May Projects for Imaginarium Designs...

I cannot believe how fast this month is going (let alone this whole year!). It's time again for me to share my monthly Imaginarium Designs projects. 

"TOTALLY ADORE"

I created this layout while away on a scrapbook retreat. One of the teachers taught a class using a vellum bag as a pocket to hold sequins and buttons, so I thought I would create my own version. Yes, this whole layout was created around that vellum bag. :)

I was too lazy to tape down all the layers of paper, so I simply stapled them to my page. Yes, I just admitted to being "lazy" with my scrapbboking, lol! 

Have you seen the new Imaginarium Designs chipboard banners? I totally love them! They are so gorgeous, and there are so many possibilities for decorating and embellishing.

And the owl was a little present from Natalie May, who was sitting beside me at the retreat. Apparently she doesn't "do" owls, lol! So I put it to good use for her! ;-)

"SUCH A BEAUTIFUL MOMENT IN TIME"

This layout was created using one of the May sketches from Page Drafts. This month Imaginarium Designs and Page Drafts have joined forces for extra fun and inspiration. 

I am seriously addicted to these colours. Love! Love! Love!

Thanks for dropping by today. Hope you have had an awesome weekend! I'll be sharing more creativity during the coming week.
Cheers, xxx

Owl Canvas...

I hope you have your sunglasses today, lol! My love of colour has been allowed a whole lot of freedom with this canvas. Yes, I know not everyone likes eye-popping colour, but I'm NOT one of those people. The more colour - the happier I am. :)

This canvas was an experiment. Everything on it was an experiment. Why? Because I have been watching several mixed-media classes, and I wanted to experiment with different techniques. The whole idea for the owl came about by wanting to use Pan Pastels as paints. Yes, you heard me correct. Pan Pastels mixed with water gives a beautiful paint-like quality. My owl and moon were outlined with Pan Pastels, and a lot of the shading on the moon edges and tree limbs were created with Pan pastels. 

I also experimented with embossing, embossing enamels, metals, liquid pearls, and stamping with gold Staz- On ink. Oh, and I had new Claudine Helmuth paints too! I love the freedom of just experimenting, and not having to work to a plan. :)
Materials Used: Imaginarium Designs chipboard; Prima flowers and vines: Basic Grey rub-ons; Prima bling; Claudine Helmuth paints; Staz-On inks; Tim Holtz rock candy; and Stickles glitter.
Thanks for stopping by! Hope you are having a fantastic weekend. 
And if you have any questions, please don't hesitate to ask. 
Cheers, xxx

A Year In Review...

With everything that happened in my life at the end of last year, and early this year, I never had the opportunity to review my work from 2013. So I have decided to take a moment, and do that now. I want to look at the past, and enjoy what was created, before I start to move forward again. 
Today I am going to share my favourite OTP projects and layouts from 2013 (in no particular order). 

I love this horse shoe that I created for PaperHaus. I know, everyone tells me it is upside down, but it doesn't matter to me. I liked it this way, so that is how I created it. I really think I need to find some time and make a few more of these - they are just so pretty and feminine.    

Another project created for PaperHaus - my Springtime floral wreath. Now this project took quite a while to complete, but I loved every second of playing with my dies, and creating beautiful hand-made flowers. This wreath now hangs in my scrap room window so that I can enjoy it every single day.

My butterfly cupcake stand - this was part of my application submission for the Kaisercraft Design Team. 

As soon as I saw this mini cloche in the store, I knew exactly what I wanted to create. And yes, it came out exactly like I envisioned in my mind. 

My matching re-purposed frames, created for Imaginarium Designs. These take pride of place in my daughter's bedrooms. I took such joy and pleasure in being able to create something so beautiful to give to both my girls.  

Another project created for Imaginarium Designs, and without a doubt, one of my favourite all-time projects. This too hangs in my scrap room - I cannot bear to part with it. 

Waiting For Baby was created using a Prima BAP (not sure which month). There is something about aquas and greens that just grabs my attention. And yes, it is probably my favourite colour palette - I tend to gravitate towards it often!

