November LO's

My camera is on the blink so apologies for the less-than-stellar pictures...

Its THAT time of year again

Yup, simply days before I hit 37.

Many of you know that each year I do at least one layout about myself around my birthday. I have done this since I was 32 . Its great for me to look back and catch glimpses of our my life has changed over the years.


Bear in mind - this is my debut back into the world of the scrapbooker. So...be gentle.




Go here to see all the previous LO's and journalling if you interested!

Break in Transmission

Cant believe its been 4 months and some days since I scrapped!

Well, Hooli has been home with me so I guess that would count for something...but I have done quite a few LO's in the last few days and will get them up later today.

That is ... of course...if anyone still visits here!!

xxx

Shamelessly Scraplifting...

I decided to let chaos reign, children whine and mess accumulate today. I continued my scrappy streak which started last night around 9pm..... Last night I printed out some of my fav layouts with the notion to lift them today. Take a look.


Kim's layout...I loved the freshness, the amazing multiphoto yet uncluttered look.


My take was pretty much a straight lift, with Kim's layouts you either lift it as closely as possible or risk missing the mark completely. I opted with the former and am very happy with the result.
I should have waited for good light to photograph it but am FAR too impatient for that.....


This is a lift from the Cocoa Daisy gallery. Designer, Christine, did this linear, fresh approach that I simply love. This is the second of her layouts that I have lifted.

Her layout:

My take. Also taken in dusky light. *sigh*


Thanks for looking!

Two for Show and Giveaway Fun!

First up : a scrappy giveaway....go take a looksee over at http://rasberrydt.typepad.com/




I am thoroughly enjoying using the Cocoa Daisy kits. The first LO is the April kit and the last one is the May kit.

I am plan to make space next week to do a few more. I have printed out a few of KJ's LO's as inspiration ....

Ah. I scrapped!

These pages have been lying on my table for 2 weeks, just waiting to be dollied up. Today I looked at them and thought -

Dang! They look just fine and my kids wont care that they are simple and not full of layering and stash. So without further adieu....

My tribute to Levi on the (almost) eve of his 3rd birthday.

(okay, the black dot is supposed to be BETWEEN the Pictures and Words but it slipped and I ait photographing it again...)

The other layout has photographed well, its too blown out so will post it again later. Off on the school run.

Two for You

I scrapped 2 quick LO's last night. I have yet to tuck into my new Cocoa Daisy kit.....

These papers came with some cheapie Christmas kit I got the kids from CNA a week ago and I like them so much I decided to nab them!





My Capie pals - how is this amazing weather? My kids were swimming this weekend. Love it!

Frustration

Its almost 11pm and blogger is refusing to co-operate but I will try again tomorrow to upload some of my LO's.

Its been a while.....!

Part Deux of Mels Mojo Madness

Todays layouts are all from the Cocoa Daisy kit(s). Yesterdays post - 2 of the 3 where CD kits. Hanging Out and Goodbye Honey. The Swim one was my own stash.

**************

The layout below is for the Cocoa Daisy Scraplift challenge - all about paper piecing....not my cup of tea but I decided to t.r.y. anyway. I pieced/wove a sheet of papers together. Stuck them on a separate sheet of cardstock and then cut my accents from them.

A nice, clean layout was born. Am happy with it; despite the lack of journalling. I felt justified in swerving the journalling as this photo has already been scrapped in my Glimpses of 2008 album....

This layout tells the tale of our family photo last Christmas...

Okay, here is this story... This is my first attempt at documenting 1 JAn 2009. I felt the layout looked bland and unfinished. I was hesitant to add anything because I wanted the layout to stay clean and uncluttered. I posted it to the CD gallery and immediately LOATHED IT.

So - I added to it....I think it looks w-aaa-y better. What you say? The journalling strips, paper clip and vine round out the visual triangle and make it far more pleasing to my eye.

Thanks for looking! Now saaaayy something....please? Good or bad or indifferent!

The Unveiling of my Mojo

It may take a few days to reveal all my layouts as I am having significant connectivity issues. I am currently using a ridiculously unstable 3G connection....so will try upload and see how we go.


But FIRST: Go check out Sue's Beautiful Things giveaway....

That is all I have time for but will upload the next batch shortly!

Randomness and Pontifications

A quick layout on a Monday morning is sooooo much more fun that cleaning the kitchen, dontcha think?




Happy Monday folks.

Cheating in Style

I do believe I have mentioned in previous postings that I do not indulge in 'event scrapping' which translates to the fact that I have done exactly ONE christmas layout to date. I did it as an assignment, not a choice.

I do not enjoy 'theme' pages - easter, christmas, birthdays etc. Christmas freaks me out the most because of all the pictures that are taken. I have a large family. We have many gatherings and I always feel utterly overwhelmed at the thought of scrapping our Christmas shindigs.

