sketch #46

Sketch #46 has just been revealed on the Inspired Blueprints blog!  I love a good, versatile one photo sketch, and the IB design team have outdone themselves! Check out their work here...

Here's my take.  I swapped out the 4x8" photo for a standard sized 4x6", and layered some journaling spots and stickers in place of the journaling strips.  I love that one side of the layout is really clustered, and the other side has loads of white space.  The large butterfly was cut from a file folder.

The title for my layout "seeking peace" is something that I strive for every day.  Trying to be kind to myself, and to live in the moment.  Doing the things that I enjoy, sharing that with the people I love and surrounding myself with postive people.  I most certainly still have my down days, but at the moment, the good days are well outnumbering the bad.  Life is pretty ok.  I have achieved so much lately and its put me at peace.

One of the main reasons I have a smile on my face is this...

For the longest time, I have wanted to start my own scrapbook kit club and my dream is finally becoming a reality!  Introducing Storyboard Kits.  My debut kit will go on sale 1 July 2010.  Pop on over to the Storyboard blog to see what all the fuss is about.

Cheers, Lis.

What if...I was teaching at SIA?!!

Well, its true! This year, I am teaching for Scrapware at the Scrapbooking Industry of Australia tradeshow, to be held 4 & 5 May 2010 at the Sydney Olympic Park, Sports Centre, Homebush NSW.

My class
What if…you believe in your dreams?

Class Description: Create a 12x12” layout and get the instructions to complete a second. You will be using Scrapware’s new 12” Circle Frame and Memento’s Winter CHA release papers to create a beautiful girly inspired layout about believing in your dreams. In this class, you will cover chipboard, layer, distress with ink and dry emboss to create your final piece. You will also be taught how to use your ‘leftovers’ to create an amazing background for your second layout…

Extra Tools: Wet Glue (eg Tombo Mono, Helmar, PVA), Distress Ink (eg cocoa, umber, pinecone).  See here for basic tool kit.

Skill Level: Intermediate

Sneak peeks coming soon!

Cheers, Lis.

Sydney Royal Easter Show entry

This year, I entered the Sydney Royal Easter Show Arts competition; Class: 240 Scrapbooking.  To enter, I had to create a double page layout, which included photos, a title, journaling and a technique.  The techniques I included were stamping, dry embossing, punching and chalking.

I don't know why, but I wanted to keep it fairly clean, and use fresh colours.  Originally I was going to use a 6x12" photo right across the bottom, but I accidently printed the wrong size! lol. The doily banner paper and stamp are from Studio Calico, and the other papers are from My Minds Eye; Scrapware chipboard; Pebbles Inc chalks and candy dots and some 7Gypsies stickers.  Photos are by Janine Kaye.  Janine, time to get some new ones taken I think!! hehe.

I set out to create a layout that I would be happy to put into my family album, not a "work of art"...and it looks like it paid off because I was awarded Second Prize!  I was so excited when I found out!!!  Its such an honour and I can't wait to hang that ribbon in my scraproom.

This Sunday, we went along to the Easter Show, just to check it out in real life.  I'm still shocked.  I did a little happy dance right there at the display cabinet. hehe.

Sethy pointed it out for everyone to see..."that's my mum's"!!!  Yay for me!

tfl, Lis.

Pebbles Inc reveal...

This week, I got to share the love for Pebbles Inc for "Whip it up Wednesday"...don't you just love that title!!!  ...and whip it up I did!  This layout took less than 30 minutes to create, and if you have a little bit of time spare, you can too...

 

Here's how I saved time:

• Print your photos with a white border to save time mounting your photos, and also save cardstock!
• Use leftover strips of patterned paper layered underneath the photos for your design...no need to measure, just tear and stick.
• Place foam tape under the wings of the butterfly sticker to add dimension, then add Pebbles chips heart to the center.
• Pebbles Inc stickers are great for quick and easy titles ... just combine the words to suit your project.
• Journal straight onto your layout! I don't have time to turn on the computer, figure out if the text fits, print, cut out, blah blah blah...you get the drift.

Pebbles supplies used:
Lil' Miss Silly (50956)
Lil' Miss Sunshine (50954)
Lil' Miss Sister (50952)
Lil' Miss Baby stickers (50958)
Lil' Miss Toddler stickers (50959)
Pebbles Chips Sun Yellow (44107)

Other supplies used:
Cardstock (Bazzill Basics), Punch and Pen (Stampin' Up!), Alphabet (American Crafts), Staples

The Pebbles Inc design team have been whipping up plenty of other products on the Pebbles blog this week...check them out here for yourself!

