Live out Loud

Bitter Sweet

2011-12-19T23:20:00.000+11:00

Just a quick thank you to friends who have left messages that they are thinking of our family at the moment. My grandma passed away this morning. As you can imagine it is a little bitter sweet – a blessing in some ways as because my grandma was so old, the stroke and brain haemorrhage had left her paralysed down one side of her body and really not with us in the end. Even though its so close to Christmas we still can get the funeral in beforehand and mum will be able to come on the cruise with us in Jan and not have to be worrying about my grandma whilst she is away. I was only praying this morning that God would take her soon but truly not expecting to get a phone call from my dad on the way too work. Gosh that one was a really quick answer. Why can’t all my prayers be answered that quickly.
As sad as it is, its for the best but there will be two members of our family not around the Christmas tree this Sunday. (as my pop (100) only died a few months ago too).

Products Used: Sweet Nothings Paper Collection, Sticker Sheet, Collectables, P656Timeless
“Script” Paper, EM927 Cream Lace, F651 Sunset Mini Paper Blooms, EM969 Blossoms - Dahlia,
RB904 Moment Quote Rub ons, CS795 Botanical Clear Stamp, T303 Foam Tape

This is a picture of my great grandparents in the latest range from Kaiser – Sweet Nothings. A layout I did for the latest workshop mag. If you don't get the workshop mag you can download it from the website or you can follow the instructions below and create one for yourself.
Instructions:
Use ALL YOURS as the background for this layout. Ink around the edges with a dark
brown ink pad and stamp in the top left and bottom right the Botanical Clear
Stamp image.
Cut a 22cm x20cm (9” x 8”) rectangle from SCRIPT and distress and ink the edges.
Adhere to the page 2cm from top and right edges.
Cut a 10cm x 15cm (4” x 6”) rectangle DOZEN ROSES, ink edges and adhere on an
angle with two photographs angled over the top.
Tuck under die cut tags as shown.
Underneath photographs adhere large flower die cut with other flowers and
butterfly images cut from left overs of DOZEN ROSES and WITH LOVE.
To the top corner of the SCRIPT paper adhere another rose die cut using foam tape.
Run a strip of lace below the photographs.
Cover a cameo and frame wooden embellishment with dimensional glaze and
allow to dry.
Adhere these along with additional mini paper blooms and blossoms to the
bottom left corner.
Rub on a quote to one of the collectable tags and adhere to the right side using
foam tape along with another cut out butterfly and small blossom resin flower.

Quick Gift Idea
Also with Christmas only a few days away. Here is a quick gift idea that doesn’t take long to make - do it yourself tile coasters.

CT703 Sweet Nothing Collectables, Clear Stamps - CS752 Script,
CS757 Music, CS795 Botancials, CS802 Postmarks. Other: Brown Ink and Modge Podge

Get yourself four cheap tiles from a hardware store.
Give them a coat of modge podge and allow to dry.
Rub on some dark brown ink around the edges to shade and stamp texture images on each tile. Make sure the ink is a permanent one. Allow to dry.
Adhere a chosen die cut from the collectables pack to each tile and modge podge over the top to protect.
Cover the back of the tile with cork or some non slip fabric.
Tie together with ribbon and you have a gorgeous gift for someone this Christmas.

Script Clear Stamp - CS752

Music Clear Stamp - CS757

Botanicals Clear Stamp - CS795

Postmarks Clar Stamp CS802

For more great ideas using Sweet Nothings- make sure you go to your local scrapbook store and pick up a copy of the latest Workshop Magazine.
Have a great week
Mel
-xx-

Easy As Gift Idea–Madam Boutique

2011-12-12T22:42:00.001+11:00

We recently had a retailers day here at Kaisercraft. It was a great day and great for us to put faces to the names of people who support us and for them also to meet everyone who works here. After getting a tour of the place and seeing the upcoming ranges I had the privilege of taking them for a small workshop and we all made the following frame.

With Christmas fast approaching this may be something you can also make as a quick and easy gift idea for someone. All you need is the following products.

SB2101 Bracket Frame

PS180 Gown Die Cut

P751 Knickers

CT701 Cllectables

EM928 Natural Shades Lace

F632 Sage Paper Blooms

F652 Terracotta
Paper Blooms

FL380 Flying Birds

Instructions:
Use Vintage Photo Distress ink/stain to colour the edges of the frame. If using anink pad and blending tool, you main need to go over the edges a number of times to deepen the colour until you reach your desired shade.
Using the template(Download HERE) cut just outside the red line on from one point to another .Use this template as a guide, move it from one corner to the next, marking each of the inside corner of the frame to be cut out on PS180 GOWN Die Cut paper. (If possible round each corner with craft knife using the black square as a guide). Carefully use a craft knife and steel ruler to cut out the insert. Ink edges of the die cut if desired before adhering to the frame.
Cover the separate back piece using the sepia reverse side of P751 KNICKERS.
Adhere to the top right corner of the back piece a doily die cut and a lady die cut on the bottom. The edges of these diecuts can be inked if desired.
Matte a PORTRAIT 4”x6” photograph using the blue reverse side of P753 PINAFORE. Ink edges and position on an angle on the back piece along with an inked tag (from collectable pack) tucked under the right edge. Before adhering, position frame over the top to double check the placement of the photograph, adjust if necessary.
Run glue along the lower edge under frame cutout and gather lace across the width of the opening.
Adhere to the top of this place the brown ruler die cut.

Cut out two circles from P753 PINAFORE leftovers and create a flower in blue and yellow. One yellow and one blue (reverse) side. See flower instructions below.

1. Cut a circle and then cut a spiral towards the centre.
Ink or distress outside edges of the spiral if desired.

2. Lightly dampen or mist paper to soften. Crumple circle.
Slightly roll over the outside edges, working towards the centre.

3. Starting from the outside edge of the circle roll towards yourself, work towards the centre, ensuring the edges are still slightly folded over to create the curved petals. If you think your rose is wound too tightly let it go slightly until you are happy. Glue edges underneath so it won’t unwind.

Adhere the flowers towards the lower left corner of frame, clustered with a combination of flower cutouts from KNICKERS, paper blooms and other diecuts and cut out elements from the papers.
Ink edges of a wooden flourish bird and adhere to the top of one of the flowers.
Cut the bud and leaves off the large rose die cut. Layer separately using foam tape to the upper right corner of the frame along with other flowers cut from KNICKERS tucked under the edges of the yellow rose. Further decorate this corner with paper blooms. Rub on quote to the frame to complete.

Have Fun

Catch Up–Take a Breath

2011-12-11T21:01:00.002+11:00

Do you ever truly just wonder where times goes. Its two weeks until Christmas – I don’t know about you but i am madly trying to cram as much stuff as i can into a day. Today i didn’t even get out of my PJ’s – and yet worked all day… Doing what you may ask – well putting some finishing touches onto classes for our scrapping cruise in January. If you have never been on one – you will seriously have to look into the next one in 2013 – cant believe i am saying that date – it doesn't quite seem right.
Here is a little sneak peak of one class. i have been busy writing instructions all day for this and for other kits for work. Whew and now i am totally exhausted but i think i am also finished. Now just to write a few wish lists and sort out ~~some~~ ok ALL the Christmas presents. At least i can say i started some Christmas shoping yesterday. Does any one else feel like they are buying presents just for the sake of buying presents at Christmas. I even ask my kids what they want and they don’t really know.
Anyway i promised a little while ago that i would give you a closer look at the class i taught in South Africa. Well here it is. The instructions for this can be downloaded HERE if you would like to do it. There is a little bit of fussy cutting but most of it is actually from the gorgeous sticker sheets that come with the range. I’m sure you can still pick up the Bonjour range around some of the LSS.
Back in November – we at Kaiser released what was one of my favourite ranges Madam Boutique (yes latest favourite – but that has already changed again as i have seen what is due to come out)….
Love the colours of this range and its absolutely perfect for old heritage photographs. This double layout is a little bit precious at the moment as it features my grandma who jas just in the last couple of days been put into hospital – she had a brain haemorrhage and another stroke. Pop passed away a couple of months ago – at 100years of age and mummum (that what i call my grandma) is 98. Can you imagine being married for 70 years and still living together in their own home looking after each other. Looking 100 years of age in the eyes. I don’t know how many of us will make it to that age but gosh – my grandparents have been so lucky to see what they have and live for as long as they did. Sounds like I’m speaking in past tense but we don’t think she will see Christmas.
Ive Again I can’t share much of what i have been up to as its all pretty much for collections coming out in the next six months and for CHA. Though you may have seen a few of these around the LSS. I have been busy designing some class kits for all the upcoming ranges. They consist of mainly the papers, collectables, sticker sheets and a few embellies but you can get three layouts out of them and still have lots left over. You can either follow the instructions for the layouts illustrated or use the product to get creative yourself. . Check out one of your Local Scrapbook stores and you may find that they still have some kits/product available for sale.
MADAM BOUTIQUE – Layout Kit

If you missed out on these from your local scrapbook store you can download the instructions for these three layouts here
COCK A DOODLE DOO Layout Kit
Another new range that came out last month was Cockadoodle Doo. This is a fun range for kids that is great for those photos on the far or outdoors.

Again if you have missed out on this from your local scrapbook store you may still be able to get hold of some of the products. If not you can download these instruction here.
Kaiser has great new ranges released this month and have again released layout kits for these ranges.
If you would like to get your hands on the products/instructions for these layouts – check out your local scrapbook store.
SWEET NOTHINGS.

Thanks for looking and playing catch up with me. Hopefully i will get a chance to post a few more sneak peaks of what i have been up to in the next week.

can also download instructions here.

Wet Weather Timetable - Bobunny ZOOLOGY Layouts

2011-09-30T16:58:00.000+10:00

Can you believe what was in the pile of mail when i returned from South Africa. A box full of the Zoology collection from Bobunny. Thank you so much Jeri, I was so excited to receive this and it couldn't have arrived at a better time. Considering the horrid wet weather we have been having at the moment, I got a chance to sit down and have a little play with it yesterday while it was pouring outside. Seriously this paper is just perfect for some of my favourite photos of the Big 5 (6 or 7) taken at Kichaka. If any of you have photos sitting in a box that was taken on safari or at a zoo, this range is definitely for you. As you can see I only used the papers/embellishments etc that i was given and not a lot of anything else except some plaster's mesh, but as you can see the papers are perfect and you don't have to do much to them to create some quick layouts. I was really happy with the result, naturally you could do so more by adding stitching and other detail but more often than not these type of photos never make it to a page so I was really happy to have the opportunity to use them and get 7 layouts done in a day was a great way to spend a wet one. Thanks Al too the break in the middle. I really enjoyed our catch up and lunch.... even the "penguin".... wish we had the photo.....

