So excited!!!

Hey girls, Yes I am up late!! I have had so much exciting news this past month, tonight being the top it all off night. Now I am so hyped up I can't sleep. And no I can't say what any of these exciting things are. DOH! Bursting at the seams here!

Just a reminder that voting has kicked off over at Once Upon A Sketch. You have until 12pm Friday night Australia time to get your votes in. And OK yes I'm playing along (as always). So many gorgeous entries, having trouble deciding who gets my vote!

Hope you all have an awesome weekend. I hope to get some new layouts done over the weekend and back here with something to show.

xox

Bird Is The Word September 25th Challenge

Another great challenge has just gone up over at Bird Is The Word this month. The challenge is to use 'You & Me' in either your title or journalling. I've used my new favourite range again, Glitz Design Vintage Blue. Can't seem to get enough lol! I love scrapping photos of myself and my DS as I really don't have that many. It has always been me behind the camera. According to Mitchell, now 14, having a photo taken with your mum is "gay". For a teenage boy this seems to be the worst thing that can ever happen to you. I've told him I would still love him if he was, though it hasn't helped my plight to try and get some happy snaps with him haha. BOYS!!

Stuff To Scrap September Challenge

Wow everyone seems to have been so busy doing challenges despite it being the end of the month. I have lots of blogs to catch up on! I've been offline the past 5 days after pulling a muscle in my shoulder. You know you are really unfit when your morning stretch puts you out of action for nearly a week lol!

So thought I would try and squeeze one more challenge in this month and have decided to have a go at the gorgeous sketch challenge by Rach over at Stuff To Scrap. As well as to use the sketch, you need to add stitching, chipboard ( Stuff 2 Scrap if you have it) and a butterfly/butterflies. I have hand stitched the star on my title, added a chipboard bracket and used my Martha Stewart punch to add some little butterflies. I've followed the sketch pretty much as is but had to move the title as it wasn't working in the corner ( Hope this ok?). This LO is a VERY different style than I normally do, I have been experimenting a lot this month trying to find what my little scrapping 'niche' may be. What do you think? Does it suit me? The jury is still out for me....

Also this week I got a little guest designer spot at Imaginarium Designs. You can check it out HERE.... and you have to check out some of the other gorgeous LO's displayed there, just amazing!

A2Z Scraplets September Challenge

My first time playing along with A2Z scraplets this month. The challenge is to use a sketch as well as A2Z chipboard if you have it. Unfortunately I used the last of mine a few layouts ago, one of their gorgeous swirly corner pieces, nevermind! So this photo is of my step DS, Tyler, who played guitar at our wedding along with a violinist. They both did such a beautiful job!

My Creative Sketches September Challenge

Over the weekend I had have lots of fun creating a layout for a new challenge blog called, My Creative Sketches. I tried experimenting with my papers with this one, and came with up some cute braided paper trims and matched those with some braided twine trim. It has been created using the new Alla-Prima range from Prima which I wasn't too sure if I liked it when it first arrived in the mail. But now that I have had a play with it, I am completely sold on it!

Once Upon A Sketch September 15th Challenge

Can never resist the awesome challenges over at OUAS. This month being no exception with a little quirky twist to the competition. As well as another fabulous sketch to work with and some journalling criteria, this month judging is up to the blog followers. This could be really interesting to see what type of layout everyone out there in blog land love! So here is my submission. Voting is all day on the 30th, if you like what I've created, it would be great if you could swing by OUAS and drop a vote my way =)

98% of the products used are from the new Pixie Glen range from Prima. I took a bit of a risk by using a soft palette. I know in photos the colors look more muted and on screen it doesn't pop as much as some of the darker colors I have used before. I'm really happy with how it came out though =)

My Mind's Eye September Challenge

Well ladies, I think I have had the most boring week in history. The economic downturn is not so slowly pushing my business of 9 years down the gurgler and I have been rattling around the house all week going out of my mind. I have always worked and don't know how to NOT work. So next time your at Coles doing your grocery shopping, make sure you take a good look at the check out chick as it could be me!

On the plus side, heaps of time to scrap! DH felt sorry for me ( God bless him!) and through $100 my way for some new goodies to keep me out of his hair and stop my whining lol. In among my new buys I purchased the fabulous new MME Lost & Found 2 Rosy & Sunshine ranges. SO stunning!!! The perfect opportunity to have a go at playing along with the MME challenge this month I say. The challenge is to use a sketch and the following in your title..."Back To ______". So here is my entry....

MME products used:

Lost & Found 2

Rosy - Ordinary Dream Paper

Rosy - Love Stamped Paper

Rosy - Ordinary Adventure Paper

Sunshine - Memory Blossom Paper

Sunshine - Lovely Sewing Paper

Sunshine - Sunshine Music Paper

Rosy - Love Layered Chipboard Stickers

Sunshine - Memories Layered Chipboard Stickers

Laundry Line - Rub On Alphas

Scrap For Help September Challenge

I am playing along again this month with the gorgeous ladies over at Scrap For Help. The challenge this month is to create a layout inspired by spring. And as always, with a focus on recycling. I had such fun creating this layout although it was a but of a mammoth effort. This is actually my first ever work on canvas. It was so nice not to have to worry about my paper buckling when adding art mediums!