So I cheated. I have bought a pre-designed Christmas album from Making Memories. Its not even a little bit cheesy. (IMO anyway!) Its got lots of 3-d elements, a corduroy cover and is, frankly, a whole lot more attractive than anything I would put together.

I plan to round up many many photos - get a-cropping and a-sticking and have my Christmas scrapping up to date in about 25minutes! Woo hool

Just call me Prolific

Yes, another one people. CAn you believe it? Feast or famine over here! My scrap table looks like its been ransacked. LOL




It seems the key to my mojo is to have the photos + the story READY (ie not in my head) and then the LO flows relatively easily. The colour looks a bit skwonk but its the best I could do.

In other ridiculously exciting news....I signed up with Cocoa Daisy Kit Club! After seeing KJ's stash arrive month after month I simply could not contain myself any longer! Thankfully, I have a very supportive man who finds my passion every bit as meaningful as I do.

I am expecting my Feb / March kits in the next week or so. And I just checked out the sneak preview of Aprils kit....Omiword people. Utterly gorgeous, my fav thus far.

Anyway, more scrappy news tomorrow....another new purchase I want to share with you. Stay tuned!

Solo Artist

I used [by my standards] vast quantities of stash on this layout. Paper, ink, stickers, buttons, rub-ons, metal embelleshment and gaffer tape.



The latest offering : I had to document Levi's affinity for music. It is not simply a passing toddler phase. It is a deep rooted need in him - to hear music and to play music. I cannot wait to see where his passion takes him in this life.




Please note the [many] dimensional elements on this page.....I always struggle with dimension as mine often appears kinda lame but I do think they worked this time.

That makes me HAPPY!

[the Blogger-mad spacing is not part of my creative escape.....]

Stolen Moments

We arrived home from Mcgregor around 3pm....the girls became ensconced in a Disney movie. The boys were mowing and doing all things outdoors.

I pottered off to unpack the bags....but not before my eyes wandered to my scrap table and spied the 30-odd pics I had printed on Thursday. Especially to be scrapped.

Now my history with photos is NOT good. Those lost photos of some weeks HAVE NEVER surfaced. I told myself its definitely best to SCRAP immediately. The unpacking can wait.



I love this simple, colourful and fun layout. Captures the boy completely.

Cocoa Daisy Scraplift

So I decided to start and apply myself to some challenges online. Kim posted about CD Scraplift challenge on her blog...and with that AC stuff up for grabs....I simply could not pass it by.

Here is the original....


And here is my 30minute take:

Amazing how quick it is with a sketch. The girls swam and I scrapped f.a.s.t. while the boy slept. Am hoping to kickstart my creative side again.

I did receive some AWESOME happy mail today. I must photograph and share it with you .

Tomorrow!

Little Shop Entry

LSOS sketch looks like this:


My entry looks like this: This pic was taken almost 2 yrs ago. Nostalgia biting hard....

Something To Share {at last}

Finally I have 2 layouts to post. I am not overly ecstatic with either of them but am hoping that just by fiddling with paper and glue I will regain my desire to scrap.

This one I did for one of KJ's challenges last year but just felt it didnt quite fit the requirements.

It chronicles 'Just Another Sunday' and speaks of the everyday things in our lives.

I did this one about a week ago. I was trying to get over the fact that my photos are lost for ever and always. So I just grabbed the nearest pics and worked with stuff scattered on my work surface. I just wanted to get going again.

I am not unhappy with the LO but as a journaller it troubles me that it doesnt say much....but I will let that go for now and just enjoy it!

Kids Bedrooms

Apologies off the bat for those that have seen these LO's. I know I posted them on my other blog around June-ish last year. I think I may have attracted 2 new readers (!!) so this may be new to them!


I am still stoked with these, not because of any great design element but simply because they capture each child's room so beautifully. I remember a few of you saying you were keen to do a similar thing for your kids....so? Have you?



Anyway ladies, thanks for faithfully reading and I do hope to have some fresh content soon. The stinker is that the story of the missing photos persists, so I am going to HAVE to get them reprinted. As Vicki says....as soon as I reprint, then I shalt find them!

xx

Can I still be a scrapper?

Its been many, many sleeps since I even thought about scrapping. School holidays here in SA started early Dec and the kids only go back next week Wednesday.

I am desperate to scrap. There I said it. Desperate. It feeds my very core. My frustration levels are very high due to the fact that I have mislaid my photos.....see my daily blog (13/1)for details.

I thought I would share the photo I want to scrap first. I am not sure of the journalling that will accompany it but it will be of a reflective nature. I cannot believe how my 3 (particularly my littlest) have grown and developed this year. Of course, the pic will be cropped and shopped to within an inch of its former glory....


Time is water through our fingers.

Watch this space for new LO's soon!