March Zva Blog Hop Winners announced

We'd like to congratulate the FIVE March Zva Blog Hop winners! Their names will be found on the following blogs:

Lou Collins http://prettypaperandchipboard.blogspot.com/

Camilla Ekman http://camillaslillasida.blogspot.com/

Angelica Franssen http://angelicascrappenings.blogspot.com/

Windy Robinson http://windyrobinson.blogspot.com/

Gail Lindner http://www.gaillindner.typepad.com/

One winner from each of the 5 blogs will receive a Zva prize package worth $30.00. Congrats winners! Just wanted to share a little inspiration with you. This layout is titled "Ever So Lovely". I decided it was time to use up some of my old stash of papers with all these new release products from Zva Creative. A perfect match!!!

The title and punched border was too plain so I decided to add some pizzazz. I added clear rhinestone to the chipboard title, then coated it in dimensional magic. I added pearls to the punched border (which have been coloured pink with a copic pen).

I felt the chipbaord butterfly needed a little something too. I quickly fixed that with more clear rhinestones and some red Stickles glitter. And that lovely orange flowers was originally pink. But it was too much pink for the layout so I altered the top couple of layers with some orange Glimmermist (Dreamsicle and Alaskan Salmon). I didn't want to journal with a pen. I thought it might detract from the overall feel of the layout. So I used Carolees Creation mini alpha stickers to spell out my sentiments.

Zva Creative products used: NEW RELEASE pink pearl flourishes (CR-04CA-128); embellishment flower (FL04CA-124); pearls (PE-02CB-101/CR-02CA-127); rhinestones (CR-01CB-101 and CR-02CB-101); and foam dots (AD01CCB101 and AD01CB102). Other products used: Crate papers and chipboard; Helmar scrap dots; Kindy Glitz; and copic pens.

Zva Creative March DT Blog Hop!

Zva Creative and the Design Team welcomes you to join us this month for a blog hop that we feel is always extra special!

There is now an added twist to our blog hops, YAY! As you know, Zva offers so many beautiful color groupings for pearls, flowers and crystals. We want to make sure that they shine bright for you, so each designer was asked to share a creation using a specific color or color combination on their blog hop project.

The Blog Hop begins at Kim Hughes' blog. She will have the complete list of all blogs that are participating in case there is a glitch along the way. If you would like to play along, just follow along the blog path. I am linking to one of the Zva designers and that designer is linking to the next and so on. Be prepared to be inspired along the way. Hidden on FIVE of the blogs is a Zva Creative prize package ...WOOT! WOOT! Winners will be randomly chosen after the hop is over, so it's important to leave a comment on as many blogs as you can along the way.

The Blog Hop starts today, March 28th and runs through midnight US Eastern Standard Time on Tuesday, March 29th and the 5 winners will be announced on Wednesday, March 30th on each of the five winning blogs. The full list will be found on Kim Hughes‘s blog as well (linked above). We will do our best to notify each winner, but it's best if you can pop in to all of the blogs once again on Wednesday...plus, you never know what kind of inspirational creation that you may find there. All you need to do is leave a comment on this Zva Creative Blog Hop post...you do not need to leave a comment on each and every designer's blog post to qualify. The more times you leave a comment along the blog hop path though, the more chances you will have to be one of the lucky winners.

This month my nominated colour was orange. So I thought I would treat you with something on the bright side. My layout is titled: Adorable, and I have used used lots of new release Zva Creative goodies, mixed with a whole pile of Webster Pages goodness.

Look at all these beautiful new release products - embellishment flower; rhinestone flourishes (which I have cut down to a smaller size); and felt leaves. The colours are just glorious. To get the cream pearls to match the papers, I simply coloured them with an orange copic pen.

Zva Creative products used: rhinestone flourish (CR-04CA-104); embellishment flower FL-04CA-130; pearls PE-02CB-101/CR-02CA-127); leaves (FL-04CA-111 and FL-04CA-112); and foam dots (AD01CB101 and AD01CB102). Other products used: Webster's Pages papers, vellum and alpha stickers; Carolees Creations mini alphas; Making Memories paint; black journalling pen; Helmar 450 quick dry adhesive; copic pen; ribbon edging; Helmar vellum spray.

The blog hop begins here: Kim Hughes http://paperhugs.typepad.com/paper_hugs/

Your next stop is here: Camilla Ekman: http://camillaslillasida.blogspot.com/

Thank you SO MUCH for joining us. Don't forget to come back and find out who the lucky winners are. Plus I will have some new inspiration to share with you too.