So, my entire background has been created from a magazine. I normally drop all my read magazines in my local charity bin but had held onto this particular mag as it had the most wonderful photo shoot of Jessica Stam draped in tie dyed fabric which was just magical! I'm so glad I kept it now! The color palette I have chosen, pink and purple, isn't really used for boys but I thought if you can ever get away with it, you can when you layout is inspired by spring! I also figure, in the spirit of recycling, I have now used up all my purple and pink bits from my stash that I probably would have never otherwise used! Oh, and yes my baby is a "Spring" baby, he was just short of being born on the first day of spring which is September 1st. He was born at 7pm on September 2nd!

The magazine I used ....

Let's Get Shabby

I am really beginning to enjoy expanding my style to shabby chic layouts. So, I thought would test my skills in this genre this month with an entry to the fabulous Let's Get Shabby. The challenge is to be inspired by an item for sale or that has been sold from this gorgeous little etsy shop selling alll sorts of little vintage scrapping treasures, Tallulah Bells. Which also happens to be this months challenge sponsor! So here is my creation using the new Prima Pixie Glen range....

And the photo that was my inspiration is this one. I just love this color palette - 

Bird Is The Word Share Challenge

Another great challenge has just started over at Bird Is The Word this month. The challenge is to use the word share in either your journalling or title. And let me tell you the hardest part for me was that one little word lol! But I am really glad it was such a challenge as it pushed me to think outside the box a little. I ended up writing a haiku about my baby boy...

My Glitz Design CHA releases that I have been babbling about the past few months have finally showed up. Only took almost 6 weeks LOL! Had lots of fun playing with these and can't wait to create more!

Bird Is the Word Memory Challenge

My entry to one of the current challenges over at Bird Is The Word this month. The challenge, to use the word Memory or variations on your layout. This is my first attempt at Shabby Chic. Took me a while to find my groove but I think I got there in the end and am pretty happy with what I've created. Apologies for my wonky photo taking...

The photo is of Mitchell, my DS. Born in summer, he loved spending naked time after a bath on his quilt in the sun underneath our bay window. He would kick his legs madly, wave his arms around and sequel with delight, as if discovering for the first time that he can control his body. It always used to make me laugh and get me teary at the same time...

Now older this particular photo has become a tool of blackmail. Do as you are told or I will post this photo on facebook, tag you and then all your friends will see you naked...Works a treat =)

xox

Once Upon A Sketch September 1st Challenge

Here is my entry for this fortnights Once Upon A Sketch challenge. I just love these challenges and try to participate in every one! Nadia's sketch was so fun to work with and I didn't need to change a thing about it, it was magic! So as well as using the sketch this month, your journalling and title challenge is to document a significant year in your life. Mine was the year my son was born, not very original I know but I don't think anything would come close to this as being a special year for so many reasons. Looking back I had no idea at the time how much his arrival would change my life. I think before having him, I never knew that such an unconditional, intense, I would die for you, love ever existed...So anyway, here it is...

Stuck On U Sketches September Challenge

I had lots of fun entering last months challenge at Stuck On U Sketches so thought I would have another go again this month. So this layout is of Jess my step DD. I so love this photo, it just captures her easy going nature so beautifully....

From Screen To Scrap September Challenge

This is my first ever entry to Screen To Scrap. I've been a follower now for a while and always wanted to enter a challenge but never seemed to either have the right photo or to have all the right items in my stash. As soon as I saw the current challenge I jumped at the chance as I finally had everything I needed. So the challenge this month is to be inspired by the movie poster Rio. I have gone with the theme of crazy animals. And also to have a one word title, use red, yellow and blue and a bird. What a list hey but I managed to do it all... PHEW!

These photos are of our gorgeous cat Oscar. Prior to discovering scrapbooking, my evenings were spent on the couch watching TV with a lap at his disposal. Now my evenings are spent locked away in my craft room he has become quite jealous and insists on becoming part of my creative process. Here he is stuffing his quite substantial rear into a pasta bowl that I use for paper scraps. Other antics include walking through paint, going to sleep on a project I am right in the middle of, or if I go for a quick coffee knock an entire 'just have to glue together' finished project on the floor!

If your not a huge cat fan, you can skip this bit....

I have to show a photo of how he sleeps. Ever since he was a kitten my son would carry him around on his back like a baby I (and still does). Now this is the way he is most comfortable and likes to sleep or be held. He honestly looks like road kill when he is out to it. He is one of the craziest and sweetest cats I have had ( and there has never not been a cat in my life since I was born)...

Giveaways Galore

It seems everyone is having a giveaway this month. My stash is looking pretty sad at the moment so sign me up for everything!

The first giveaway is a huge one by the very talented Lisa Amiet. Check out her blog for all the rules, it really is such a generous giveaway!

The second by the gorgeous Rachael Funnell who is having not one but two giveaways to celebrate the one year anniversary of her blog. Just hop on over to her blog to check it out and also have a browse through her amazing layouts while you are there! This is what you have a chance of getting - 

And lastly, but certainly not least, you have the chance to win one super stunning my funky valentine scrapbooking kit from Pixie Dust Paperie . How good does this look! Head on over to their blog for all the details...