Friday 29 March 2013

Processes, Teaching & Videos

Hello hello :) Hope all you guys are well!!

So over the last month I have had an influx of emails from you guys wanting to know my processes, if I teach anywhere and if I do instructional videos. So I thought I might do a post just for this purpose for anyone that is interested. It may be a long one :)

Ok, so my 'process' would be far too long to explain but I can tell how I approach things?
This is my craft space..see that word up above my desk? That I guess would be my key word if you like. 



This is what I recommend all new scrapbookers do ( I still think of myself as new too!). It is how you find your own individual style, how you find what works for you and what doesn't and the fact that it can be really fun is also a bonus. 2 out of every 3 projects I do can be 'experiments' that never even make it to my blog.  I  keep my desk neat but when I create it looks like this...


I also keep a visual art diary. If I get an idea for a new technique for paper, I try it out here, if I get an idea for a more complex page or off the page project, I might sketch it out here first. Also, I take my time, honestly it can take me 8 hours to do a page. I shuffle stuff constantly, I walk away and do something else, come back and see if I still like it, shuffle again etc. Which brings me to videos.

So up until today I was a little technologically challenged when it came to my video camera but now I think I have it sorted. I just have to work out now how I get a 8 hour layout into a watchable tutorial lol. I never thought anybody would be interested in little old me and what I do :)

Teaching workshops...just had my first taste of this and am keen to do more. It is something that normally comes around when you can get sponsorship by your manufacturer if you are on a larger design team. I have yet to apply for any of these, maybe this year?

So think that's it! On my pledge to show more and give tips, techniques whatever, here is what I worked on today.

I brought a molding mat in a crackle design that is meant for clay and had the idea that I could use it with texture paste on a canvas. I really loved the effect, I had to use quite a dark mist to bring up the crackles.




But...I found that the whole grungy theme of my canvas + the dark color made it look a bit like a Finnabair lift. I adore her work so much which is why I would prefer mine to be different and I think it is important to try not to be influenced by your scrappy idols too much. So I wiped all the mist off with a baby wipe and some of the stenciling too. Yeah the dark looks better right? Canvases are great like this, almost everything wipes off including ink as long as it's not permanent.



I replaced some of my crackle effect with a stamp and this is what it ended up looking like in the end....






This is not something that I would bother showing normally on my blog but you get the idea. So now I've mastered the technique, not created anything fabulous with it but I have learnt and next time I will maybe use it with a more contemporary layout or a brighter colored mist.

Have an awesome easter girls :)
Georgia xox

Tuesday 26 March 2013

7 Dots Studio & Glitz Design

Morning all :) Dropping by for a few shares today..

I had so much fun with the last 7 Dots Studio challenge, I thought I would have another go this month. This time, it is a flea market challenge.... "focus on small finds, littering our drawers: pins, safety pins, staples, paper clips, wooden clips, hair pins, buckles and anything similar will come to you to mind". This kind of challenge is right up my alley, my project includes some old pieces of jewellery, paperclips, hole fasteners, scraps of muslin, mesh, a memo holder and a label frame.





And the second challenge is one from another of my favourite manufacturers, Glitz Design. I have been wanting to scrap this photo for ages but didn't want to use the traditional neutral/dark tones of most vintage ranges. The whole 50's vibe of Cashmere Dame was perfect for this photo of my mum getting her sexy on back in the 60's, hard to believe she is now 73!






Thanks for stopping by and hope you are all having a fantastic day no matter what you are doing :) G xox

Tuesday 19 March 2013

More Notebooks :)

Hey there :) 
Just a quick share today of some more notebooks - I told you I was addicted didn't I? These are 'just because' projects. And I can tell you it feels like sooo long since I had time to just do something other that design team/publishing related stuff so I really enjoyed making these!
These will be for sale along with some other items in our new 'handmade' category of our store where you will find pre-made scrapbooking pages, cards and altered items. 
To check it out click here







Thanks for stopping by :)
G xox

Friday 15 March 2013

7 Dots Studio Last Minute Love Challenge


Hey all :) Stopping by for a very super last minute challenge.
 I have spent all day at my desk creating and was just about to pack up after a quick run through my favorite scrappy sites when I spotted this.... a challenge at 7 Dots Studio to create a love inspired project. Well I already had my 7 Dots stash on my desk so I went to work. The paint is literally still damp lol. Apologies for the average photos, I normally don't photograph at night but will run out of time if I leave it until morning :)

So I have done a love inspired notebook using mainly Domestic Goddess ( the cover and inside) and also a few Dreamer scraps. There could possibly be some Wonderland in there too. I tend to hoard every last scrap of 7 Dots so it can be hard to tell what is what!