Collage of photo doubles - better than just throwing them out.

Thanks for looking.
Now to sort out my Cape Town photos and finish off my South Africa posts.
Chat soon
Mel

Sth Africa– Part 2 KICHAKA

2011-09-28T20:00:00.000+10:00

There would have to be no doubt in my mind that as an instructor this one part of the trip that we are all looking forward to – going to Kichaka. Kichaka is an exclusive five star luxury Private Game Lodge outside Grahamstown, an hour drive from Port Elizabeth. If you want an experience of a lifetime this is a place where i can guarantee you will be thoroughly spoilt.

We arrived and were welcomed by the gorgeous team with warm washers, infused with lemon thyme (or something like that) and lovely drinks

I was even introduced to Biltong – a cured meat.

I think this one was Kudu, which really the thought of eating was just not a happening thing –until…. i tasted it. Well Jason (Manager) replenished the bowl three times whilst we were sitting relaxing the day we arrived. It actually tastes fantastic – and according to Nic and Paul a great source of protein. Im sure that day i well and truly had my share(and everyone elses) of whatever protein our bodies required. WE were totally spoilt for three days thanks to Jason (host with most) and his team and were never wanting anything – they totally looked after us.
This was our schedule for each day.
5.30am – Wake Up Call (yep up with the animals)
5.45am – Light snack and hot chocolate if you like – not too much fluids as no toilets on the way and im useless at the best of times.
6.00am – Leave on Game drive
8ish – Stop for hot choccie again – Bumpy roads and fluids have taken their toll and yep pitstop required behind the bush – see told you i would have to go
11.00 – back for breakfast. Not only is this a full continental spread but it comes with cheeses and nuts and everything else you can imagine but HANG ON there is more….. A menu. So basically this is just something to snack on whilst you wait for your hot breakfast to arrive.
After all of this you are ready to kick back and relax but hang on….there is more!!!!
1.00pm- Its lunch time – gee haven't we finished breakfast..... at least this is light – Salad, skewers or soup (all all three if you really want)
Now there is just enough time for that to settle before – hang on – MORE FOOD!!!!! forget the food settling
3.30pm - SNACKS – Come on you can't go out on a game drive on an empty stomash.....OMgosh you certainly are not going to starve here. The food is to die for.
4.00pm - Another Game Drive – more animals to be seen.
6pm ish – Another pitstop and of course Hot Chocolate – though for some Amarula and Brandy (hmmmmmm) – if you haven’t tasted this you have to. I was introduced to this last time i visited Kichaka and it came home with me. Just a little something to warm the tummy on a cold night whilst watching looking at the most GORGEOUS sunsets….
7.30pm - Back for Dinner. Well i have eaten some beautiful food in my time but this would rate amongst the best ever. This is 5 Star dining at its best. The presentation, portions and the quality of food are just beautiful. Game meat cooked to perfection and it just topped off the day spectacularly. There is NOTHING you could ask to be done better. Maybe some Rangers that aren’t so easy on the eye. Laura (Glitz) and i were still reminiscing over Jamie from last year but i think Ashley you may have taken his place…. all part of the service.. see what more could you ask for.

Anyway here are a few of my favourite pics from the trip. My very bestest favourite is the tree below.

Right in the middle of nowhere surrounded by gorgeous yellow flowers (probably weeds bu they looked good) and wait for it …….. rhinos thrown in for good measure – yes rhinos, there is this beautiful tree. Even better it was a good old fashioned (aussie) gum tree. It doesn’t matter where you are on earth, God can remind us of his love for us, even on the trees and flowers. Sometimes we just have to open our eyes a little and look. Cool isnt it!!!

Here are a few other pics

Ever seen a 5 legged elephant

Impala

He may have been bored but i was impressed with the teeth

Beautiful isn't she

I love big butts

Go on come and get us - they tried!!!!

Here pussy pussy.... too cute .
You just want to cuddle them.

Stunning - dazzle of zebras. And heaps of babies....

Way too much fun to be had.

And just in case these aren't enough here are some more of the gorgeous creatures God has put on this earth for us to enjoy.... and they are just plentiful in South Africa.

Thanks for taking the time to read this post. I know it was choc full of pictures but i hope you enjoyed them.
Will be back again later this week with the end of the trip in Cape Town
Mel

Perfect Pearls - Triple Vintage Class - 8th October

2011-09-28T14:58:00.000+10:00

Perfect Pearls - Workshop

8th October - 10.30am

Chandon Craft

Bookings can be made in store,

by emailing info@chandoncraft.com.au or calling 5223 2003

$60 inclusive of everything needed

to complete the three projects (Canvas, Dressform and Card/s).

Just bring along one 4x6 photo to use on canvas.

Please pay cash in store or a direct deposit to Melissa BSB 062-692 A/C 1356 3853

(Please email me if you are direct depositing money to let me know)

Join me as I teach you some of the techniques I recently learnt at Ranger U - combined with gorgeous wooden flourishes and the recently released Bonjour paper range from Kaiser.

You will be using Distress Inks and Perfect Pearls to create three gorgeous vintage style projects.

Learn techniques that you can take away and use on many other projects at home.

I still call Australia HOME!!!! South Africa trip – Part 1

2011-09-27T18:20:00.002+10:00

You could be forgiven for thinking these photos was taken somewhere in our wonderful country of Australia but you would be wrong. Believe it or not it was taken on the way to Cape Point in South Africa. I don’t think I have ever been to a place overseas that quite makes me feel like I’m at home, like South Africa does. Even the drive down the coast made me feel like I was travelling along the Great Ocean Road in Victoria. I have to admit though that the drive to Cape of Good Hope was just a little bit more spectacular at the end….. sorry you will have to wait until Im up to that bit for those photos – as i need to go back to the start – and that is like two weeks ago. Well actually its quite a few months ago now – when Glenda asked me again if i would like to teach at the South African Scrapbook Convention. It was a privilege to be asked in 2009 and I always said i would love to go back again but with so many lining up wanting to teach at this convention i thought it would be a little longer in between drinks, so to speak… Thank you again Glenda (and Gary) for asking me again. You guys do the most amazing job of organising this conference and look after us sooo well. I felt very honoured especially when i found out who the other teachers would be. And now after returning i couldn’t have asked for a better group of people to go away with ( I already miss them all) – they were soooo much fun. Everyone got on really well together and hopefully lifelong friendships have formed. The other instructors were Nic Howard and hubby Paul with Basic Grey, Debby Schuh and hubby David from Pink Paislee, Stephanie Barnard and Rosanne from Ellison (Sizzix), Laura and Ginger, The Glitz Girls and Paula Cheney from 7 Gypsies. WOW – how much talent is there amongst them – you can see why I was a little humbled.
Well i got unplastered, just in time before i left. Though i have to admit i was pretty shattered when the plaster came off and i still couldn’t move my wrist – guessing it will take a little bit of physo work before its completely back to normal. And for those of you who think i am an accident waiting to happen – i didn't hurt myself whilst i was in South Africa. Thank you very muchly…. hehehe.

Some of the team:
David and myself, Ginger (where is Laura??), Glenda (organiser), Debby and David Schuh
Paula and Jay Cheney and last but not least Nic and Paul Howard
Still to arrive is Stephanie and Rosanne.

We arrived in Johannesburg and waited for some of the other instructors who were due to arrive just after us before being taken to Emperors Palace where we taught the first four classes to apporox 450 delegates. WOW. I used the Kaisercraft Bonjour line which is being released in October and created a double page layout with an accordian mini book included on the layout. It was lots of layers and a little fussy cutting (no not as much as last time…) and showed them how to make the most of the papers in the collection, including using the journal tags as accents instead of just the obvious.

Double Layout - Bonjour

Classes would not be possible of this size without the help from our gorgeous class assistants who helped us all out in both J’burg and Cape Town. Thank you to all the delegates who welcomed me back and for all your wonderful comments about the classes that have been sent through to work. Its truly appreciated.

Now that is a class and a half!!!!!

These cheeky girls are
Erika, Sandra, (Moiye), Kerry, Ashleigh (Team Leader), Michele, Kayleigh
In front: Natasja and Kim.
Thanks a bunch too to the other gorgeous team leaders Debbie, Natasja, Mathilda and all of your girls

Ashleigh - you always make me feel so welcome and loved!!!

OK - you all do!!!!!

Thank you sooooo much girls you truly were or should i say ARE gorgeous and made my life (all our lives) as instructors so much easier.

I can’t let this opportunity go by without thanking Kylie and Richelle back at work for helping me out with some of the extra layouts we used as examples. Your help was muchly needed and so appreciated considering i was totally useless with my broken wrist and it two fold – not only did you pick up any errors i had in made in my instructions but having the additional layouts for the helpers to show the delegates was fantastic – thanks heaps.

Can’t let this opportunity go by without mentioning Chantel Wright, pictured with me below. You are gorgeous and such a good sport.

Hope you have finished your layout and if not – “Why NOT” ?????

Poor Chantel’s face was priceless when i asked the class if everyone was finished a step and she put her hand up and said she hadn’t. I then asked with a very straight face (as if really i could do that) and stern voice (jokingly of course) – Why Not? I don’t think she realised i was joking at first but once realised she then told me she used to like Kaiser until then…. hehehe …. love you..... Nothing like keeping the delegates on their toes. It certainly is an exercise in itself though to keep those sort of numbers together in a class without losing a couple… I hope not too many of you.

As mentioned before, I thoroughly enjoyed taking the class and meeting with many familiar faces again and making new friends. Thanks again for making me feel so welcome. You all live in a very special country and as i said in Cape Town it wouldn’t take too much convincing me for to shift over (for a while anyway). There truly is no other place I have ever been to that reminds me so much of home.
Well lots more to share but this is enough for now - come back tomorrow. The girls are wanting their tea and i have been on the computer for long enough. I did manage to put together a 80 page 12x12 photo book yesterday and last night and can’t wait for that to come back to have something to remind me again of my time away – now before you think that was good of me to do so quicky - settle - it was only because my vouchers for this were to expire last night and i didn’t want to waste them…. otherwise it could have been a year down the track.
Ok that will do for now – chat again tomorrow
Mel

Cute or what !!!!

