Not too long to go now ...

until the new challenge goes up at Scrap Jacked!  Bec has now introduced the entire Scrap Jacked team and will soon start showing off the prizes you can win by entering our January challenge.  We'd love you to become a follower so you don't miss any news!  First challenge goes up on January 5th ... so keep your eyes peeled here.

I've been having some fun playing along with a few challenges ...

Whilst I was feeling the Christmas spirit, I decided to do this month's challenge at Kraft It Up!  The challenge is to scrap a Christmas photo using non-traditional colours & knots ... so I knotted the thread through my buttons & I'm sure that pink, orange, green & blue are pretty non-traditional :).

I'm still on a mission to find my boy mojo so I went looking for some inspiration at Scrap the Boys.  This month the question is ... is your boy a Dancer or a Prancer?  Well, mine is BOTH!  He's the biggest show-off & loves nothing more than letting his big sister dress him up & dancing around.  My daughter's dance teacher says that he gallops better than some of her girls LOL!

Only one more sleep to go ...

Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas!  I hope that you have a wonderful day filled with lots of love & here's hoping for a fantastic 2011 filled with lots of paper fun xx

This is what has taken over our lives ...

Everyone says that it's a kitchen that sells a house ... let's just say that wasn't true in our case LOL.  We bought our house about eight years ago & instantly hated the red kitchen ... surprisingly, for the size that it was, it had minimal bench space ... but it's taken us until this year, and the appliances falling apart, to finally get it done.

There was tonnes of storage but the height of the overhead cupboards meant that when we needed a new fridge it wouldn't fit, so that space became a parking spot for the high chair.

The flooring (lino & masonite underlay) was a nightmare to remove & took us FOREVER!  If we ever see another floor staple we won't be responsible for our actions LOL.  The floor's not finished yet ... our poor floor man has fourteen jobs currently on the go so he just fits everyone in as needed, but it's going to look amazing.

We still have the plasterer & electrician to come in finish off their jobs (LOL will be so happy to have our fridge back where it belongs) but OMGoodness what a difference!  It looks so much lighter & brighter & we have tonnes more usable space.   

So after month or so of having furniture piled into the lounge room, no kitchen & using the laundry to cook our toast, I'm SOOOO ready to get creating again.  I think I've been having withdrawals LOL!

The secret is out ... some exciting news to share :)

I'm so ridiculously excited that Bec has asked me to be part of the new ScrapJacked team!  Keep an eye out for lots of changes, challenges and introductions to the new Design Team (we are a varied bunch with lots of different styles).

Each month, we will show you our creations & your objective is simply to get inspired.  More than anything, we just want you to have fun & we're hoping that we can help keep those creative juices flowing & use that stash that always seems to grow ... not sure how that happens *wink*.

Over the next couple of weeks, Bec will be introducing the Design Team as well as details about the great prizes for our very first challenge ... a big welcome to kick off the start of a new era.  Check it all out at ScrapJacked!  We'd love you to become a follower so that you don't miss out on any of our exciting news or challenges.  

Kraft It Up's November Challenge & the trouble with boys {layouts, that is}!

There's been a lot of chatter lately at Scrap Therapy about the things we find hard to scrap.  For me, that would be boy layouts.  My gorgeous boy's album is bare when compared to my daughter's & sheesh, do I feel guilty LOL!!!  He's the funniest little boy & I have so many hilarious details to record but, for some reason my boy mojo is sadly lacking.  So I made a deal with myself ... no stamping, no card challenges & definitely no girly layouts until I do some layouts for my little man.

Luckily, I found heaps of inspiration at both Kraft It Up & Scrap The Boys!

Kraft It Up's November challenges was to use kraft of course & decorative edges.  Think diecut papers, border punches, decorative strips, pompom trims etc.  So here's what I came up with :)!

Unfortunately, our kitchen renovation has taken over our lives so that's it as far as creating goes!  My Scrap the Boys layout is sitting half-completed but will have to stay that way for another week or so :(.  We've had a huge couple of weeks ripping up masonite underlay stapled to our timber floors ... OMGoodness I NEVER want to see another floor staple in my life & it's going to be hectic for a little while yet!  The good news is that this time next week life should return to normal & we'll have our new kitchen ... yay :).  