Cheers, Lis.

Happy Easter everyone!

Well, as per usual the kids were up way too early...well not really...but daylight savings finished last night, which meant that 7.30am was actually 6.30am...which is way too early for kids and chocolate!! lol.

The Easter Bunny was very very good to them this year...elegant rabbits, humpty dumpty eggs, mini eggs, bigger eggs...all chocolate and all tasty!!  He even dropped off a couple of Lindt bunnies for Andrew and I. hehehehe.

Yes, I've been giggling this morning and had to share...

Today we're off to Andrew's parents to celebrate Easter with the family.  No doubt the Easter Bunny has been there too and the kids will be hyped up on sugar for the rest of the day!  Andrew's mum and dad bought us a canvas print for Easter - a photo of the kids taken a few months ago...its huge and looks gorgeous on our loungeroom wall!

Last one...promise...lol...

Have a great Easter everyone!
Lis.

Layouts to share...

This post is like stepping back through time! lol.  Instead of printing new photos, I've been digging through my older photos and reliving some older memories.  This is one though is new.  Seth's school photo for 2010, aged nearly 7.  I love that it was taken when he had a toothy gap.  I am wondering though why the photographer insists on using a blue background when the uniform is blue?!  There's so little contrast!

My friend Shell runs a challenge site called Challenge Heaven, and at the crop last night, I finally had a chance to play along!  I used Seth's school photo for this month's theme challenge - "Learning". The criteria was to use hand cutting on my layout...so I cut out these shapes from this Sassafras Lass paper and layered them up with foam tape to create a star shaped flower.  I'm almost up to date scrapping Seth's school photos now...just 2009 to go.

This photo was taken way back in 2007 when Seth was only 4.5.  We were at Australia Zoo and he was watching the crocodile show.  He was watching it so intently that he didn't notice me snapping away...and yes, that tongue always sticks out when he's concentrating. lol.

This was another one of Shell's challenges for the month; a quote challenge - "These are the moments I live for".  The criteria was to include lots of layering.  Now I love me a little bit of layering and these Scribble Scrabble papers are so lovely...boyish, but without robots iykwim.  I've teamed them with 7Gypsies tags and gorgeous Scrapware!

Back in the time machine...back to Easter 2005.  I'm slowly getting through my Easter photos too.  Seth was nearly 2 in these photos and I was pregnant with Eme at the time.  Look at that gorgeous red, curly hair!!!  Not so red or curly anymore.  It must have been really dark this Easter morning.  The photos were already printed, and not digital, so no chance of editing first.  This layout was inspired by one in Scrapbook Trends.  Such a simple design to house six photos! Love that!!

I have to say, that plaid print by WeRMemory Keepers is just divine!  The colours are just yummy and scream Easter!  I originally went with the title "Yum!", but then realised the layout I recently did for Easter 2004 was titled "egg-stra yummy".  Highly original. lol.  So I changed it up for "Delicious" and used a button for the "o".

I have been doing a bit more scrapping this weekend, and will share soon.  In the meantime, I've got lots more photos to take tomorrow morning once the Easter Bunny has come to visit.  We have a tradition in our house that the kids are given new winter pyjamas to wear, fresh for Easter Sunday.  We do the same on Christmas Eve, but summer ones.  This year's ones are very pastel.  Its so hard to buy nice pj's for Seth's age...they're either too babyish or full of skulls or tv characters.  I'm pretty sure he's going to hate the ones I picked out this year, but they have blue stripey pants and pale blue top. I like them. They'll look great in photos. lol.  Eme is easily pleased though...her's are pale pink with stripes and spots.

Looking forward to devouring some Easter chocolate! Have a great weekend everyone.
Lis.

52 layouts 52 weeks

Thought I better catch up before I get too far behind on this project!

Week 9 - Perspective

(stuffed up and put an 8 on there...better fix that)

This week, Eme was admitted to hospital following an asthmatic episode...certainly makes you think about the important things in life when you're watching your baby struggling to breathe!

Week 10 - Happy Birthday to Me!

Week 11 - 10 things...

My friend Renee challenged me to do a layout about 10 things that make me happy at the moment...as you can see, I'm still working on that list!  Doing a bit of soul searching at the moment...

Week 12 - Girlie Day

When the boys go to footy, Eme and I get to indulge in all things girlie!  Shopping, baking, baby cino's...love those days!

Week 13 - Monotony

I thought I'd document one of my least favourite tasks...filing! Urk.

There you have it.  Love how my album is coming together.  The weeks of 2010 are certainly flying by!!

tfl, Lis.