2011-09-01T17:50:00.000+10:00

Just a couple of pics of my little nephew Eli that i took when he was around last…
OMGosh he is a just a wee bit cute i think… don’t you just love it when your photos turn out better than you planned. Just love my zoom lense now to find the perfect paper to scrap them in – any suggestions???

We’re going to the chapel and we’re going to get married….

2011-08-30T20:00:00.000+10:00

Well not a chapel but my sister is getting married next week and mum asked me to try and decorate some cupcake stands like some she saw – well she came up to my house loaded with flowers, she had already covered the stands in the paper she wanted…
Out came the glue gun and well a few burns on the hand and fingers later – again being in plaster is not helping matters much at the moment- I managed to get the cake stands done for her.
Now i just hope my sister likes…..

A little texture never hurt anyone…

2011-08-29T17:30:00.003+10:00

well actually……. telling people about it did….
because it was when i was showing the Alain, the owner of Ranger these projects when i fell backwards and broke my wrist. But the textures on both frames were created using Tim Holtz products and a few little things learnt at Ranger Uni this year.
These two pieces were on display at the current CHA show. Both were creating using the new “Timeless” Paper collections.

Texture created using Hero Arts - Woodgrain stamp.
Embossed with clear embossing powder and then frame
stained with Tim Holtz Walnut Distress Stain. - Cool Effect hey!!!

And the “Timeless” cameo.

Frame given an antiqued look but staining the frame with
Tim Holtz Walnut distress stain and loaded on top of this
a generous coat or two of Rock Candy Distress Crackle Paint.
As drying, spray on Irridescent Gold Glimmer Mist or
Heirloom Gold Perfect Pearls Spray and let pool in random areas.

Two of my favourites textures that are both simple and easy but create great effects.

My first teenager and a sneak peak.

2011-08-28T20:59:00.001+10:00

There are definitely times where i wish there were more hours in the day to get everything done but somehow things just manage to fall in place. I certainly wonder how sometimes. My gorgeous little “eldest” girl turns 13 at the end of this week but we had her birthday party on the weekend just gone as my sister gets married next weekend. Thankfully i have a wonderful mother who helped me out heaps with the cooking – one handed is just to hard to attempt and we managed to give Jess a pretty in pink birthday party. Jess was actually fantastic as she did much of the decorating herself and made a gorgeous banner to hang across the living room amongst all the pink streamers. Kaisercraft Dressforms were the invitations and the Handbags became the lollybags. All she wanted was cupcakes for her birthday cake – so the Cupcake stand was quickly renovated using the “Miss Nelly” collection and a few ribbons and flowers. And then for some strange unknown reason she wanted to scrapbook with them - so they all made a little photo display frame as a memento of the day. Its hard to believe my first little baby is now a teenager and how time has just flown by.

As for what else i have been up to. Well i can’t really show you that but the majority of my time at home has been getting my class ready for my South Africa visit – which is “yikes” only 10 days away. Im having a few arguments with my powerpoint presentation and getting it to do what i has to but we are 80% finished which is great. Here is a little peak!!!! – sorry thats all i can share at the moment.

Miss Nelly

2011-08-28T19:40:00.001+10:00

Apolgies everyone. I really was planning on sharing more of CHA with you but due to my blinkin’ wristd STILL being in plaster, my time on the computer is limited.
So here is a few little things I did in the gorgeous Miss Nelly range which was inspired by Cath Kidston and designed by our very own Clare Miller.

The main specialty page is full of the most gorgeous glossed flowers which you can fussy cut out to your hearts content and layer. So easy to make a simple gift like the frame Al Hannah made below. Believe me when i say that the painting of the frame white and allowing it to dry was the longest part.
The tabbed book below i have to admit i had the most fun with. As i have been dabbling a bit in mixed media lately i loved being able to take the texture stamps and add a few layers of extra “texture” bubble wrap and grids....Even fussy cutting out the photo of my grandma was a little different to the norm.

Recovery

2011-08-10T08:23:00.000+10:00

This really feels all wrong!!!! The brace I was allowed to wear in the States on my arm was on the bases i was “good” and didn’t take it off much. Well i didn’t “much” – but a girl needs to shower and do her hair… But you don’t realise how much you actually use your hands for until you can't. Do you know how much work you can do with a broken wrist – NOT MUCH!!! and its very frustrating when its your right arm and you are right handed… couldn’t do without Richelle and Kylie at work at the moment.
Anyway to cut a long story short it was aching quite a bit and Doc asked me to get it re-xrayed. i guess the little black brace will be put away for now as wrist has been recast…. hmmmm
Do you know how plain and boring a waterproof cast is….

boring!!!!

and how much fun you can have with Ranger Adirondack Color Washes….. It said once heated they are set, well i sprayed, blended and then out came the heat tool. i now have a cast in my favourite colours. what to do to it next is my question to you?????????

now this looks better!!!!

Now it looks like it should be on my arm…. Hopefully only for a couple of weeks.

CHA Update Part 2 New Releases

2011-08-02T23:00:00.000+10:00

Welcome to our booth #722
as mentioned in part 1 – it was great to arrive on the stand on the Sunday morning at the beginning of the show set up and find all our crates and product etc had arrived and had already been delivered to the stand – even the carpet was laid – all ready and waiting for us to turn up.
the stand was white and bright like in the past and using the same set up as last show made things especially easy and we knew how the set up was to go. we released 6 new ranges for the next quarter and a number of new core products which personally im a little excited about especially the mini paper blooms to match the colours of the larger ones. the pics below im a little disappointed with and was hoping to take more but due to my wrist it just didn’t happen so i hope you can get a glimpse of what the stand was like. it really did look hot but you will have to take my word for it.

13th Hour

Hunt and Gather

Miss Nelly

December 25th

Silly Season

New mini paper blooms and flourishes

Bonjour

Make and Take

if you want to see a closer look at our new releases here is a short powerpoint that i have put together. since i didn’t do the stand as much justice with the photographs i am hoping that this will make up for it. Ive put one of my favourite songs to this – so if you don’t like the music – just turn down your volume now…. make sure you check products out yourself in real life at your local scrap store as im sure you will love what Kaisercraft has in store for you over the next few months. (press the little button with the four arrow in the bottom right corner for full screen view)

Thanks for taking the time to look. Over the next couple of posts i will share a few of the projects that were made for the stand by both myself and some other gorgeous wonderfully talented designers who i can't thank enough for their help in the lead up to CHA.
Chat soon
Lis

CHA Update Part 1

2011-08-01T22:20:00.000+10:00

this CHA will definitely go down as one to be remembered in more ways than one

- it was one of the few times we have arrived for the start of set up with everything sitting there and carpet laid ready to go. its unreal when you can just turn up, open up the crates and get stuck straight into setting up without having to wait for anything to show up.

- its been quite some time since we have had the success that this show produced for us which was surprising i guess as we were preparing for the worst – especially with the economic climate we are in at present and the amount of small scrapbooking businesses dropping off. the strong certainly are the survivors and they were there to spend…

- i discovered that American hospitals are nothing like they are portrayed – and i now have nothing but praise, especially for Resurrection Medical Hospital. maybe because i had travel insurance but i somehow managed to see more than my fair share of this one– three visits in fact – BUT i was in/out and seen by a doctor within a 15 minutes which is almost unheard off back here in Oz unless your are practically dying. upon admission the second time around i found that handing in your wrist bracelet with your details on it from two days earlier sped up admission dramatically, gosh even the receptionist laughed at me being back so soon.... i returned home to Australia with a fractured wrist and the remnants of the shingles…. but nevertheless still in one piece – well kind of - pride was a little shattered.

- with a fractured wrist i took way less photos than i usually do but over the next couple of posts i will give you a little glimpse of our stand and the time i spent away and even some of the new products we have got in store that will be released over the next couple of months.

before i let you know about our new releases i want to take this opportunity to say a huge THANK YOU to Ranger Industries for the paint, perfect pearls/mediums and craft mats, and to Glue Arts and X-Press Graphics for the tape runners and glue. big/huge thank you to these companies for their support. it was actually in the ranger booth where i “somehow” accidentally fell backwards over someone's tote bag and broke my wrist – both Alain (owner) and Tim were calling me “tumbles” by the end of the show….thanks boys – i still can’t believe i did it – though it seems everyone else can. hmmm

CHA Kaisercraft Make and Take

Using the solid dress form from Kaisercraft SB2122 (2 pk),
- paint the dressform by blending the two colours Adirondack Acrylic Paint dabbers, Pool and Juniper together using a piece of cut and dry foam.
- once paint is dry stamp the kaisercraft flourish texture image onto the wooden dressform using Ranger perfect medium stamp pad.
- dab some bronze perfect pearls over the wet image and then gently dust off the excess. - lightly spritz with water to set the perfect pearls.
- decorate the rest of the dress form using a selection of kaisercraft embellishments such as lace – gather around the bottom of the body, adhere some pearl strips at the neckline to create the necklace and paper blooms clustered together at the top.

Vintage Storage Drawers Class

2011-07-03T21:29:00.001+10:00

Join me over to create your own version of one of my very favourite projects.
Friday 12th and 19th August.

Im sure you all have a project that you just love and then there are those that it doesn’t matter how many times someone else tells you that they like it or even love it you just don’t. I have had many of those but this is definitely not one of them. I think just being able to play with embossing folders and textures, paint and ink and not being totally restricted to one brand made me love this even more.

To top it all off it was recently featured in the Creating Keepsakes special issue – Creative Spaces.Its always exciting to get work published but i was a little stoked at it being chosen for this mag, especially being a US one.

Anyway on Friday 12th and 19th August between 6pm and 8pm (still time to go out party afterwards if you are so inclined) i will be running this as a class. By the end of the two nights you will go home with a COMPLETED set of storage drawers decorated similar to these.

You will learn inking and embossing techniques as well as being taught how to make your own mini roses to embellish and decorate your set of drawers. This class includes all product to create, assemble and decorate. Cost – $65 (this covers both nights)

To reserve a place - book in for class at the outlet or email myself at davmelk@dodo.com.au Bookings and payments will close 31st July as numbers are limited.

Payments/Bookings can be made to the Kaisercraft Outlet or directly to Melissa via Direct Debit (Contact for details). Feel free to contact me for more details.