Pencil Lines Sketch #231

I can't believe it's here. My very last sketch with Pencil Lines as part of the Design Team. The past 15 months have been amazing for me. I have grown so much as an artist and scrapbooker, and I can't thank Anna Bowkis enough for providing me with this amazing opportunity. And I can honestly say, I have enjoyed every minute. So here it is - sketch #231.

Here's my take on my very last sketch. Titled: Sugar. I have used lots of Sassafras goodness from the Sweetly Smitten range (papers, stickers, foldies). And I have finished it off with some NEW RELEASE bling from Zva Creative (rhinestone flourish CR-04CA-128). I added masking tape to my background paper, and coloured it with Glimmermist. I also splattered the Glimmermist over the page.

Beautiful coloured flowers and butterflies - who can resist these when they look like cotton candy colours?

And the much talked about Foldies from Sassafras. Not sure about my feelings where these are concerned - I'm still playing and getting used to them. So the jury is still out on these. (-:

A Little Of This...

I took my two girls and one of their friends to the park today. We did a little of this...

And a little of this too...

I worked out how to use the Macro Function on my camera...(-:

They played in the park...

And got wet and dirty chasing tadpoles in the creek. All in all, we had a great day.

Jellybean!!!

Isn't she just the cutest thing ever!!! Such big whiskers for a little kitty cat.

Jellybean loves her sleep. Usually it is on my stack of scrap paper under my office desk. But on this day, the window view was just fine, lol! She is so tiny after having a Maine Coon. I've had to buy her a collar with a bell on it so I don't keep stepping on her. She likes to run under my feet. Yeah, I know it's dangerous. Try telling her that!!!

I have found my manual for my camera. So we are all off to the park this afternoon for some playtime, manual reading and photo practice. Yeah, and a little picnic under the trees...(-:

Last Minute...

I've left it till the last minute, but this month I have actually managed to complete the Crate Paper monthly sketch challenge. Can I say this layout started out totally different to what it ended up. Sigh! I don't know if that's a good thing or a bad thing? But what's done is done, and it's too late know to change anything. Titled: You At 7. I wanted to record some of Keana's favourite things at this age. I will do one for my other daughter shortly.

You see that lovely, sparkly rhinestone flourish? It's one of the new releases from Zva Creative (CR-04CA-124). They are so, so pretty. I have used some Zva Creative rhinestones as well, in the centres of the large flowers.

The sketch had a banner on the side, but it just didn't suit my page. So I moved the banner to the corner, and used cut out flowers instead. I like the end result.

I'm still fighting with my camera to get the detailed shots I want. I know I have a camera manual somewhere in this house, I just have to find it. (-: You see all those yellow and blue dots, that look like pearls? They are liquid pearls. Love playing with them. So much quicker and easier than using stick on pearls, especially when you have a lot to apply.

Color Combos Galore Challenge #185

I hope you like bright and cheerful, because that is what we have for you this week over at Color Combos Galore. This week, Challenge #185 includes Red, Chartreuse, Brown and White, and the challenge is to use unexpected patterns/prints. So, are you up for a fun challenge?

Here's my take on the challenge. Titled: Oh How She Sparkles. It's one of very few layouts I have ever done without journalling. I usually feel a layout is incomplete without journalling, but in this case, I felt the photos and title said it all. Sorry I don't have any detail shots, but I did this layout quite some time ago, before making the decision to show details. I absolutely loved these colours and the challenge, and I think I might have to do another one like this, lol!!!

Taking A New Approach...

After receiving some much needed advice from some very special friends, I have decided to take a new approach to how I photograph my layouts. From now on, I will include detail shots (where available). But you will have to bear with me while I learn how to do this. In the process of learning, I am probably going to take shots that are boring, too far away, too close, and the wrong angle. But if I don't start practicing now, I'll never get the hang of it. So please be patient with me while I teach my camera what I want to do, lol!!!

This layout above is one that I will be teaching at Arnold's in the near future - probably April, maybe May. Titled: It's A Crazy Life. The class will be a two layout class. The other layout is pictured below. If you are in the neighborhood and would like to attend the class, please call Arnold's to get the full details, or to make a booking.

Here's my first detail shot. You can see the sparkles on my banner, and the rhinestones on the circle. Lots of bling!!!

A little doodling, a little Glimmermist, and some punch work. And more rhinestones, lol!

Here's the second layout that I will teach in my class. titled: Beautiful. Unfortunately, I don't have any detail shots as I completed this layout a week ago, before I made this decision to take a new approach. If you have any feedback on my classes or new approach, I would love to hear it! Please feel free to leave a comment letting me know what you think.

No Strings Attached...

