Living a Colourful Life

Lots of scrapping to share :-)

Wow, ages since I blogged and lots of scrapping to share. I have been to Cairns since I last posted but I'll do a separate post for that one :-)

Some of these layouts I did at the ScrapTherapy retreat and others I have done recently for  a Scrapz Biz virtual crop and weekly challenges :-)

The first 2 are from my October Afternoon 5 & Dime kit

 
 

 

this one was for a sketch challenge at Scrapz Biz set by the fantastic Georgia Keays :-)

 

 
 
 
 
 

Phew, pretty happy with all the above. I haven't had a lot of scrapping time lately and have been away lots of work since I got back from Cairns (much to the family's disgust LOL) but have tied to make the most of the little time I have had :-)

Once I've sorted out my Cairns photos I will update!

Allie

Scrapbooking Memories "Express Yourself" competition!

I am very excited to say that I have been chosen as a finalist in the Express Yourself competition :-) The finalists layouts will be on display at the Brisbane Scrapbook & Papercrafts Expo Brisbane Scrapbook & Papercrafts Expo where attendees will vote on their favourite (must be there to vote).

They have allowed us to add our layouts on our blogs as this year the criteria was to "scrap yourself" so most people would be recognised anyway and not anon like the finalists were last year - I was a finalist in last years comp too :-)

So here is my layout. I have actually had the journalling in my head/jotted down for ages now and this was the perfect chance to get it down.

  

 So, if you are heading to the show, make sure you go and vote for your favourite :-). I have no illusions of winning at all because my layout is very simple but I like it and that is all that matters!

Oh and another reason for excitement - in 7 sleeps I will be flying to Cairns for the ScrapTherapy retreat. I can't wait! It will be so lovely to see lovely friends again like Lisa and Bon and to meet Helen finally. My friend Daniella from Mildura is going too so that is fab. It will also be great to meet ST boss Lee-Anne - after working with her for so long it has been a long time coming!

Allie

Show us your stuff!

I really love this blog as it has 2 great challenges each month and each layout has to have handmade item on it. Great chance to challenge myself and get a bit crafty LOL. The second challenge this month was to use buttons. I have handmade the doiley flower and the banner :-)

I am doing this at the very last minute so I have had to photograph it at night. Will take a better one tomorrow!

 
 and a not very good close-up of the doily flower - looks awesome IRL - really LOL

 

On another note, first game of netball today for the team I coach (an Under 13 team) and they played awesome and won by about 30 goals. Woo Hoo for a good start to the season!

Allie

 

"Show us your stuff" challenge

another blog that I have found recently is the Show Us Your Stuff challenge blog. You have to use something handmade either by yourself or someone else on your layouts :-). The first challenge this month was a sketch and I loved it as soon as i saw it

It was perfect for another holiday layout where I wanted to use 3 photos. Aargh for some reason the photos of this layout have come up dodgy, sorry!

 

A close-up of my handmade item. I stamped flowers and leaves on acetate with white Stazon and cut them out. I love the effect - quite hard to photograph though!

 

I have also been playing with the new October Afternoon, 5 & Dime. I love this range, a bit vintage and very versatile. I am making a kit for my local ladies out of this one  :-)

  
 
 

 
 
I have had a very lazy Easter break. We had a Thai dinner party on Friday night for 4 friends (Russ cooked of course) and the rest of the time I have been resting, scrapping and just giving my body a much needed rest. Russ painted a wall in my scraproom too - gorgeous turquoise colour :-0 I will share once I have the desk etc back in properly.

Allie

 

 

Another challenge - Once Upon a.....Sketch

I am rapt that I found this awesome challenge blog. It is only new but it seems that there is a real journalling focus so right up my alley :-)

This challenge was the sketch below (from the amazing Piradee Talvanna) and you had to have 25 words of handwritten journalling

Here is my layout - which in typical Allie style has lots more words than required LOL

 
 
 
I promise the bottom ribbon trim is straight, just won't photograph right - aargh!

Have some days off work so hoping to do lots more challenges over the next week or so :-)

Allie x

 

 

 

 

 

Scrap the Girls!

I haven't played with Scrap the Girls for a long time but with more "me" scrapping time on my hands now I am keen to join in much more often.