3rd Annual Scrapbook Cruise

2011-06-16T21:36:00.002+10:00

After the success of the first two, we have again organised a third scrapbook cruise for January 2012. If anyone is interested in having the most amount of FUN you can have onboard a ship - download the brochure here.
How does 12 days in the South Pacific sound? We have been able to get onboard the Radiance this trip - its the big sister to the Rhapsody so it will be every bit as grand and then some.... so excited!!!
If you would like further details you can email Lorelle (details on the flyer) or email me at davmelk@dodo.com.au
Would love to have you on board – all scrapbooking classes included in the price.
Mel

Finally a Ranger Uni Update

2011-05-22T23:01:00.002+10:00

Whether its jetlag or just struck down with a cold that is going around here, flat out organising our Unmasked Retreat (update coming later this week) I have finally found a little time snuggled up here with my blankie to try and finally blog about my awesome experience I was fortunate to be apart – maybe you should grab a cuppa and a blankie yourselves as this is going to be a long post. I don’t really know where to begin to tell you all about my adventures with Ranger U. I met so many amazing people and the whole experience was one never to forget. If you ever get the chance or opportunity to attend I can thoroughly recommend it. My mind is still boggling with all the information and really wish I had another week off work that I could just play and experiment with all the techniques we learnt. But I will slowly share these with you when I get the chance and a break from the 9-5 job to experiment some more.

Im not the best or relaxed plane traveller
but was in awe of the view from the plane crossing from LA to New York.
Not as appreciative of the captain telling all air hostesses to buckle in a number of times...

I have read many of the other attendees blog posts so I am going to pinch a few pics of theirs and add a few of mine and I hope you can go on a little blog hop with me to get a little glimpse of how fortunate I was to have had this opportunity.

I arrived a day earlier than needed so that I could do the necessary outlet shopping that was required, mostly for my daughters and my mum. It wouldn’t be a trip to the US without coming back with ANOTHER pair of converse for the girls – and so that was one of the first stops.

On Thursday my new roomie arrived finally after lots of flights being delayed due to tornados across the east coast. Jenn is from The Scrapbox Canada and was lovely enough to offer to share with me to save costs. It was great even sleeping on a sofa bed. Eh???

Anyway on Friday the fun began and we arrived at Ranger. I was sooo excited to catch up again with Christy Tomlinson (The She Art goddess) and we sat near each other with an other Aussie in between us Chad from Stamp-it (Distributers in WA), probably good as im sure Christy and I wouldn’t have got as much done as we did if we were next to each other….. Christy has written a great rundown on the weekend and you can read her version HERE but I just want to highlight a little something I found on her blog – We had a lot of laughs too.. so many mishaps (mostly from Melissa.. holy cow that girl can make a mess out of anything! Lol) But SO FUN! Oh Ok I was the aussie version of a silver tin man at one stage…. I really didn’t hear Tim say don’t squeeze the dabber tube – and I just happened to have the silver one…… oh dear!!!!

Day 1Tim began with chatting about all the products we would learn about and then went on a tour of the factory. Can you believe they MAKE all the ranger products on site. Did you hear me…. On site – not china or anything – but right there in New Jersey. It was unbelievable. Obviously we weren’t allowed to take any photographs but they have chemists of their own and they test every batch etc to make sure we all get the absolutely best product we can get. It was totally mind boggling and awesome to see the whole process. It certainly makes you look at the old ink pad in a new light when you see for yourself just how many hands have touch it to get the completed product.

Anyway we got back to the class room and learn all about Perfect pearls. OMGosh these are going to become my new best friend. I only had a couple of these of my own before Ranger and I soon found out you don’t blow in the lid to clean it – you will look lovely covered in fine pearl shimmered dust – which I did. But after the next 10 tags I soon learn that these little jars of powder are jars of magic and the techniques I learnt I just can’t wait to play with on other projects. SO DANG COOL as Christy would say, regularly…..

In the Afternoon, we used the MeltArt Melting Pot with UTEE (Ultra Thick Embossing Enamel) – WOW WOW WOW, We used it with shrink plastic, image transfers, faux soldering and making our own moulds etc. This is something I can’t wait to get a hold of – CHAD im waiting for my pot to arrive.

Melting Pot (photo taken by Christy)

That night we had a BBQ dinner and met some of the amazing Ranger staff and got to know the other attendees a little better.

Ranger U, an amazing company
Techniques upon techniques - mind overload...

Day 2

This morning we were fortunate to have the gorgeous Claudine Helmuth teach us. She has a paint and stamp line with Ranger. She showed us many new techniques! Things you can do with Gesso, Multi Mediums, Extra Time.. and her paints go on like butter.. oh so smooth and rich. Just like the expensive brands.. AND the cool things you can do with her StickyBack Canvas! Make your own fabric with image transfer! – mind is boggling all over again especially wanting to put some of our next designs onto fabric….. oh I really wish there were more hours in the day

Today was square pizza day and as Tim recommended, the Buffalo Chicken pizza was totally awesome – yes AWESOME it sounds a very American word but desicribes things just so perfectly…..AWESOME

Square pizza (Photo by Christy)

After lunch Tim was back with us teaching us all things DISTRESSED – I love those ink pads but now I have a new love distressed stains and stikles and distressed embossing powder – I love them all.

Dinner was great Chad and I went out for dinner with the boys to a little local pub – Barnacles Bills and had the bestest hamburger and a little sight seeing around Jersey Shore. I even dipped my toes in the water…. It actually felt great on my swollen ankles… don’t know whay travelling does it to me but my ankles need replacing afer flying and it happens EVERY time…. Someone tell me a cure please!!!!

Day 3

Last day came all to fast and I really didn’t want it to end. I really could have taken a whole week of this as there is still soooo much more to learn.

Today was all about Rangers other products, Ranger’s Adirondack Line – ink pads and Color Wash Sprays – WOW these colours are unreal, I love Glimmer Mists but the colours of these are so rich – I think I have found a new love and these will be replacing the others very quickly I think.

The Aftersoon was spent learning all about alcohol inks and paint dabbers. The effect you can get with alcohol inks are unbelieveable and definitely need practice and experimenting but it was again mind boggling. Tim is just way to talented for one person but he is so encouraging and I think every attendee will be leaving going back and playing for the next month and experimenting. I will have to wait a couple of weeks to catch up on everything that has to be done at work before I have that luxury but I can tell you it was an experience necver to be forgotten and information that can only be built on and hopefully I will be able to share with you all some of the things I have learning in upcoming projects and classes.

One of the things that happens at the end of Ranger is that we are congratulations receive our certificates that endorse us as Ranger Educators, which means we are endorsed by Ranger to teach you about these products and share some of the techniques we have learnt over these few days. Tim has always been a fantastic support to me with classes and I can’t wait to support him and Ranger in the future promoting their products as much as I can. It will be exciting to start to put some of the techniques I have learnt into practice and share with you.

The most fun one can have in three days.
Thanks so much for sharing all your knowledge with us Tim,
and Mario, what would i have done without the kettle corn.......

That night before saying goodbye a few of us Jenn (my room mate), Chad, Rosa, Mark and Christy went out for dinner but not before visiting the Jersey Shore for a little frolick on the beach….

The infamous Jersey Shore.
thanks jen, chad, christy, mark and rosa for a fun evening

Can't wait to catch up with you all again

New Friends, new knowledge and techniques and I can’t wait for some spare time put these into practice.

Thank you to all my new friends that I met(will be keeping up with your venture in cyberspace), to Tim and Claudine for so opening sharing your knowledge, Mario for keeping us all so well fed and of course the HUGE bag of kettle corn that kept me going all day on the Sunday – gosh I love that stuff and please please please if any of you are at the next CHA show come by and say hello – it will be great to catch up with you again.

Dream a little Dream

2011-04-26T16:49:00.000+10:00

if you can dream it you can do it…. Its an old quote but so very true.
i don’t know when first started really believing in myself but over the past few months i think my little wings are growing just a tad – not sure if im ready to fly but definitely running down the runway. i have participated in a few online courses – Soul Restoration (Brave Girls) and She Art (Christy Tomlinson) and both these have encouraged me and those participating to get back to the real you…. somewhere locked inside of us is this person longing to get out and live those dreams we all have. encouraging others do that is something that i try to do in my classes but being in the industry its all toeasy to get a bit stuck in a rut and at times hard to pull yourself out – sooooo i guess i have had to take a little leap myself and practise a little of what i often tell others to do. If you want something GO FOR IT…. there is not much point wishing for something and doing nothing about it.
for a long time like many of you reading this post, i have been in love with all things T!m Holtz (the man is sooo talented) and just wishing i had the time to sit by my computer and learn as much as i could from his videos – but seriously who has that time…. i wish… but i have discovered i LOVE getting dirty and grungy and going off the page and playing with mixed media is just plain fun….

a number of friends and myself participated in a canvas layout swap (kind of like a circle journal) over the past twelve months and when we gave each other our pages we also had to make a tag for each other. well this was my time to play with some of my inks that so often sit there and not get used anywhere to their full potential… so i pulled them all out and away i went - i inked and stamped and masked and blended and came up with the tag on your left.
its not too bad for a learner but then i thought i really would love to know how to use all these products in the way they were designed…. experimenting is great – don’t get me wrong that is how we all learn – but just for once i WANT to be taught instead of teaching others….
i love teaching and wish i had the time to do more but i also need to learn too.
so what did i do. i applied to Ranger Uni – just imagine three days with Tim Holtz himself, Claudine Hellmuth and the Ranger gurus going through their product ranges – HANDS ON. they take 24 people twice a year from around the world and teach us how to teach others … WOW
to cut a long story short – woo hoo i was accepted and am totally excited and leave tomorrow…. yes tomorrow and i still haven’t packed… i will after this post but i just wanted to encourage any of you out there to have a little think about some of those dreams you have and DO SOMETHING ABOUT THEM… some things don’t just fall into your lap – you need to chase them at times so if there is something you want to do – whether its getting published – you have to send in your work or a change in career – you may need to go back to Uni yourself but at least apply – otherwise your dreams will always be just that dreams….. and if an opportunity arises like it did for me GO FOR IT.

also lastly we are leaving the registrations for Unmasked open for another week or so – this is the very last chance to come to this years retreat. watch out peeps, i am guessing i will have lots of new techniques to share…. and a few extra unplanned make and takes im sure.
the Unmasked Retreat’s purpose is to encourage the ladies to be themselves, in a comfortable and friendly atmosphere where they won’t have to worry about what others think either of them personally or of their art. they will have the opportunity to try new things and possibly rediscover dreams that may have had hidden away in their hearts and hopefully by the end of the weekend they will leave more confident - personally and/or creatively.
chat soon,
can’t wait to share with you what i learn later this week…
Mel

Aluminium Foil in a whole new light

2011-03-27T18:06:00.001+11:00

Aluminium Foil, Black Kaisercraft Paint, Tim Holtz Walnut Distress Ink, Walnut Embossing Powder, Adironack Ink – Hazelnut and Heirloom Gold Perfect Pearls Mists. Embossing Plates.

