Instagram Mini

I love instagram. I have to confess it was a big part of my desire to jump on the iPhone bandwagon.

I stumbled upon this gorgeous little book at The Crazy Store (R10) and immediately knew exactly what I wanted to do with it.

Approximately 4" high 5.8" wide

 It is styled almost like an autograph book - remember them? And it has a little elastic closure.

Two offcuts, corner rounded with title : My Life in Instagram

The first thing I did was set up a template in Word and then I just inserted my Instagrams of choice - I fitted 6 on a page with dimensions of 3.5" square.

I then grabbed some paper offcuts and cut 'borders' for each of my photos - 3.5" x 1" and I corner rounded only the outlying edge of each border.

I stamped the adjacent pages with random template stamps and kept my journalling short and simple.

I added some fun stamping with Stazon directly to some photos.

Gave my acrylic stamps a spin - it's been years since they saw the light of day!

Some 7Gypsies also found daylight - I love this particular library stamp!

Fun colour and journalling blocks

The entire album took only 90mins to finish and I am so excited to finally have a little book to add my favourite pictures as I take them.

First Day of School for Lulu!

My submission for ScrapAfricas first challenge. :-)

Scrap Africa is Born

I have been inspired to start scrapping again by a challenge posted on a brand-new local Scrap Africa blog. I must thank these ladies for stirring my creative spirit once again.





I am currently unpacking my (many) unused kits and beginning to work on the first challenge they have posted which is due by 9 Feb. Quick - pop over and take a looksee and join in the fun!

Mini Break

We spent one night at Old MacDaddy's and fell in love. A simple layout with many pictures but kept clean and simple.

I really need some tips in photographing my layouts....dang they dont look so hot!! All skew and weird colours.

The Fashionista

My daughter has always had an eclectic dress sense and this fun layout just captures is beautifully.

Overcoming a fear

This layout speaks about my long term fear of a nearby mountain pass and how my family have helped me overcome it.

Me @ 38

So another year has crept by and I am kicking myself for missing my "mel @ 37" last year. BUT not deterred here is my "Me at 38".

Apologies for dodgy camera work - cellphone had to suffice today.

Journalling as follows:

think this may well have been the hardest year for me. Not in terms of dealing with kids or any external stuff. Purely dealing with myself. The real me. Whoever she is. I think my wheels started spinning a few weeks before my 38^th birthday when I got vertigo – Outwardly I appeared fine but internally I was a mess. Once diagnosed I was relieved but I still had to deal with the condition which ended up lasting almost 4months. During this time I came face to face with my demons. My anxiety hit an all time high – I couldnt stop worrying about everything. My body responded with more and more weird symptoms and so the cycle continued.

I have slowly fought my way back from the edge. I have looked into that deep pit called Anxiety. I may have dipped a big toe in it but thankfully I managed to turn my back and walk in the other direction. Toward Hope. Toward Grace. Toward Faith.

This has been a year of discovery. Of finding what really matters to me and finding ways to execute a meaningful existence. I dont want life to happen around me. I want to drink it, taste it and feel it every day. I never want to look back with regret. Ever.

See my other *birthday* layouts here.

I am back!

So, 17 months later (it feels much longer!) I have picked up my paper and glue and begun to scrap again.

My children are begging me to continue. My husband is missing the mini albums I used to do annually. I hadnt really realised how much I missed it until I got going again this afternoon....

This layout is FULL OF STUFF. Can you tell I was enjoying my long last stash? I had such fun even though it is much busier than my usual style. (usual style??? cant even remember it!)




The journalling is tucked in the envelope - I has simply printed out one of my blog posts regarding my relationship with my lad.

Photo quality dodgy as taken with my cellphone but you get the idea, yes?

Thanks for looking!

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