I went and saw this movie (No Strings Attached) with my girlfriend. Oh my goodness!!! It was so funny. We couldn't stop laughing and snickering. Seriously good stuff...unless you are a prude, or get embarrassed everytime someone says the word sex. If that's the case, then this movie is not for you. But if you can see the funny side of sex, and you have a sense of humour, then you will absolutely love this movie. Ashton Kutcher was super yummy (as expected), and I will definitely be getting this out on DVD to watch again. Can't wait!!!

Pencil Lines Sketch #230

I cannot believe how quickly time has been passing. Next week is my last week with Pencil Lines. Mmmm...might have to do something special for my layout??? Anyway, this week we have sketch #230 for you to play with. Our Guest Designer is Yoko Tsubaki. Please come and drop by the Pencil Lines blog. We'd love to see you join in the fun.

So here is my take on this week's sketch. Titled: Love These Girls. Yeah, I know, I've gone and used white, aqua and red again. I just can't help myself, lol!!!! I just adore those colours mixed together. My blue rhinestone flourish was the wrong shade of blue, so I simply coloured it with a copic pen to get a rich shade of aqua. Don't you just love being able to do that? Products used: My Mind's Eye papers; Scrap Matts hipboard; Prima flowers; Zva Creative rhinestone flourish; Zva Creative paper roses; Maya Road chipboard; American Craft Thickers; Glimmermist (Jazz Blue); masking tape; gesso; and Opal Dust.

Helmar USA Design Guest Designer Submission...

I love my glue. And in 5 plus years of scrapbooking, I think I have tried nearly every brand on the market. But I blame my addiction to Helmar glue on my good friend Jodi Dolbel. A number of years ago, I sat beside Jodi at a scrapbooking retreat, and she was playing with a huge tube of something. I asked her what it was and she said "Helmar 450 glue". It was the biggest tube of glue I had ever seen, and I was fascinated. I asked her if I could try some (I'd been having problems getting my Prima flowers to stay stuck to my pages, and Jodi promised that this stuff would stick anything down!!!). Needless to say, the rest is history! My Prima flowers stayed stuck, and I was hooked. As soon as I got back to Brisbane I went hunting for my own tube of Helmar glue. And to my total surprise, I found a whole range of stuff. I was in heaven!!! As you can see from my photo above, I use my glues ALL THE TIME!!! I would be lost without them, and I depend on them a lot. The four products you see in the picture are my main glue supplies - Scrap Dots, Acid Free glue, 450 Quick Dry, and 450 Clear Adhesive. Each serves a different purpose.

I use the Acid Free glue on my papers when I can't use adhesive tape. In this layout, I had used gesso, paint, glimmermist and opal dust in the background, and I wasn't sure if the paper would remain stuck down with tape. So I used the Acid Free glue instead. I knew it would definitely stick, and it wouldn't bubble or ripple. And you see all those raised cut out flowers? I used Scrap Dots on all the fine, small shaped areas where I couldn't get foam tape to fit. This way, the cut out flowers don't sag, fold, or bend. And because it dries clear, you can't see it. Got to love that!!!
Layout Title: Happy Princess. Products used: Pink Paislee, American Crafts, and Fancy Pants papers; kraft cardstock; Helmar Acid Free glue; Helmar Scrap Dots; My Mind's Eye rhinestones; American Crafts Thickers; masking tape; gesso; Glimmermist; and Opal Dust.

On this layout, I used the Helamr 450 Clear Adhesive to glue on all the Prima flowers. There's nothing I hate more than looking through my albums and seeing elements that have fallen off. With this glue, I have NEVER had a flower fall off. And I know if I send a layout away for publication, it will come back to me with all the elements still attached. And the die cut borders, and cut out flowers, I just stuck them down with the 450 Quick Dry Adhesive. Because it dries quickly, and clear, I don't have to wait forever to keep working on my layout.

Layout Title: Be Mine. Products used: Prima papers; Amercan Crafts cardstock; Helmar 450 Clear Adhesive; Helmar 450 Quick Dry Adhesive; Maya Road mini kraft tags; Spellbinders dies; Prima rhinestone flourish; Heidi Swapp rhinestone strips; Shimmerz Blingz.

I love the accordian flowers that are all the rage at the moment. But getting them to stay together can be a struggle. That's where the 450 Quick Dry adhesive comes in handy. I secure my accordian flowers by glueing small 1" punched out circles to the front and back of flower, with the 450 Quick Dry adhesive. It dries so quickly that I don't have to wait forever to keep working on my layout. To secure the accordian flower to my page, I simply add more glue to the back of the bottom-side circle, and place it on my layout where desired.