Ok so i should have taken proper step photographs along the way but kinda stumbled across this finish and I just wanted to show you how easy it is and what you can do with some ordinary aluminium foil.

You may remember the set of drawers i made for the CHA show. Well the black drawers on this unit were a piece of Ten Second Studio Metal embossed through my cuttlebug. This is isn’t the easiest product to come across here in Geelong so today i thought about having a play and making some of my own.

Tear off a piece of aluminium foil and seriously i only used a glue stick to adhere it to a thin piece of chipboard.
Place inside an embossing folder and run through a cuttlebug,big shot etc etc. and you will get something that looks like this (Thanks Ellie, Miss 11, has just decided that she is going to make one of her own now).
I then really just played with the above products, wiping ink over the embossed foil, dripping adironack Ink and sprinkling embossing powder. I am really enjoying just playing and making a little messes at the moment. In between dry with a heatgun to speed up the processon. If i didn’t quite like the effect i would just add a little more.
Once happy with the colours, i then grabbed my sanding block and gave it a gentle sand over the top to highlight the embossed design.
Now to cut it to size as i think this will make a great cover for one of the storage drawers and will match the Timeless Collection beautifully. I can imagine it in the storage unit instead of the black ones.Hmmmmm noice.

And here is the one my little Ellie (Miss 11) just finished– her favourite colour is blue – i guess i won’t be seeing my cuttlebug for the rest of the night now – she has herself firmly planted in my place with all the inks in front of her – so there you go is she can do it – SO CAN YOU !!!!

Crop 4 A Cause Update

2011-03-18T15:29:00.005+11:00

For those of you who came and supported the recent Crop for a Cause – where we were raising money for Michelle’s SIL (who has been diagnosed with MS), a huge thank you. We raised just over $1000 for her which was a fantastic effort considering we were such a small group in comparison to normal. As a group we have now raised approx. $50,000 if the past 3 years and that is an unbelievable effort and I really hope as a whole you are really proud of yourselves as you all have not only helped many individuals and families here in Geelong but also overseas.
Nevertheless, regardless of the numbers (yes i will check when the long weekend is on next time) we had a great day and lots of fun was had. To the girls who participated in the Ready Steady Crops – you did so good considering the kits that i put together – i would have struggled to come up with anything that even resembled a layout. i was having a giggle making them up and was thinking I can’t wait to see what they do with these, considering they were all old stock and things thrown together. It shows you what a talented bunch of scrappers we have. It is actually quite exciting because with every scrapbook mag that comes out I am starting to see some of your names filtering through in submissions that have been accepted – so congratulations girls to those of you who have been in the mags lately. To those of you who haven’t, keep persevering – it will happen.
First Challenge.
Oh my gosh… the first “kit” was a bit of this and a bit of that from Empire – an old range and the girls somehow still managed to make it look lovely. I love watching how these girls work under pressure and wish i now took a pic of the table – it seriously looked like a bomb went off.
Congratulations goes to: 1st – Angela,
2nd – Sharon
3rd - Marelle.

Second Challenge.

This time we used some old “Rustic Charm” which in its day was actually one of my favourite papers and the girls came up with some gorgeous layouts. Some of my favourite from the day.
Congratulations this time to:
1st – Sharon,
2nd – Leonie
3rd – Leanne

Last Challenge:

Lastly, really was probably the hardest as it was truthfully a bit of this and a bit of that but still the girls did a great job and came up with some lovely layouts.
Congratulations to:
1st – Sharon
2nd – Sharon
3rd – Maree

Also i just wanted to share this with you. With the left over money we had from the Christmas Crop, where we donated 10 large hampers to families in need, supported Chez on a recent trip to the Philippines we still had enough money left over to buy this Rickshaw to help out a family in India. Again thank you to everyone who attended the Christmas Crop. They have even put a plaque on the back from us.

For those of you who don’t realise, this is now in addition to the well we were able to fund, in late 2009, also in India.

Next C4AC Workshop is 9th July. Registrations will go our around the end of May.
Don’t forget there is still time to register for Unmasked – May 20 – 22nd.

Thanks again ladies for your ongoing support of Crop for A Cause.

Mel

The Thelma and Louise road trip coming to an outlet near you.

2011-03-09T08:28:00.001+11:00

Al Hannah and myself are finalising getting around to checking out and visiting the Kaisercraft outlets and the ETC store in Queensland. We will be taking a workshop at each one whilst we are there so if anyone near one of the following stores would like, you can book in to do this two page English Rose layout class – we would love to catch up and meet you whilst we are there. We couldn’t make it up for the flood appeal, but better late than never.

We will be in the following stores of these dates – contact the stores for more details

Monday 21st March
Browns Plains
18 Commerce Drive,
Browns Plains QLD
Ph : 07 380 92242

Tuesday 22nd March
Ground Level
Gardentown Shopping Centre
Cnr Victoria and Margaret Sts,
Toowoomba QLD
Ph: 07 4638 8868

Wednesday 23rd March
Robina
Shop RC08, Robina Town Centre Drive,
Robina QLD
Ph: 07 5580 9939

Baby Eli – You Are Loved

2011-03-06T22:09:00.001+11:00

What to give your sister when she has already seen the huge pile of clothes you brought home for her little baby when you returned from CHA (Los Angeles) recently. Those she still did get but as you do, I had to make something for a surprise. So I scrapped the gorgeous photo that was taken the day after he was born. My daughter was making a card for Dee, gorgeous it was too, wished I had of photographed that now. The die cut and background are from the Lullaby collection which is coming out in April, mixed with some Bella embellishments that I had floating around left over from goodness knows when.

SHE knows it will all work out– Mixed Media

2011-03-05T00:18:00.002+11:00

A massive thank you to Christy Tomlinson of Scarlet Lime for running the SHE Art Workshop online course. I'm not really sure where i have found the time to sit and watch all the online videos but it was wonderful “me” time that i needed and has allowed me to be creative and do something just for myself. Between this and the Soul Restoration course by Brave Girls with Melody Ross i think i will be able to go out and tackle the world all over again. Sometimes we really do need to talk a little time out for ourselves.. If you have the time i would thoroughly recommend enrolling into one or both of these – you won’t regret it. Anyways this blank canvas this morning turned into this tonight. I can’t remember having so much fun making a mess….. A creative mess!!!

Just about every product used to create this canvas, with the exception of the paper and plastic doilies, are Kaisercraft product. The old stash of rubons, even has come in handy.
Don’t forget if you haven’t registered for Unmasked yet – there are still places available. The perfect opportunity to have a weekend away and make your own creative mess – one of the classes will be a mixed media canvas – so you too can come and get your hands dirty along with me and a number of other lovely ladies.

CHA wrap up

2011-02-22T21:51:00.001+11:00

Finally i think im back to reality – over the jetlag and now well and truly feeling like i have never been, gone and returned. Work as usual is back to its hectic pace but i love being back home with my family and the girls. i really did miss them heaps this time around. I must admit somewhere overseas i must have found my mojo again as i had an extremely productive week last week, most likely inspired by all the wonderful things i saw whilst away. There are truly some really talented people in this world.

Only dampener of my spirits last week was thanks to the lovely bruises down the left side of my arms and hips thanks to my comfy computer chair deciding that it didn’t need to stay together on me anymore. Base of it went in one direction whilst the top with myself firmly attached at the butt went another, right through a frame i had just finished painting for a project. Yep i totally smashed it when i landed on it and with half of me into a bin next to it. I don’t think i remember a time where i have cried and laughed so much at the same time – it really did hurt but it must have looked ridiculously funny. Thanks so much Al for keeping a straight face through my ordeal….LOL Now to find out who sabotaged my chair….. I don’t really need any extra help to be awkward.

Anyway here are a few pics of our stand this year. I was a little nervous as in the past Tom has designed the stand for the show. With him no longer here it was left to yours truly, so decided to go in a slightly different direction this show and display our new products on storyboards – thanks to all the girls at work for your help and the guys in the joinery for building it. I think we did pretty good. I actually thought we had heaps of finished products to display but just goes to show will have the call out for the next show as it still needed heaps more. The stand was quite a lot bigger than we thought.

cha kaiser booth

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As per normal overseas in America we are always amazed by the food but can’t help ourselves we still manage to eat all, well most that is on the plate.

Food/Drinks

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Ok so this little selection doesn’t actually look that healthy and i promise we took photos of all the good stuff we ate too but somehow those photos have gone astray. Drinks were good too…

And then there is always the fun of catching up with familiar faces and friends.

Familiar Faces

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And finally here are a few projects that i haven’t shared yet as they were shipped off to CHA. Sorry the pics aren’t the best but i think you get the general idea.

Dbl layout using – Class of ‘97 (Feb Release)

Believe Layout and Fairy Castle – Magic Happens (Feb Release)

Bubblegum Hills is a fun and funky range to be released next month (March) just in time for Easter.

Nan’s Favourites (March Release) is going to be a great range to use to feature all your “little” cooks and kids in the kitchen. Plus the new wooden flourishes are the cutest.

For all those expectant mums to be keep an eye out in April for the Lullaby collection. Baby blues and pinks as requested.

and lastly with a double layout in Chanteuse (available April). This will come out in time to create some wonderful projects for your mum. Make sure you check out the photo display page as it can also be used to make some beautiful Mother’s Day cards.

Well thats it for me tonight. Need to put the feet up and a cuppa. I do however have a few other exciting things to share with you but will leave that until next time.

Australian Cruise–Land legs have returned.