This month the challenge was to create a layout inspired by this picture :-)

 

 

As soon as I saw the umbrellas and clouds I knew what I was going to scrap. These pics of Marnie and her bestie Maddy were taken during the huge downpour that Mildura had in Feb - over 200mm ini 24 hours. So far this year we have had 441 mm! Our average to this time of the year is less than 80! Crazy.

This layout churned around in my head for a few days but I'm happy with the end result. No so "Allie looking" but that is OK - that is what challenges are for :-0

 
and a close-up of the clouds. I didn't want them to be perfect white so I just dabbed a white Stazon pad lightly so that the grey/brown shows through.

 

I also did Belinda's Scrap it Blind challenge at Scrapz Biz I'm sure my layout looks nothing at all like the instructions meant it to turn out like. I used lots of artistic licence LOL. I am really enjoying doing some of the challenges there as they are weekly and just seem to get me inspired :-)

 
I have two 5 day weekends coming up and plan to do not much at all. Lots of scrapping and resting. Still really struggling with the cellulitis infection so have had to go on another higher dose antibiotic to hopefully knock it on the head. Feeling severely fatigued and seasick 24/7 for a month is not fun!

Allie

 

 

 

Scrapz.Biz

I have been having so much fun scrapping over the past few days - it has been lovely :-0

Here is a layout I did for Sheree's Fetch a Sketch challenge at Scrapz

 

I don't think it ended up looking anything like the sketch but you get that LOL.

This is one of my fave photos of Corey & Amber's wedding. I had a good possie in the crowd and was able to snap lots of lovely pics.

Allie

Stuck?! Sketches...

OK, I am scaring myself now LOL - 3 posts in one day (and with new layouts no less!!)

When I saw this fab sketch on Stuck?! Sketches I knew exactly what photo I was going to use. I really loved the simplicity of the sketch which was perfect for such a special photo :-) Photo of Russ' niece Amber on her wedding day, I was rapt to capture this pic so well.

 
 
I have used all Prima Madeline on this layout - love the combination of colours :-)

Allie

 

Pencil Lines

I have always loved sketches & challenges but never seemed to get the time to play along with any of the challenge blogs. Now that I don't have any DT commitments I am going to make an effort to do at least a few a month.

Pencil Lines has always been a fave and I loved the very simple sketch I used for this layout

 
It is another layout for our Thailand holiday album so have kept it really simple (and flat) to fit in with the rest of the album. Love the Echo Park papers, they have been totally perfect for these layouts.

Allie

 

Hospital, boobs, friends and some scrapping!

yes a very mixed bag LOL. I have been unwell for over 2 weeks with an abscess on one of my boobs that developed cellulitis. It is a very serious infection and I had a couple of trips to hospital for IV antibiotics with one stay being a horrid 3 days. I am slowly on the mend but will be on strong antibiotics for another couple of weeks (over a month in total!) but it needs to be gone totally to make sure it comes back. Nothing like showing your boobs to 7 people at a time and having them draw on it with permanent texta!

Anyway, I am slowly starting to feel better and am hoping to go back to work tomorrow. I've been off for over 2 weeks so I may have to work part days for a week or so if it is too much. I can't believe how much it has knocked me around but apparently your system gets poisoned so fatigue, nausea etc is par for the course.

On happier news, I had a lovely day yesterday with my friends Mardi, Charmaine and Lisa. I was going to make the trip to Barmera but seeing as I had been sick, Mardi offered to bring the girls to me. So lovely and very much appreciated. We chatted, scrapped, had a browse at the gorgeous Sweet Lily's Tearoom and a yummy souvlaki for lunch. It was a much needed day for the soul for all of us I think :-)

I didn't get much done (as usual) but did another holiday layout and also one for Scrapz where my lovely friend Belinda is on the DT.  The challenge was to use handmade leaves and I took it a bit over the top LOL. I have had this chippie tree for ages so cut up some Prima flowers of different colours/glitters etc and stuck them on. I love the result :-)

  


Marnie had fallen in love with Mardi's gorgeous homemade owls so she very kindly bought a few along with her so that she could choose one. Dulcie was the choice and Marnie siad she will sit with pride of place on her bed - never too old for cute stuffed toys! 

 
and I was also thrilled for Mardi to give me one of her journal covers as a gift for having the girls over yesterday (oh yes, it was such an imposition LOL)

 
If you love these handmade lovelies, keep an eye out on Mardi's Etsy Shop (she is just setting it up at the moment) Dudley & Grace

Will come back and post another layout a bit later :-)

Allie