Woohoo, the addiction continues ...

It's time for another release of High Hopes stamps :)!  Sneak peeks begin on Monday with more peeks during the release of their latest challenge on Tuesday.

Then the Blog Hop and release is Wednesday, December 1st.  Fingers crossed that Santa brings me some for Christmas *wink*!

High Hopes Challenge 95

This week's challenge at High Hope's is to create a Stair Step card ... something I've never done before.  I was so inspired by what the High Hope's team had created that I couldn't resist giving it a go myself :)!

Now I have huge plans to do the same with my High Hope's Christmas stamps so watch this space *wink*.

Happy Sunday!

Ahhh ... it's quiet ...

and, surprisingly, a little hard to get used to!

Thursdays are now "my day" ... both my hooligans are out of the house on Thursdays so I have about six hours to myself.  So far, I'm having some trouble getting used to the absence of kid noise & I'm definitely not making the most of my spare time.  LOL Don't worry though, I'm sure I'll get used to it *wink*!

This week I played along with the sketch challenge at CPS-Card Sketches.  It's a nice, easy one that has lots of possibilities. I'm on a bit of a stash-busting exercise ... I mean how much paper do I really need *rolling eyes* ... so for this card I used scraps from Basic Grey's Wisteria range.

And a boy card inspired by Card Patterns sketch 87 using Basic Grey's Oliver range.

I also used this week's Mojo Monday sketch & "Juggles" to create a card for High Hope's birthday card challenge.  If you are in Australia & are looking for High Hopes stamps, be sure to check out Amy's story ... Stampin' Stuff.  Just don't blame me when the addiction starts LOL!

This week's challenges ...

... and there have been a few this week, that's for sure! My car broke down so I was without it for a week, then my daughter & I got sick & we had the "whooping cough that wasn't whooping cough" dramas. SOOOOO glad that week is now over & may the next be easier LOL. Anyway, even though we're having to climb over Mt Washmore to get past ... housework or create? Duh, like it's even a question LOL!!!

You still have time to enter this month's cybercrop challenges at Scrap Therapy. But not that long ... your creations need to be uploaded by midnight tonight. There are some gorgeous creations in the gallery already :)!

Here's my take on Allie's sketch challenge.

The photo doesn't show it that well but I had heaps of fun painting, inking & glimmermisting. Apologies to Mellie for glimmermisting her hair LOL! Nah, not really THAT sorry ...

And extra points should be given for dimensional magic-ing (if that's even a word ?!) the challenger, Miss Jolly's, surname onto my entry :). My version of Helen's card sketch ...

Also, for Lisa's hidden journalling challenge, I decided to write a letter to myself.  After battling PND since the birth of my son, I finally feel like I've kicked its butt for good & I'm SO ready to make some changes.  I wanted to create a layout to remind me of the important things & where I want to be in a year's time. So stay tuned & I WILL add that photo ...

And whilst the mojo was around, I joined in the sketch challenge at Cardabilities. Yep, I know, but it's not like the housework is going anywhere, is it LOL?!!

How gorgeous is this sketch?!  I've used a combo of My Mind's Eye & Webster's papers.

High Hopes Challenge 92

Gosh, it's been one of those weeks already & it's only just started!

This is a very quick post to upload the card I created for this week's High Hopes challenge.  It was an easy, peasy one ... simply use red & green with a High Hopes stamp!  I hope you get some time to play along too :).

It's time to get arty ...

Get ready to paint, ink, mist & generally make one big scrappy, arty mess because it's cybercrop time again at Scrap Therapy & our theme is ART ATTACK! The fabulous DT have created four fantastic challenges to inspire us. Check it all out here!

Load your entries into the gallery by midnight Monday 25th October to be in the running for a $15 plus $1 for every entry in store voucher.

Looking for Webster's Pages?