Layout Title: Love. Products used: My Mind's Eye papers; Kraft cardstock; Helmar 450 Quick Dry adhesive; Maya Road chipboard banners; Prima sequin flower centres; Hambly transparency; Zva Creative rhinestone strips; Autumn Leaves stamp; masking tape; vellum; Maya Road decorative pin; journalling pen.

I love the new bloomers ribbons that are on the market at the moment. And I love transparencies. However, sticking down both items can be a nightmare at times. Fortunately, my Helmar glue has saved me many times. For the ribbon bloomers, I simply squirt some 450 Quick Dry adhesive onto the back, and then press it down gently on my page, where desired. It dries quickly, and the bloomers don't move. You see that black owl transparency on my layout? I cut that out from a Hambly transparency but couldn't adhere it with foam dots because of the shape - they would have been visible. So I simply added Helmar Scrap Dots, wiped away any excess, and added it to my layout. The Scrap Dots dries clear so you can't see it under the transparancy - no white spots. Layout Title: Serene. Products used: American Crafts cardstock; Hambly tranparencies; Helmar Scrap Dots; Helmar 450 Quick Dry adhesive; Webster's ribbon bloomers; Prima flowers; Kaisercraft rhinestones; Making Memories felt brads; Hambly rub-ons; Heidi Swapp felt butterflies; Chatterbox metal flower brad.

Well, I hope that explains how I use my Helmar products. I know there are a lot more methods and techniques for using the Helmar products, that I have yet to discover - just give me time, I'll work them out eventually. (-: In the mean time, I plan to keep playing and having fun!!!

Color Combos Galore Challenge #184

Another week has rolled around already. Damn, it will be Christmas again before we know it, lol!!! This week at Color Combos Galore we are still with Fashion Week. Challenge #184 includes pale pink, dark pink, bronze-gold, and mustard seed. The Designer's Challenge this week is to use sheer ribbon. Or if that doesn't do it for you, take your inspiration from the photo.
Here's my take on this week's challenge, and believe me, it was a challenge!!!! After all, mustard seed isn't a colour I use much (or should i say, at all?). Thank goodness for Glimmermist - it saved the day again. My layout is titled "Always Believe In Yourself". My photograph isn't great, so I apologise for that. The afternoons(when I usually get photos done) here have been cloudy and overcast for a few days. You see that pretty flourish and flowers - that's a new Prima flourish. They are divine!!! And the background has been covered with Opal Dust but it doesn't show too well in the photograph. So, are you all ready for a scrappy weekend? I hope to get a couple of layouts done (or purge my stash if I get the time). (-:

Share Time...

Just a little something I created a few months ago but haven't yet had a chance to share. Titled: Love. This was an experimentation with vellum accordian flowers and chipboard banners (Maya Road). Plus I threw in a little masking tape and bling just to finish it off. (-: This has also become one of my favourites.

Zva Creative Project...

I've just finished my second March DT project for Zva Creative. Titled: Blessed Be These Angels. I've decided to pull out some Lily Bee papers from my Noel Mignon kits. And I even made a pocket with a tag, something I haven't done in a long time. (-: And I used beads - shock, horror!!! Do you see that green mist on my background? Well, that's a new colour from the Chalkboards Glimmermist range - Inchworm. Plus I got to play with my new Martha Stewart heart border punch - oh, so sweet. Zva Creative products used:CRB-03CA-110 (RHINESTONE FLOURISH); PE-02CB-110 (PEARL STRIPS); CR01CB113 (RHINESTONE STRIPS); PE-02CB-102 (PEARLS); BRBK02CA103 (PEARL BRAD); BRBK02CA102 (1/8" GEM BRAD); FL01CB112 (SILK FLOWERS); FL-01CB-114 AND FL01CB116 (FELT FLOWERS).

Pencil Lines Sketch #229

Over at Pencil Lines this week, we have sketch #229. Our guest designer is the lovely, and very talented, Tanya Tahir (another Aussie girl, yay!!!). I hope this sketch inspires you to come and join in the fun.

Here's my take on the sketch. Titled: Cute As... These are my new Harmonie papers (from Canada). My dear friend Ness (Scrap With V owner) tracked them down for me. I can't thank her enough because I just love these papers. They are kind of a cross between Bo-Bunny and Prima. Other products used: alphas from AC Thickers; and flower centres are from Prima.

No, We Are Not Equals...

Just a little message from Judi Dench and Daniel Crag. It may be a little message, but it is also a very important message. Please watch here: International Women's Day.

Not A Good Day...