2011-01-15T00:02:00.000+11:00

Well it took ~~a little while~~ all day actually, but my legs have almost returned to normal. Head is still a little swimming but legs are now holding me up straight. Its a strange feeling being back on land but still swaying. Anyway I just want to take this time to thanks all those beautiful ladies who booked on the Cruise and did my classes. You were awesome. Thanks too to Lorelle at Crafting Cruises who got this motley bunch of us together. To those of you who were game enough to come back for a second helping after last year.
Thanks for all your love and friendship and look forward to the next one in 2012. Its ladies like you all that inspire me to do what I do and i had such a blast this week and can’t wait to do it all over again. For those of you who had never done a class before – you did the most fabulous job and Im so proud of you all. I can’t believe the number of layouts some of you girls completed in a week. (sorry pic is a little blurry – this is as good as i have – think my little poppet didn’t hold the button half done to focus so if any of you have a better one would love you to send me a copy)
I can’t let this moment go by without acknowledging Diane and Kymm for completing over 50 layouts each for the week. They even had to post a box of them home each in Hobart to avoid excess luggage. And no they didn’t stay in the room 24/7 - they got out and about too.
Thank you to so many of you who returned on the second scrapbook cruise and look forward to you all returned next year (Jan) for the third – so stay tuned for more details.
To Yvonne who continue the tradition and called me Mrs Boss though i have to think she was the one who was doing a lot of the organising – thank you Yvonne for all the help you gave me and your love and friendship too.

For those of you wondering what we got up too here are the classes the lovely ladies completed.

These four layouts were the first class – instructions downloadable HERE.
I think i freaked out a few of the new scrappers with four layouts in the class but over the course of the day they did complete them all and they did such lovely work.

This was class two done with Kaisercraft’s Seaside papers – as you can see for the more advance scrapbookers there was plenty of scope to distress, add a little ink and extra flowers. For those who had boy photos they adapted the layout beautifully by using the surfboards and beach huts fromt he range.
Instructions for this double page layout can be downloaded HERE
We had a mini class made from English Rose and would love any of you lovely ladies to email me the cards we made as i gave mine to a crew member of the ship that was admiring them – silly me and didn’t take a pic of them. Please email me pics and i can post up here.

The final main class was sponsored by American Crafts (thanks Mike) where the girls received so many products that it probably put them over the weight limits for their trips home – Im sorry girls but Im sure you didn’t mind that much – i hope
Instructions for this layout can be downloaded HERE. Cards and mini book were created from the leftovers. Thanks girls too for providing all your details in the little book at the end – it is a lovely memento for me of the trip and i will definitely stay in touch.

snapshots of the week away

It was really lovely not only to have the opportunity to teach again on the beautiful Rhapsody of the Seas Cruise ship but take my eldest daughter Jess with me. When you have kids so close together you don’t always get the opportunity to spend time alone with them so this was a wonderful time together. We had a little bit of time the day before we left and on the day we came back before flying home so we got to see a little around Sydney too.

Cruise 2011

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Until next time – Rhapsody of the Seas.
Stay tuned for details of the 3rd trip in 2012. Come and join in the fun.

Catching Up

2011-01-03T21:28:00.000+11:00

Guilty ! ! ! – of spending time with my family, forgetting about blogging and being attached to the computer and just relaxing for a bit.

Guilty ! ! ! – of taking some time out for me
GUILTY and loving it...
I plead INNOCENT – as it was time i needed to take to get myself back to normal.

Happy New Year Everyone
I don’t know about all of you but 2010 was one of the busiest hardest years I’ve had. Not only has work taken its toll on me personally and with my family but hubby’s job hasn’t been a bed of roses either. Priorities at time got completely out of whack (yep there you go I have admitted it) – I do believe that was supposed to be my New Year’s resolution for 2010 and as much as i may have wanted family to come first it didn’t always happen. I certainly have to hand it to mums who work full time and juggle all the responsibilities of a family as i just haven’t quite got the balance all worked out just yet.
Then i have watched one of my closest friends have really a crappy year which too has been hard. Especially when there is just nothing much you can do to help but just be there for them.

So roll on 2011 – its a new year.
Saying that Im off on a cruise with the eldest daughter this week. Its the 2nd Australian Scrapbook Cruise and Im teaching 3.5 classes (.5 a mini class). It should be fun and looking forward to spending some quality time with Jess as she is off to high school this year. They grow up so fast.
Then back a week which will involve my daughters birthday and my grandpas 100th birthday. Pretty good effort i must say so myself though there is a lot to say about quality of living.
Then its again off to CHA with work. I love the travel involved with my job but at times you just wish your whole family could pack up and come too.
Here are some happy snaps from a very special Christmas Day with some very old grandparents. It makes you appreciate every day you have together.

Now for just a little show and tell. As most of the things i was working on prior to Christmas was for the CHA show and products that aren't out yet i have had to keep them under wraps but i think its probably time for a few sneak peaks of a couple of things that will be released next month - but only a few.
The photo display frame has fast becoming my favourite off the frame project. Not only is it easy to make but with they make great presents for people. I don’t knowhow many i have made now but they are all different and I love them. This was is done using the DEVONSHIRE range.
HOW TO CREATE THE MOTTLED ANTIQUE LOOK:
- First of all I roughly painted the frame with watered down raw umber paint.
- Then rub Walnut Tim Holtz Distress Ink all over the frame.
- On top of this give the frame a generous coat of Tim HOltz Rock Candy Crackly paint
- Whilst drying spray in areas Irridescant Gold Glimmer Mist to create the antique look.
Here are a couple of sneak peaks of what you can look forward to next month as well as a couple of older ones towards the bottom that I haven’t shared as yet.

What I love about this die cut specialty page is that it fits perfectly onto the new frame. I’m not into fairy papers usually but with this range is one of my girls favourites. Look out for MAGIC HAPPENS in your local store.

With kids going back to school in just under a month, you will love the new school range. CLASS OF ‘97 will have something in it for everyone but what i love is the two specialty pages. One is a die cut line sheet and the other is an actual pocket page – just perfect for all those certificates and rewards that seem to pile up over the year.

LOVE NOTES – is out this month and should be in your LSS. Just the perfect range for valentines day.
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Both of these two layouts contain papers from our new core essentials range – TIMELESS. These are papers that will mix and match with almost any range we have had from past to present. It is a range of papers that contains clocks, script, music, cards, sudoko, dress patterns and more….

With summer well and truly upon us, though at times Im wondering where the sun is – this new range of paper SEASIDE is a great range to scrap your holiday snaps or time spent at the beach.
Thanks for looking and happy scrapping.
Mel

Something A Little Different

2010-11-28T13:09:00.000+11:00

I’m slowly being challenged to get off the page and trying other things “arty” – yes I’ve scrapped for 10 years but can’t quite come to call myself an artist, still I sat down the other week, looked at my stash of everything crafty and thought “hmmmm what can i do here that is a little different”
Well I came up with the following – actually I made quite a few but these were the two that i gave away at my Crop for a Cause workshop last weekend.
I guess you have to start somewhere – and this was the result – I've decided it’s time to get a little adventurous – though this doesn’t look like much i had lots of fun with the glimmer mists and making the backgrounds.
Then at the crop I decided to get down and dirty and cover this rejected dressform from work in my favourite colours. Yes its big - it stands almost as tall as me. Its a rejects left over from designing the CHA stand so thought this may look good on my wall in my bedroom (not sure hubby thinks so). I ended up covered in glue cause in the end my paint brush just wasn’t cutting it and found it was just as easy to ~~paint the~~ smother on the glue with my hands - literally. Yep i was filthy dirty - and loved it.
It was so much fun and even better as i didn’t really have to think about what i was doing – just ripping and sticking – another day of playing and experimenting – now looking forward to another day of play.

Christmas Workshop Countdown - 2 weeks to go

2010-11-07T16:36:00.000+11:00

Can you believe the countdown to Christmas is well and truly on. I actually made a start on some of my christmas shopping yesterday. We went on a bus trip to raise some money for a little boy here in Geelong. It was my first ever bus trip and YES Jules i was a little excited. Lots of goodies for the girls for their stockings and a few extra prizes for the crop.

Yes the CROP - It is only 2 weeks away and its going to be BIG. Our Christmas workshop - is the last one for CROP for A CAUSE for this year, but are more things planned for next year.
Just a quick thank you to everyone who has registered and fully paid We now are a full house. 90 people. For all of you who are yet to finalise their payments it would be appreciated to make those as soon as you can so I can now go ahead and pay for the catering etc.

Lots of great prizes, including a Cricut machine/cartridges and even a personally signed book from one of my very favourite papercrafters in the world - (not Australian). If you haven't entered the competitions you still have two weeks to get cracking.
Look forward to catching up with many of you on the 20th, until then Happy Scrapping.
love
Lis

2010-10-07T22:19:00.011+11:00

Kids are back at school and Im back at work and slowly playing catch up with everything else. As much as i say i am going to try and keep up to date, time always seem to run away from me, so now i am not going to promise anything and just do what i can.

I look back and realise that the last time i posted work layouts etc was for Le Chateau, can you believe that is June releases. Am i the only one who seems to feel like this year is just flying by.

Anyway here is a little bit of catch up for you but what i am going to do is start from the current month and work backwards.

So this month we released Homemade and Candy Lane.

Two totally different ranges but both oh so cute and versatile.
If you are going to bring out cupcakes you may as well have a stand and this is a goodie. Jess my little girl has just had her birthday party and this looked gorgeous on the table filled with lots of sugary delights -though i have to admit the chocolate fountain took up most of my attention

Whether it be a birthday or a tea party, this paper range works for either.

Al Hannah did up this gorgeous cuckoo clock in the Homemade collection and i think this would look absolutely gorgeous on the wall of a country home.

My little family. I really do love this range and the colours

and it matches so very well with the new lace and frame flourish packs and

as you can see below, great for House Warmings cards etc.

For further uses of these two paper ranges head over the Kaiser blog
and see what some of the very talented design team members have done.

OK lets go back another month now to September. For us at Kaiser it was Christmas a long time ago now, for us in Design we had Christmas in June when we were working on the ranges.

Its been great to see and hear feedback about our Christmas ranges. Once again we have struggled to keep our Christmas Ranges in stock and the good ol advent calendar is selling out as fast as we can ship it. I have seen many awesome pics of ones you have done - its really exciting to see that it is still such a popular product. Having the piece of paper with the little squares that fit perfectly to the front of the drawers certainly help with decorating the advent this year. Im sure Mikala (designer of this range) thought i was nuts when i said i wanted pics in little 4cm squares but she soon clicked and realised why and from the popularity of the paper so have many others.

I love the new little flourish trees.

These are the perfect size to just pop into a card to send something little to a friend for Christmas.

Our other Christmas range Be Merry is just as the name says - bright and funky and very easy and fun to use. I really enjoyed using this range.

and to finish off my catch up here are some some of the layouts i created for collections that came out in July and August. Hippy Girl, Secret Bird Society, Up, Up and Away and Lush

Thanks for looking and sorry its taken so long to share these things.

Hope you all have a wonderful weekend.