It has landed & can be found at Scrap Therapy! I couldn't wait to have a play with the "Waiting for Santa" & "Sweet Season" petite collection pack. As always, Webster's have outdone themselves with every beautiful, tiny detail. How can you not make gorgeous Christmas cards with papers like these?!!

Sassy L'il Sketches have gone card sketch crazy in celebration of World Cardmaking Day. Each Monday, in the month of October, they are releasing a brand new card sketch. This one was made using sketch #1.





I was also inspired by the current CPS-Card Sketches sketch for this one. You made need to squint a bit to find the original sketch but I promise it is in there ... somewhere LOL!





And finally, one created using another fabulous Mojo Monday sketch.





It's nearly the end of another weekend here *boohoo* ... I hope you've had a great weekend too :)!

World Card Making Day :)

Well today is World Card Making Day so I happily sat down to join in some card challenges. Like I need any excuse right LOL?!!



Firstly, my favourite stamp blog is celebrating their birthday so they're hosting a sketch challenge this week & giving away some wonderful stamps in celebration. Check it all out at highhopesstamps.blogspot.com.



I think I may have mentioned it once or twice how much I love these stamps LOL!



Next I had fun playing along with this week's sketch at Cardabilities. Karan always posts great sketches ... it's so easy to create beautiful cards using her sketches.





Last, but not least, is this week's super simple and fantastic sketch at Card Patterns.





Hey Mellie, if you're reading this, I created them all using Cosmo's gorgeous DeLovely papers just for you ... ;) mwah xxx

We're cybercropping at Therapy!

yep, it's that time again :)! The DT have set four great challenges, there are FABULOUS prizes & we always have a heap of fun. Check it all out here ...

The fun started on Friday night when Helen hosted a blind card & layout scrap. I LOVE the result I ended up with!



Best of all, Lee-Anne has extended the deadline to midnight Sunday of the following weekend! So that means no more excuses ... we now have 10 whole days to complete & upload our entries.

Here's my take on Bec's Bower Bird challenge. These challenges are so cool!



Helen's card sketch challenge. I loved it so much I had to make two!





Also, the CC prizes have been increased to a voucher for $15+$1 for each person who enters the challenge :). Who wouldn't LOVE to win that?!! Especially as a little birdie mentioned that there maya be a shipment of yummy goodies arriving this week *wink*.

Ok, I'm off now to do the other two challenges ...

Yay! Cosmo has landed ...

at Scrap Therapy! My favourite of their new ranges is Pixie-Licious & I couldn't wait to play with it. As luck would have it, Helen issued a surprise challenge & all we needed to do was take out our newest goodies & start creating ... I didn't need to be asked twice LOL!

These cards have been inspired by the following sketch challenges.













How cute is that mouse stamp?! It's called "Loves Ya This Much" from High Hopes latest release.

High Hopes Challenge 86

The latest challenge at High Hopes was to create anything but a card so I decided to make a name plate for my daughter's bedroom!

We prettied up Rachel's room a few weeks ago so this challenge came along at the perfect time ... it's now VERY girlie with lots of pink & sparkles, fairies & butterflies so I wanted the name plate to be the same :). The High Hopes stamp I used is Tutu Sweet ... isn't she pretty?!

Just a reminder ...

that today is the last day to upload your Scrap Therapy challenges to the gallery! You have until midnight tonight.

I managed to get three challenges done. Lisa set the sketch challenge this month & what a fantastic sketch it was too! We had to include a handmade element so I made some VERY dodgy flowers LOL.



Allie's challenge was to include journalling on a photo as well as add something handmade to the layout. One of my favourite songs is "Let Them Be Little" by Lonestar & I've been wanting to add those lyrics to a layout for such a long time ... this challenge was PERFECT! My handmade element is the clouds that I cut out of some October Afternoon patterned paper as well as including my favourite High Hopes stamp "Cuddle Cloud Baby" that I coloured with watercolour crayons.





Lastly, Helen's card challenge was to include a handmade frame so I made one out of beads.



The challenges for September will be revealed on Friday night so why not pop on over & check them out.