Last year I took several classes from different teachers. One of those teachers was the very talented and amazing Louise Nelson. This layout was created using techniques that she taught in her workshop. Did I mention that her classes (and techniques) are a whole lot of fun!!! :)

One of my many layouts (and projects) created for Kaisercraft. I have many favourites from my time with them, but I think this is my number one choice. These are not colours that I would normally choose for myself, but the femininity and softness of this paper was irresistable! 

Another paper range from Kaisercraft that I fell in love with. I just couldn't resist the bright colours - they are so very me! This layout was also a part of my Kaisercraft application submission. 

And finally, my Believe layout - created for Scrap Around The World. This was a beautiful colour palette (and sketch) to work with. Yes, again, greens and aquas - see, I told you I am addicted to those colours, lol! But honestly, I just love how this layout came together with a feminine and soft appeal, and finished with so many gorgeous details. 
Thank-you for stopping by, and thank-you for allowing me to share my projects with you. 
Now, we start to move forward with 2014. This year, I want to experiment - there are still so many techniques and products that I want to play with! Plus I love learning and I can't resist a good challenge.
Happy scrapping, xxx   

Imaginarium Designs April Projects...

I am just taking a moment to share the two layouts I have created for Imaginarium Designs this month. If you would like to see more details, there are extra photos on the Imaginarium Designs blog, right here. 

"DELIGHTFUL"

A mixture of metal embellishments, chipboard and flowers.

I am totally in love with this layout, and I am really enjoying working with the metal embellishments. 

They had a touch of grunge to such a romantic layout. 

"SHE BLOWS BUBBLES" A little bit of whimsy, and a dash of neon colours. Something a little bit different from me. This layout was all about having fun and playing with new techniques and products. Thanks for stopping by. Cheers, xxx

The Long Journey Back...

It's been quite a while since I've sat at my computer and typed a blog post, let alone scrapped. And to be honest, I haven't wanted to. Yes, I've been missing in action - I kind of "fell off the face of the earth", so to speak. Last year was an extremely horrible year for me, and it all culminated with me being physically and mentally unable to function. Now, I know I don't need to offer anyone an explanation, as it really is no-one's business, but I think I do need (want) to explain a few things that have happened.  Losing my mother to cancer last year kind of broke me. I didn't cope well, and pushed everyone away. I guess you could say that was the beginning of the end. This was closely followed by the loss of my Maine Coon cat, Kisanji, who was a loved member of our family. When you mix all this up with a bout of depression (yes, like many, many people, I also suffer from depression), but find out way too late that your previous doctor has had you on the wrong medication, then things are bound to get bad. And let's not forget, a diagnosis of "extremely" high blood pressure (until this point I had never had blood pressure problems).  Anyway, with all this happening in my life, my world came crashing down, and I couldn't cope. Not mentally. Not physically. I chose to resign from most of my Design Team positions, as my medications made me shake (and very tired), which made it extremely difficult to take a decent photo. I didn't want to offer any company something that wasn't 100% adequate. So I decided it was a better option to remove myself from the teams.  And I totally stopped scrapping and creating. I have done nothing for 4-5 months. Yes. Really. It got to a point where, the thought of going in to my studio to create, almost made me ill, and I wanted to run in the opposite direction.  I am, however, still a Design Team member for Imaginarium Designs (I took a leave of abscence).  But now, finally, most of this is behind me. I am VERY slowly starting to scrap and create again. I attended the Escape To Create 2014 retreat earlier this month. I took scrap supplies with me, but I was totally unsure if I would be able to create anything. But I surprised myself, and I did. I also had an AMAZING time with so many wonderful women from around Australia. I guess it was what my soul needed - time away with friends, great food, lots of fun, and no pressure.  My health is slowly improving too. I am now a regular at the gym, and I am feeling better than I have in many, many years. So I hope the worst is over, and my journey back is nearly done. Yes, I will start creating and sharing again over the next few weeks, as my studio no longer scares me, and I have new goodies due to arrive any day now.  But I will be taking it slow. No rushing. No stress.  And from now on, my first priority is me - and my health. :) I have missed all my readers and followers, and I can't wait to welcome you back, and to share a whole new bounty of creativity with you (I have been taking LOTS of mixed media lessons).  Thank-you for your patience and understanding, Cheers and hugs, xxx