 



 My back is now killing me from being hunched over my desk all day so I think it's time for a few quiet hours on the couch. Thanks for stopping by and have a great weekend everyone xox

Monday 11 March 2013

Blog Hop Winner

Hi girls :) 
Hope everyone had an awesome weekend! 

First up I have a winner for the Paperhaus Blog Hop...

Cheryl Fricker!!

Congrats Cheryl, if you can email me your address and I will get your chipboard prize pack out to you.
hericarusempire@bigpond.com

Also Paper Stories has a $20 store voucher up for grabs...

FEEDBACK TIME!!!! 

Want to win a $20 store voucher to spend on ANYTHING? Just let us know what you think of our store! What you want to see more of/less of? Specific products you would like to see us carry? Do you like that our kits are available without subscription or would prefer subscriptions? Tell us how we can improve to make your shopping experience better! Winner will be drawn 1st April!

Just leave a comment on our blog or on our feedback page. How easy is that!!

Tuesday 5 March 2013

Catching up...

Hey everyone :) So I am now all caught up on sleep, caught up on housework and now it's time to catch up on my scrapping/blogging. Just a couple of shares tonight.

The first is for Cre8tive Cre8tions....


I have used a color conspiracy paper for my base with some Amy Tangerine papers, washi tape from Paper Stories and  Ecoline watercolor inks.


Along with a  Cre8tive Cre8tions flair button from the 'Barcode' and the 'Be Mine' collections


Also using a Cre8tive Cre8tions mixed media flair buttons is my DT sample for this months sketch challenge at the Paper Stories blog...






And this is this month's sketch which I rotated for my layout...


Up for grabs is a fantastic paper back from Teresa Collins. To play along too, click here

That's all for now :) Thanks for looking, G xox

Monday 4 March 2013

Paper Craft Expo Melbourne


Hi everyone :) Back home after a 4 day marathon at the Papercraft Expo in Melbourne. All I can say is WOW! As someone who had never been to an expo, taught a class or even taken one, it was an incredible experience. A steep learning curve for me but one I am very thankful for. I learnt so much about this industry, the people who love papercraft and most importantly just how much work goes on to produce an event like this and especially those who teach.

My classes all went well and the ladies that took all my classes were just so lovely and very patient with my unexperienced self. Behind the scenes..well everything that could go wrong, did go wrong. I was sooo thankful to be travelling with the gorgeous Gillian Lester who prevented me for from having a complete nervous breakdown when things went astray. I did 3 classes for the full 3 days and a day before hand setting up and madly trying to pack kits for my lessons. I don't think I was physically prepared for just how exhausting 6am-6pm going full stop would be and by day 4 had hit the floor ( literally!) after only managing 6.5 hours sleep for the previous 3 days and only 2 half hour breaks all day with no time to eat something decent and be able to unwind a bit.

I got to meet an amazing bunch of ladies who's work I admire so much and had been dying to meet. They were all so lovely and I wish I had the opportunity to meet them in less stressful circumstances when my anxiety wasn't running at an all time high lol. Next time I do an expo I really would love to be on the other end. As someone who can shop, meet people and there are definitely a few teachers out there who's classes I would love to be able to take.

I promised the ladies from my class to post up photos of the projects I taught and a step-by-step for the last few pages of the mini album we created. Well my laptop died during transit to Melbourne ( yes this was an expensive trip to say the least lol) which has all my photos and steps on it, so once it has seen the IT doctor I will get those posted to my blog.

 I didn't even really get a chance to take photos but I did manage to get this one of Gillian & I on the last day before we started...



So I am now off to soak my blistered swollen feet and catch up on some calories ( I think I have lost a few kilos which is not a bad thing lol). 

Take care
G xox

Saturday 2 March 2013

Paperhaus Blog Hop


Hey guys =) As you read this scheduled post I am off at the Papercraft Expo for my workshops in Melbourne. Fingers crossed all goes smoothly! Should be heaps of fun :)

So anyway, to celebrate the fabulous new spring issue of Paperhaus, we are having a blog hop with heaps of inspiration and prizes up for grabs along the way..



Check out the new issue here

I didn't have a lot of time to put together a project for this one so have just done a little Prima Rondelle card from scraps from one of my workshop projects....



And to give away to one lucky winner, I have this RAK full of yummy chipboard. Just leave a comment below to be in the running....


And here is the blog hop list for you all...


PaperHaus Blog - www.thepaperhaus.com
Frank Garcia - www.hausofw.com
Trina McClune - trinamcclune.typepad.com
Fun Stampers Journey
Kate Vickers - www.scrapsation.com
Sarah Andreotti- www.vintagepearstudio.com
Lisa Duke - http://theshabbyhorse.blogspot.com/ --------> TO PAPERHAUS FACEBOOK www.facebook.com/thepaperhaus


Hope everyone enjoys the blog hop. Hope to do it myself when I get back next week :)

Take care, G xox