Mel

Mixed Media attempt

2010-09-05T14:27:00.006+10:00

There have been so many mixed media projects that i have seen lately that i have fallen in love with that i finally found time to have a play and attempt one myself.
Actually it was a few weeks ago now at the last Crop for a Cause.
I brought this frame awhile ago to use for something else and now it was just hanging around so i thought it was time to have a play and put something in it.
As you all know I LOVE QUOTES.
So i did this up with my favourite quote.My three little girls embossed all the letters for me. It was a little bit of a fight over the heat gun and getting them to share. So they would take it in turn embossing each word. Naturally this ended up taking a bit longer than planned. I had lots of fun using all sort of bits and pieces from a mixture of suppliers like Prima, Websters, Kaiser, Tattered Angels and Ranger.
Anyway I love the end result though it I sit back and look at it again there are probably lots of things i would do differently but for a first attempt Im happy and itching to get my hands dirty again.
Mel

Time to Play Catch up. Backtracking - Le Chateau

2010-08-20T15:10:00.000+10:00

Well its high time to share what was one of my favourite ranges to work with. Funny thing is working so far in advance i have a new fave each month.
Now that my feet are back on aussie soil and no immediate plans on going anywhere i thought i might share with you a few of things i have done...past tense now. You may have already seen some of these if you get the Kaiser workshop or read the blog but as i have a few months to catch up on i will share June July and August over the coming week and then some new things i have been doing.

Kaisercraft released Le Chateau in June but its still a relative new range and for myself along with the new flourishes because of its versatility will always be one of my faves. I had been holding onto these photos I took when i visited Kalk Bay, South Africa last year and not really knowing what to use to scrap them with. When this range was released i immediately grabbed them.The next two layouts are a couple of versions in the same style (similar techniques in both) but due to teaching were waiting until classes were over to share.

The first one is the layout i taught in Brisbane in June and then in July in New Zealand at Senz, amongst some other projects which i will share later. Thank you to all the lovely ladies who were in these classes, i have had some lovely responses and it was great to meet you all and catch up with others The layout was full of little techniques but by far I really wanted to get across and remind the ladies how special they are. How often we encourage our children to DREAM but not ourselves. Life is full of so many amazing opportunities just waiting for us to grab hold of them. So many of us look back on our lives and only WISH we took some of these up when they were offered. We look back and DREAM of how it could have been some time. So I thought we could do this layout and get the girls to hang it up for a week so just to remind them that their dreams are still special and the only one stopping them coming true is themselves - You have to step out and take a chance. If you would like the notes for this class you can download these HERE.

LIFE IS MADE UP OF THE CHOICES WE MAKE... Why not make it a full of all the things we dream of.....

This double layout below i taught at SIA, an extended version of the above techniques. You can download instructions for this one HERE.

One of the techniques done in this class turns the Kaiser wooden flourishes(birdcage and keys) and chipboard letters into metallic looking embellishments simply by inking the pieces first with Tim Holtz Distress Walnut Ink and then generously coat with Rock Candy Crackle Paint, with a bit of glimmer Mist sprayed over the top as drying. I have really enjoyed this range and being Le Chateau it was only fitting to do up the House album as the Beyond the Page project for the month.

The beauty of being a late in posting what i did with this is range is that since I have had a chance to see what some of the "past" DT's did with this range too and Im going to share it with you. You may have already seen some of these on the Kaiser blog, sorry if you have, but they are worth the second look .

At the office we have so many deadlines to work to and don't always get to play as much as we would like with all the new ranges, we do a layout or two and then off to work on another new range so I love keeping up to date with the blog (as much as I can anyway) and it never ceases to amaze me what the DT's come up with - what they do with the ranges is amazing, all so different and often Al and I will say - why didn't we think of that...... Keep up the good work girls, you do such an awesome job and i really look forward to what the new Design Team come up with over the next twelve months.

This gorgeous layout from done by Nancy Burke.

The colours in this range are so versatile and can be used for so many differnt types of photos and themes.

Renee - another stunning layout, with loads of detail.

Love the way Elizna Parsons has cut out the bird cages from one of the other pages and used them on this layout. I also love the way she has used the die cut page too.

and Nancy, this clock is gorgeous. Its beautiful and can imagine it would look great on the wall in your house. Renee again has come up with a gorgeous use for the accordian frames. This has made me want to go and make one myself.

I'll be back again shortly to share some of my projects done in paper released in July.

Thanks for looking

A Day to Myself

2010-07-10T12:20:00.001+10:00

It doesn't happen very often but finally i have a day on my own for myself. No work has to be finished - well OK a little- but its not happening today. My family have just left to go to the football and all of a sudden there is QUIET.
What to do.... What not to do?
The house could do with a little clean, but considering hubby is doing up the lounge room and it involves sanding, any dusting is pointless at this stage. Washing a few clothes for our New Zealand trip is a must but once they are in then its just me again.
Its windy and wet so i think a cup of hot chocolate, a good movie curled up in the front of the fire is what is called for. Laptop and catching up on some of my favourite blogs - its been ages since I've blog hopped and had the chance to stop and read.
Whatever you find yourself doing today I hope you are enjoying it as much as Im about to . This is going to be fun.
Have a wonderful weekend.
Mel

Retreat shananigans

2010-06-28T23:57:00.006+10:00

Returned, would like to say rested, but not! Never got to sleep until 4ish both mornings. Can full recommend anyone wanting to run a retreat to check out The Grange in Lancefield though. We were totally and uterly spoilt for the whole weekend. Food, glorious, food. Lots of laughs and fun and even the mojo returned and i was able to scrap 12 layouts. This may not sound like many but considering how much i like to talk and muck around - that was pretty good for me as my goal was for 10. Now they may not be 12 totally detailed and mag worthy layouts but to actually get that many done for me was fantastic. Just to be able to stop and do my own thing for a couple of days was just a breath of fresh aire - sometimes all it takes is a little timeout and this past weekend was just what the doctor ordered. Thanks to all you girls who came along and made the weekend such a success. Am rebooking tomorrow for next year.

Here are the layouts - sorry about the photography - took them under a light here on my desk and they aren't so good (colour is a bit off) will have to reshoot them. Huge mixture of styles from simple to harder but i was just truly happy to get them on a page whether it was simple or not.

Hope you all had a weekend as good as mine.
Take care and thanks for looking

Inspired....

2010-05-30T13:58:00.010+10:00

After being bed ridden (well bed/couch/bed/couch) for a 10 days with a back injury (and no I don't know 100% what i have done) except that it really hurts around my ribs to sit, i went back to work for three days last week. Even though it was only for half a week, it felt like forever. Its amazing how much work can accumulate over a week and already i feel like i am behind the 8 ball all over again. I took a heap home with me this weekend but then thought NO no no no i really need to do something for me. When you work in the industry its so very easy to get swamped, bogged down with deadlines and doing everything for everyone else, that your own scrapping is quite often non existent or the last thing on the list that gets done.

Sooooo, after being inspired all over again by some of the things i saw and little make and takes i did at the recent SIA show i found some time yesterday to finish a 7 Gypsies printers tray. You know i totally loved, not only having the afternoon to myself, but just this time out for me. David took the girls to the footy and i couldn't think of anything worse, especially with the weather being so wet, so i spread myself out and went for it. Funny thing is, this is the first thing i have done for awhile that my hubby took closer look of and actually said he like it. I was even able to incorporate two of the gorgeous little make and takes i did at SIA from Collections (thanks Audrey) and the girls from The Dusty Attic.

I also finished this layout with some new photos that were taken on Mothers Day. I loved Mothers Day this year - not that i don't every year, but i just didn't do anything except hang out with family at home. there are times when this is all you want to do - just be at home. During the afternoon the girls called me in for a cuppa and biscuit and this is what they made me the day before when i was at the Copic course. David said the kitchen was a mess but they had so much fun cutting out all the gingerbread letters individually and icing them. Don't you love the way they wrote "Happy Mum's Day" instead as the letters for "mother" wouldn't fit on the tray. Kids do the sweetest thingsIts a little blurry but that happens when you give your camera to your hubby...LOL but i think you get the picture - they certainly were extrememly proud of themselves and so they should be.
Have a great week

Pretty in Pink.....well.....???

2010-05-30T13:28:00.003+10:00

I couldn't help myself and just had to share these photos that were taken at the most recent Crop for A Cause. Al and I borrowed these wigs from the girls below (Carmel, Kristen - thank you) and attempted to get a decent photo of the two of us. Im afraid there was just way too much mucking around and laughter for that. Now all i need are some ideas on how to scrap them.

Also I would just like to thank all of you who came and supported the day. We had 90 women attend and raised over $1500 for Breast Cancer research. Thanks to everyone who participated in the day, the scrapbooking competitions, games and just in general - we had heaps of fun and i hope you got more pages done than i did - thanks Emily for the doilie you gave me - it was the only layout i finished...LOL.

Together we really can make a difference
Thanks
Mel

SIA Wrap Up

2010-05-13T22:27:00.007+10:00

Its been a week and i still haven't posted about SIA. It was great to be apart of SIA this year and be a part of the Scrapbooking Industry and see what everyone is up to in Australia. It was also really great to catch up with so many familiar faces and friends that i really only get to see once or twice a year. It was a pity we didn't really have a couple of extra days to do a little more chatting.

Finally i can let the rest of you in to what i was up to and that sneak peak i posted a couple of weeks ago - Mystery over. I was asked to do a clock for an auction that was held on the crop night at SIA to raise money for a worthy cause (ooops sorry forgotten the actual cause at the moment) - anyway here is my clock. This is probably one of those projects you make knowing you have to give it away but really want to keep for yourself. Anyway i now have a pic so fully intend to make one for myself shortly. Maybe a class would be something i should plan. (You can scroll down to previous post for close up shots)

Anne-Marie Rayner ended up buying the clock for her store - Memories that Last. I first met Anne-Marie on the Scrapbook cruise last year - she is fantastic and lots of fun. It was great see you to Kylie - the girls loved the photos, especially your note to them on the rubbish bin....LOLSo glad it went to someone i know, also due to the size of it glad it was someone in Sydney as i was kinda little worried how they would ship it back if it was interstate. Not sure exactly how much the clock went for but i think it was over $250 and all up the clock auction raised over $2000.

Well done to all the SIA committee girls for all the organising and a job well done. I know i had lots of fun and look forward to next years....

A couple of pics from the show.