Some mongrel ran over my beloved cat this morning. And I'm allowed to say mongrel because we live in a dead end street, shaped like an "L", right on the corner. So, whoever hit my cat should have been slowing down to go around a corner. But instead, the idiots in this street speed. This is a street filled with young children and pets, and they couldn't care less. I have lived here for more than 5 years, and the only pet to die on this street so far has been my cat. Pandora had only been with us for 2 years, but she was definitely part of the family. We drove all the way to Hervey Bay and back again, in torrential rain (it was the strat of Cyclone Larry if I remember correctly). Keana came down with the flu that morning, and I had it by midday. It was a long, long trip, but oh, so worth it! The hardest part is going to be waking up in the morning and not finding her on the end of my bed, waiting for her morning pat. I am going to miss her so much. She was my "other" baby. Rest In Peace my beautiful girl. I just hope there are lots of grasshoppers and lizards for you to catch where you are. Love Mummy, Daddy, Keana and Malayla. xxxx

Experimentation...

I decided to experiment. What happenes when you mix and layer masking tape, gesso, Opal Dust, Glimmermist and some masking? Well, I found out that this is what you get! So, what do you think? Yes? No? Maybe? I think I like it and this might be a more permanent part of my style on future layouts. Did I mention it was messy, took forever to dry between layers, but was lots and lots of fun!!!!! Products used: Noel Mignon "Play Date" and "Lemonade Stand" kits, Martha Stewart paper doiles, Heidi Swapp bling strips, Pink Paislee tickets.

Just A Little Something...

to share. I created this using a Pencil Lines sketch and the "Truly Scrumptious" kit from Noel Mignon. These are not the usual colours that I would play with, but I love the end result. I thought it was a good challenge to push myself out of my comfort zone again. (-:

I've just had a big box of goodies arrive on my doorstep. Do you want to know what was in it? The new Sweetly Smitten Sassafrass range, new Webter's Pages Spring Market, new Prima crystals and trims, some Glitz design papers (which I am absolutely in love with), and all the new Chalkboard colours from Glimmermist. I cannot wait to have some play time!!!!

Pencil Lines Sketch #228

Wow, I can't believe we are up to sketch #228 already. I have been with Pencil Lines since the beginning of 2010 (about 15 months in total), and we only have about 3 more sketches to go until the new Design Team is announced. How exciting is that? No, I have no idea who is going to be on the team - I have to wait just like everyone else. (-: But what I can tell you, is that this week's Guest Designer, is the amazing Nicole Pomeroy - one of my favourite scrappers (I'm a stalker - I stalk her blog all the time, lol!!!). Come on, make sure you drop by and check out all the inspiration from Nicole and the DT.

I had fun with this week's sketch because I got to play with some of the new Prima papers. Aren't they gorgeous!!! I just love the colours. My layout is titled "A Good Decision To Glow". (It's a play on the fact that I decided to have photos taken late in my first pregnancy, and the fact that I think I actually did glow). The rhinestone flourish and pearls are from Zva Creative (who else!!!), and I have outlined my die cut paper with Liquid Pearls (a new favourite product).

Scrapbooking Memories Publication...

I currently have another one of my layouts published in the latest Scrapbooking Memories magazine (Vol 13 No 4). This is actually one of my favourite layouts. Titled: Adventures With Daddy. I created this layout early last year when I purchased my first ever Noel Mignon Kit (Sonoma County, to be exact). You can find this creation on page 94, in the Masking Gallery.

There must be something wrong with me! I keep having this insane urge to do some sewing, but not on paper. I actually want to make something like a quilt, or maybe skirts for my daughters. The only problem with this, is that I haven't sewn anything in nearly 20 years. I can sew, but until now I've never had the desire to do anything. So, I think I may have to follow up with this and just get it out of my system. My poor sewing machine is going to die of shock, lol!!!

How's your weekend going? Mine just took an unexpected twist. I am actually going to have a child free night tonight. Woo-hoo!!! Uninteruppted scrapping time. (-: My eldest has gone out with a friend to go roller blading, and will sleep over at her friend's place tonight. And my youngest received an invitation this morning to go to a surprise Slumber Party tonight for her best friend's birthday. And it gets better - I am teaching next weekend at Arnolds, so one of my girlfriends has actually offered to take both my girls for Friday and Saturday night. I think I am going to have to get her an extra special thank-you present, lol!!! She deserves it. (-:

I nearly forgot to tell you the good news - I am picking up some new supplies this afternoon, plus I've just had the new Prima arrive on my doorstep, and I am expecting more new stuff next week (Zva Creative and Glitz). So I will have lots of new layouts with pretty new papers to share with you soon. Well, enjoy your weekend, and I will see you Monday morning for the new Pencil Lines sketch. Be happy, and be scrappy!!! (-: