4 out of 4

Yay I did it! I actually managed to complete all 4 challenges over at Stuck?! this month. I can barely get the usual 2 challenges done in a month let alone their bonus sketches as well. A night of little sleep will do that to you - lol I think I jinxed myself in my previous post.

This was the sketch:
At first I thought it was a bit too girly-girl for me but then I got over myself and just went for it. Here is my take on it:And that brings a busy scrap month to a close. I wonder what September holds - can you believe that September is here and YAY that means SPRING which is just a hop, skip and jump away from my favourite season of all - SUMMER!!!

Til next time,

S xoxoxox

Stuck, more Savvy and just because

So far this month I have managed to complete 3 out of the 4 challenges over at Stuck?! Sketches. Obviously there is still one more challenge left to do but with tomorrow being the last day of the month, I don't fancy my chances of getting it done. The fact that I appear to have picked up the same chesty cold that Lachlan had last week isn't helping scrapping matters either. I hope I can just push through it enough to make it to the end of term without having to have any more time off - 13 school days to go - not that I am counting or anything lol. Anyway enough of that - if I stop thinking about being sick then maybe it will just magically disappear lol. Back to Stuck?! The following layout is based on their Birthday Bonus Sketch. A little bit simpler than I originally intended but wanted the layout to be all about the photo. Sometimes we call Lachlan 'Lachiepop' so of course, that had to be the title. I think this photo is my favourite individual pic of Lach from our family photoshoot. And yes, your eyes aren't deceiving you - I have scrapped this photo already this month and who knows, I might even scrap it again lol.
Layout 2 is the final challenge from Scrapbook Savvy's August Cybercrop - Sar's Blind Scrap. I didn't get it 'right', especially with the ribbon - nothing seemed to work so I went with my current 'old faithful' - Twine. Almost out of the colour (Caribean Blue) I have used here - need to go shopping and get myself some more lol. And what do you know, here is another photo that I have scrapped a few times already and one that may have made it to the cover of Scrapbooking Memories Magazine ;)

Note: yes the red patterned paper is crooked but it is staying that way ... for now lol.

Layout 3 is a just because layout using the latest He's Savvy Kit - love this new paper from My Mind's Eye. I feel like I am going back to my beginner days of scrapbooking with a black mount around the photos but I am loving it all the same.Anyway I am determined that I will sleep tonight despite the fact that I slept for the entire afternoon. Given my track record of not sleeping at night if I sleep during the day, I am not fancying my chances.
Hope the winter bugs are staying away from you and your loved ones.
Cheers,
S xoxoxo

Savvy Cybercrop Fun

This weekend saw another month of cybercrop fun over at Scrapbook Savvy. It has been quite a while since I was able to get all of the challenges done. I've got one more - Sar's Blind Scrap - to put the finishing touches on but hopefully I will get to that tomorrow night.
First off was Anthea's Challenge. We had to use the following sketch from PageMaps as the basis of our layout.
I flipped it and came up with this:
Not sure how much of the original sketch is there but I can see it ... kind of lol. And a close-up:
The next challenge I tackled was Renee's 'distressing' challenge. I definitely channeled my inner Lauren Bell for this one. Thanks for the inspiration Lauren:
Hey Lauren, where do you think I got this idea from??? bahahahahahahaha

Next on the list of challenges was Kerryn's puzzle challenge. Ironically, I had done a layout which almost matched the criteria just hours before it was posted. I attempted to tweak it a little bit but was not 100% happy with it so I started from scratch. I am much happier second time around: The final challenge was Sara's '3 in a row' challenge. I elected to do the '2 photos, doilie and paint' option. I lost count of how many times I started this layout and put it away. In the end I re-printed the photos and the layout seemed to come together so much easily - lol but still just a slow as normal:Have to admit that I am NOT a doilie fan but after "rattin' through my stash", I came up with one I liked. A little Glimmermist later and it looks alright, even if I do say so myself lol:Now all I need to do is finish Sar's Blind Scrap Challenge. Hopefully there will not be too much catching-up to do after having two days off at home with Lachie who is sick.
Enjoy your week everyone. I will be back in a day or two with some more show and tell.
Cheers

S xoxoxo

And the scrapping with friends continues ....

