Glorious Afternoons and Vanishing Acts...

Yesterday, I found this beauty in my backyard. I was washing dishes inside, when I saw a flash of colour through my window. I grabbed my camera, bolted outside, and managed to score a couple of nice photos before it flew away.

My girls and I had a glorious afternoon today. I took them down to the local park at the village to play. There is a shallow creek that runs alongside the park. And guess what? It was filled with tadpoles. So I got to spend my afternoon watching my girls hunt up and down this creek, catching tadpoles, having the best time of their lives. It just made me so insanely happy to see them enjoying nature. They were purely happy and content. And they have asked me if I will take them back again tomorrow. (-: Yes, I think that is a good plan! And this time mummy will take her camera - an even better plan, lol!!!

And I've had a list of web sites vanish from my blog page. In the side bar to the left, below my blog list, I had another list of places that I liked to visit, not all of them scrapping related. But now it's gone and I don't have a clue what happened. I am presuming, but only presuming mind you, that I must have clicked a wrong button one night when I was tired. But I have no memory of this happening. Maybe I'm going senile? So now I get to start a new list. (-: Suggestions anyone??? LOL!

Color Combos Galore Challenge #165

Challenge #165 is now live over at Color Combos Galore. This week's colours include pale yellow, sage green, white linen, and maroon red. The designer's challenge is to include distressing.

Anybody who knows me, knows that I am not really a big "distressing" type of gal. I use this technique occasionally on my layouts, but not often. So, I cheated!!! (-: I tore one end of the cardstock (and then covered half of it up again with flowers, lol!), and I used Bella! distressed chipboard alphas. And that was my limit this week for distressing. But I did use lots of Zva Creative bling instead (Ha! Ha! Ha!). Or should I say "Ho! Ho! Ho!". Sorry, but the pun was intended since I did a Christmas layout. Titled: Christmas Fairy. Zva Creative products used: pearl vine leaves NEW (PES-03CB-103); silk flowers (FL01CB105); felt flowers (FL01CB114); rhinestone alphas (CRP01CB102); pearl brads (BRBK02CA103); and gemstone brads 1/4" (BRBK02CA101). Papers used: Kaisercraft and Making Memories.

Zva Creative November Project No. 1

I'm off to an early start this month! Here's my first November monthly project for Zva Creative. Titled: Somewhere Over The Rainbow. Actually, I think this is my all-time favourite layout for the year. The idea for this came to me while I was trying to sleep (typical!!!). And once I had thought of it, all I could think of, was why hadn't I thought of this earlier??? Zva Creative products used: rhinestone flourish (CRB-03CA-112); rhinestones (CR01CB101); pearls (PE-02CB-102); silk flowers (FL01CB106); felt flowers (FL01CB117 and FL-01CB-114); rhinestone strips (CR01CB113); rhinestone alphas (CRP01CB102); and bulk 3D flowers (in nearly every colour!). For my background, I used glimmermist, in the colours of the rainbow. Other products used: Rouge De Garance and Fancy Pants papers; Jillibean Soup journalling dot; and Carolees Creations mini alphas. And in case you were wondering, these photos were self-portraits taken by my daughter. She just LOVES playing with my camera. But this is a good thing, because it gives me even more photos to scrap, lol!!!

The Big Announcement!!!

Please welcome the new Zva Creative Design Team:
Lisa Johnson - US
Teri Anderson - US
Windy Robinson - US
Debbie Olsen - US
Jillian Cassity - US
Angelica Franssen - US
Nancy Doren - US
Guiseppa Gubler - US
Tara Orr - Canada
Benedicte Raphalen - France
Carole Maurin - France
Ingrid Danvers - Netherlands
Jolanda Meurs - Netherlands
Julianne McKenna - Australia
Gail Lindner - Australia
Tanya Tahir - Australia
Tokomo Takahashi - Japan
Camilla Ekman - Sweden
Susan Lui - Singapore
Louise Collins - UK

I am honoured to be joining Zva Creative for another 6 months. Anyone who knows me, knows that I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE their rhinestone and pearl products!!! And this time, I am joined by two other Aussie girls - Gail and Tanya! Yay!!! (-: It will be wonderful working with all this amazing talent. A big welcome to everyone.

Pencil Lines Sketch #211

This week, Pencil Lines is bringing you sketch #211. (I LOVE this sketch!!!). And this week's guest designer is the fabulous Rhonda Palazzari. Make sure you drop by and check out all the fabulous creations from the Pencil Lines team.

Here's my take on the sketch. Titled: Hello Crazy. I've used Hambly transparencies and glimmermist to create my background. I've added some masking tape and machine stitching. Then I've finsihed off with some Zva Creative goodies: pearl flourish (PEB-02CB-112), rhinestone strips (CR-01CB-111 and CRo1CB113), pearl brads (BRBK02CA103), rhinestones (CR01CB101) and silk flowers (FL01CB106, FL01CB112 and FL01CB113). The journalling spots are from Jillibean soup, and the photo corner stickers are from October Afternoon. Alphas are from American Crafts (Thickers) and Carolees Creations. The stamps are from Pink Paislee - House of 3 - Anthologie.