I don't know about you but I have just had the most awesome weekend full of fun, laughter, chocolate and scrapping. What more could a girl want??? Absolutely nothing when you are sitting at a table with Donna, Lisa and Lauren. OMG words cannot begin to describe just how hilarious these three ladies are and how we could make anything seem funny regardless of the subject. Unlike the other three I did not manage to get a lot of scrapping done - too busy laughing at the loud noises coming from a certain someone (lol wonder who that was? hehe) and wiping the drool off my mouth after looking at all the awesomeness being created around me. I tell ya, saying that these three ladies are talented scrappers does not go anywhere near to tell you just how amazing their work is. I am in serious lust lol. In between all of the laughing I managed to finish two layouts and start a third (which was finished just a little while ago):

1. Team Roar

After doing a few pages of Lachlan's soccer efforts for 2011, I thought it was about time I did a page for Mitchell. The photos are quite grainy but I wanted to use them anyway as this was the first time he played 'goalie'. He was so excited and proud to finally don that jersey after waiting all season. He played an awesome half and did not let a single kick in - what a little champ.

2. So Loved

This is yet another picture from our family photo shoot. I call this the fake smile photo but Donna had a better idea with 'The Farmer wants a Wife' lol - can so totally see Lachie being on that show in 20 years time little heart breaker that he is. Quite a plain layout but this was how I wanted and even managed to use the little gifts Lisa passed my way. Thanks Lisa, mwah.

3. Aussie of the Month

Another layout of Mitchell's amazing achievement in being award Aussie of the Month. I really struggled with this layout last night - could not get anything to work. In the end I gave up and packed it all away. Earlier tonight, I pulled it out and it seemed to come together in the blink of an eye. Think I channeled a bit of Lauren in the staggered placement of the letters and a bit of Lisa in the rubons on placed randomly on the page. Thanks to Donna's girls for helping me out with the statement is read to the award recipients. Getting the award was extra special for Mitch as his statement was read by Seb, an amazing student at the school who Mitch has become close friends with during their SEP sessions on a Wednesday. Also used a little bit of A Lil' Somethin' awesomeness on the layout with the kite (just quietly, I think I am in love).

4. Sharing Secrets

Finally, I can show this layout. I posted a sneak weeks ago while we were still on holidays but have only just got around to showing you now. This was my application for a DT spot with Stuck! Sketches. Unfortunately I didn't make the team but didn't really expect to as this was only the second time I have ever applied to be on a DT. Can't be too disappointed though as it is one more page for the albums that would not have been there if I didn't apply in the first place - gotta find the silver lining in every cloud - now there are 8 words I need to start living by.
Thanks for an awesome weekend ladies. Let's hope it isn't too long before our next get together.

Have a great week everyone.

S xoxoxoxo

Scrapping with friends ...

.. is always fun. I am fortunate enough to have a great group of online and real life friends who I get to scrap with on a regular basis. Over the weekend I spent Saturday with two gorgeous friends, Donna and Sarah. I managed to come up with these little beauties:

1. So very Proud of you

(based on the bonus sketch from Stuck! sketches)

Last Wednesday Mitchell was announced as one of the 'Aussies of the Month' for his school. A different year level is selected each month and August is the month reserved for Year 3. There are approximately 100 students in Yr 3 at Mitchell's school which means there are 4 classes. One boy and one girl are chosen from each class. Needless to say, we are very proud that Mitch was one of the 8 selected - a very special honour indeed.

And a closeup. I used one of the new releases from A Lil' Somethin' (the banner and flag) and My Vintage Blossoms (flower)

2. Team Glory

This is a lo for Lachlan's album. Please excuse the blackened out faces and names of the other players. The photos are quite poor quality but considering the fact that they were taken during the middle of the day, the layout came together with a bit of channeling of my inner Crystal.

A close up. The soccer ball is from Making Memories.

3. So Happy Together

Another layout using photos from our family photo shoot. This would have to be my favourite photo of the boys and yes I have used it before and yes I will most likely use it again lol. To be honest, I am not 100% happy with this layout (I know this wouldn't surprise some of you lol) but at least it is another layout for the album.
and, you guess it - another closeup:So that was the end of a very productive scrapping week - 8 layouts in one week is definitely a record for me!
I hope you all have a great week. Hugs to all my scrapping friends.
S xoxo

Christmas in August

Just to be different lol. I know lots of people talk about Christmas in July but I have never been into that sort of thing. When I was vegging out last night, I started looking through the pile of unscrapped photos on my desk. I was in a bit of a foul mood and these photos gave me the 'pick-me-up I needed. They picked me up enough to want to scrap which is a total surprise considering that I don't normally scrap a lot of the Christmas pics I take.

As you can see, this was not your ordinary Christmas photoshoot but to me, it perfectly sums up Christmas in Australia.
Here are some close-ups:
Very excited as I am off to scrap with some awesome girls tomorrow. Hoping the creative mojo is still in the house and I can manage to come up with some more layouts.
Here's to a great weekend everyone.
S xoxoxox

Lollipop? What lollipop

I will let the layout speak for itself:

This was my take on Anthea's Sketch with a Twist challenge over at Scrapbook Savvy. I can't believe I used pink on a layout - definitely not something that happens on a regular basis. I love this photo of Lachlan - one of my favourites taken by Zoe during our photoshoot back in May. I can definitely see myself scrapping this photo a few times ;)

OMG I must be feeling ill, two posts in two days. Wonders will never cease lol.

Til next time
S xoxoxox

While a sick boy is at home ...

... Mummy will stay at home and play.
For the past two days I have been at home with a sick little boy. A trip to the doctor didn't shed too much light apart from a virus which, of course, meant nothing could be done except for Panadol and cuddles from Mum. In between all of the cuddles, I managed to squeeze in some scrapping. The urge and desire to scrap has eluded me in recent weeks which put to rest the plans I had to enter this year's Scrapbooking Memories Magazine Masters Competition. Yeah I know that there are 11 days until the entries close but realistically the only time I will get between now and then to do the entries will be on the weekend and I just don't see it happening. I managed to complete one of the challenges and had the other three planned out but couldn't get my act together long enough to pull them together. I am a bit disappointed in myself - not because I thought I was a sure thing or anything but because I wanted the challenge and to test my boundaries. In terms of scrapbooking, I have been so lucky and blessed this year. I have had a pile of layouts accepted for publication PLUS the honour of having a layout chosen to be the front cover (see previous post) - not bad for someone who honestly believes that her layouts are not all that great (yeah I know, slap me now). Maybe that can be my scrapping challenge for 2012 - to actually complete and submit a Masters entry. Enough of the rambling, here are the latest layouts:

1. Tower of Terror - based on Stuck Aug 1 Sketch

This is what my kitchen area looks like any given Sunday - a monstrous pile of folding and ironing that needs attention. If I don't get into it straight away, Lachlan thinks nothing of playing with all those lovely clean clothes and making pyramids or as he likes to call them, his 'Towers of Terror'.2. They are my Boys.

I came across this challenge while checking out Crystal's blog. She is the Guest DT member for the month over at Beyond the Door Scrap Challenges. The main focus was to be green and cream tones but alas, I think the brown dominates in this LO ;)

3. Sweet Child of Mine

This LO was completed as part of Sara's Wordy Challenge over at Scrapbook Savvy. The idea of the challenge is to use the monthly word somewhere in the title. This month's word is 'SWEET'. I finally managed to crack open the 'He's Savvy' June Kit with this lo - definitely my favourite Savvy Kit to date.

4. Chocolate Lipstick

This was going to be my 5x7 layout for my Masters Entry. I love this photo of Lachlan - definitely one of my all time favourites of him. After showing him the picture in the camera viewfinder the first thing he said was 'I's got chocolate lipstick'. Of course, I just had to use that as the title of the layout :-)

Well that is me up-t0-date for now. I am back to work tomorrow and already dreading the paperwork that has piled up on my desk over the past two days. Oh well, I will just start at the top and work my way through. If it gets done, it gets done; if not, it will still be there on Thursday.
Thanks for stopping by,
S x0x0x0