This is Becky Fleck - Page Maps guru. I think we all have referred to that book at one time or another. I wish i had of taken mine up with me for her to sign.... oh well.
Heidi and Emily. Unfortunatley i wasn't able to do Mystified in Melbourne due to travelling back from China, but was able to get into classes with both Wendy and Heidi at CHA. It was great to learn some Glimmer Misting techniques - there is so much more to that product than just adding a little sparkle and glimmer to your pages or flowers.... WOW lots to practice and experiement with now.

And well yes here i am on our stand. I was up there to work and take a class but still had time to have a bit of fun and lots of laughs.

Thanks to all for dropping by and all the helpful comments and suggestions.

Look forward to catching up with some of you again in Brissy next month

love

Mel

Back again.... well briefly

2010-05-02T21:04:00.004+10:00

WOW is all i can say about China. Did you know they have absolutely hardly any road rules. A toot of a horn means someone is coming through so get out of the way - they also don't stop to let you cross a road or anything either.... There are no such things as queues, you either push in or get pushed in front of. Anyway besides the swollen ankles from all the walking around the trade shows we had a good time and achieved heaps - lots of food for thought. Golly gosh though its going to be hard to pay full price for anything back here in gift shops now seeing the prices of how much things actually do cost to produce. Someone is making a lot of money... Even today i saw something in a gift shop for $24 that i could have bought off the street for $1. grrrrrrr now i wish i did. Oh well.

Back to work tomorrow morning then off to Sydney tomorrow night. Really should be packing but walked into my scrap room and saw a couple of pics sitting there. Not that i really had time but i just had to scrap them as i remember just how much i laughed when Al was trying to take them for me (thanks Al). I needed a photo for a visa so i could get into China and I was seriously standing there trying to hold up a white board behind my head and keep a straight face. Something that just wasn't going to happen. These couple, even though a bit blurry, turned out to be my favourites, probably cause im doing what i love - laughing..... i also had in my mind what someone at work told me the other day when things weren't quite going the way i wanted them to, to always let my light shine....ha.. not always easy.... and then the words to one of my favourite songs LIVE FOR TODAY from Natalie Grant popped into my head. It says in one bit to let your little light shine like there is no tomorrow. So often we can worry about what will happen tomorrow we forget to enjoy today. So with that in mind im ready again to go off into the big wide world and to do as only i know how - LIVE OUT LOUD and have fun. Don't forget to drop by and say hello if you are going to SIA

Sneak Peak - Special Project

2010-04-24T21:30:00.002+10:00

You can imagine my surpirse when i was asked a few weeks ago to create a special "project" that will be auctioned at an upcoming event. Considering some of the names of the other ladies who have also been asked it certainly is an honor but must admit a little daunting at the same time. Anyway i have finally completed the task and really happy with the result - i so hope others like it to as the money will be going to a worthy cause. I have had to take photographs to make another for myself, usually the case when you make one to give away - by now i should always learn to make two.... A few people have seen down have had sneak peak so will probably run a class later in the year. so for now can only give you a wee little look but stay tuned as the rest will be revealed in the next few weeks

More to Share - Prima delicious

2010-04-23T14:10:00.003+10:00

Ok maybe i do work for Kaiser but appreciate all pretty things and i guess i have a little secret love afair with PRIMA so when i visited Chandon last week (well as per usual) couldn't help myself and had to buy and buy and buy.... as you do when you go to your LSS.
I have to admit i had lots of fun that night and somehow completed three layouts in a night - unheard of for me lately but just loved finally getting around to having a play and doing something for "ME" and using up a few things ihave in my stash. Recolouring the flowers with glimmer mist to match was a bit of fun to. Finding three "BEAUTY" quotes was not so easy but found some in the end.

Kaisercraft New Releases - Hey Birdie and Jungle Bug

2010-04-23T13:30:00.006+10:00

I had lots of fun playing with these new ranges. Little boys and girls of any ages are going to love the new paper ranges that will be released in May. Both the layouts below will be our workshop magazine so go and grab the latest issue from your Local Scrapbookstore.

For those of you in the Geelong region i am running a class at Chandon Craft on Thursday the 6th May. You will have a choice of doing either the girl or boy double page layout as shown below. Give Raqual a call if interested in doing the class or getting a kit to do it yourself.

There are so many gorgeous projects you can do with these paper ranges as there are so many elements you can cut out. Whether you are a card maker, papercrafter, scrapbooker or just dabble with beyond the page these ranges are lots of fun.

Little Caitlin is very happy with her mummy at the moment as not only did i feature her on the layout for Hey Birdie (YES they keep track of who i use ...... unbelieveable but they get a kick out of seeing themselves in pictures) but i managed to finally make a address book for her - something she has been nagging me for for quite some time now. She saw ones i did for the other girls and had to have one too. Here is the one i made for her. I hope you like, i was pretty pleased with the result - too cute and she just loves it. Only problem is she has to wait until after CHA to get her little hands on it.

Well its been a crazy week here, getting ready for my workshop tomorrow. We have 90 women all ready and raring to go for 12 hours of scrapping at Barro for Crop for a Cause but in case you have missed out on a spot for this workshop, you can go and check out the Kaiser outlet and the girls who are having a papercrafting day down there on Saturday.

Then Sunday morning at some ridiculous hour Richelle is picking me up to go to China. We are off to the Canton and Hong Kong gift fairs - to see what goodies we can find. So if i don't go now and get ready and start to pack things are going to turn pear shaped.

Hope you all have a lovely weekend

love

Lis

S.I.A Sydney and Scrapbook Expo - Brisbane

2010-04-17T11:30:00.001+10:00

I can't believe how fast things creep up on you.
Its only two weeks before SIA in Sydney and "WHAT IF........" you could get there. Check out the amazing line up of teachers and classes available HERE.....

and then before we know it it will be June and the long weekend. All you die hard scrappers know what that means - a trip to Queensland and for us at the bottom end of Oz a catch up with our northern craftie friends. Can't wait to see you all again.
Anyway the classes are now up for the Scrapbook Expo in Brisbane and you can book HERE.

Kaisercraft is again hosting a classroom and will be offering three different classes each day. A number of us from Kaiser will be making the trip to both so make sure you come on past our booth at one or both of the shows and say hi and see what new things we have to show you or even better book in for a class. I had a great time last year and hope to catch up with many of you again.

Here is a sneak peak of my class for Brisbane

Utopia and Tea at Elsies (April Releases)

2010-04-10T22:07:00.000+10:00

If you like the colour purple (which i understand is not everyone's cup of tea) but if you do then this bright and funky range is for you. Its a bit of fun and i actually found it easier to scrap with than i first expected. I have scrapped Ellie making her little lolly bags all on her own for her birthday party earlier this year. Don't you just love how your children once they hit that 10ish age think they are old enough to do EVERYTHING themselves... yep thats my girl. I also made this little tabbed album using the same paper range - now just to find some more photos to fill it.

Tea at Elsies has that old fashioned feel. Us in the DT dept at Kaisercraft kind of nicknamed it Nanna' Knickers until we came up with one more appropriate but Im afraid old habits die hard as Nanna's Knickers has stuck for me. We also released a gorgeous tea pot album which i decorated up in this range and it looks a little cute - its acutally a great present for Mother's Day, Kitchen Tea or just any good old fashion Tea party photos would look great in here.

Devonshire and La Di Da

2010-03-31T20:23:00.000+11:00

Its been a little while again since i have tapped away here on the blog. Work seems to find a way of keeping me away from here but be assured we have been busy getting all the new ranges ready to release. So whilst i can't share what i have been doing this week I can finally show you a few things i did with some of latest ones we have released at Kaiser.
For those of you who have seen the Kaiser mag - i will apologize as these won't be new - but i know there are a few of you who don't get the mag so hope you some of these may entice you enough to go and get some of these paper ranges and have a play yourself with them.

La Di Da Just love how bright and funky this range is and just perfect for those back to school photos. My girls love this paper range as its been a favourite with them for card making.

Devonshire
This range would have to be my latest favourite though...(lol until the next new release) - i am still coming back to this one for little projects - stay tuned (i have actually done a big project with this but i have to keep it a secret for a little longer)... The paper range is versatile enough to use on storage and home decor projects. I know have this sitting on my shelf in my scrap room and its fantastic to have all those little things that i have stored in each drawer just on hand nearby for when needed.
And then the new journal books we have. It doesn't matter which paper range you use these are such a quick and easy project and the perfect gift idea.
I can't remember if i shared this layout with you but seems Peachy Keen has been used on one of the journals above here is the layout i did in this range too.

Another couple of months worth...

2010-03-22T20:54:00.012+11:00

What a day.... Did you ever have one of those days where you feel like you didn't stop working but then when you look at what was actually done it still didn't feel like much. That was my day today. With all we have on at the moment its easy to feel like there is no end in sight and the big picture is just getting so big that one could easily loose sight of it. At the moment if i looked at everything as a whole and what we had on, i think most people would freak out, but Im learning to try and tackle just one day at a time and even just one job at a time. Things aren't as bad as you think when you break everything down to smaller things and knock them off the your list one thing at a time. So even though nothing major was accomplished today lots of little things got the big tick and it was nice to leave work knowing that some of thelittle things that have been niggling at me, have been done. When you have been a part of a team for soooo long and then you have to step in and now manage it, it certainly is a learning experience all of its own - certainly not a dull moment at the minute and not a day going by where im not learning something new. From cutting and pasting, im now learning all about the thickness and types of papers we use to the inks we use to print on them to publishing mags and all sorts of other things..... not bad for a kindergarden graduate...lol. There is a whole lot more to a pretty design on a piece of paper and getting it printed..... let me tell you.

Anyway here are another couple of canvas layouts i did for the Lucky 13 girls and the ones they did for me. Probably one of the hardest things about this challenge was actually scrapping someone elses photographs. You know they mean so much to the owners so you don't want to stuff them up but its not as easy as doing your own as you know how you were feeling at the time the photos were taken. Anyway it was a fun challenge and again one i felt privaledged to be a part of.

Page for Stephanie Page from Stephanie
Stephanie chose to do us a cover for our albums - just love it. Page for Melanie

and one she did for me.

and a
Page for Angela
and im just waiting for the postman to arrive with with one from her. Can't wait to see what she has done .

This next page is for Donna

and just love the one she did for me. Only a few more to share so be back again tomorrow for the last few.

A Year in the Life of Us - Well a couple of months

2010-03-21T20:37:00.004+11:00

Over the next few day i am going to share some of what Lucky 13 got up to last year. 13 of us from around the globe who love our crafting joined forces to do a circle journal. Each month we would sent a different person on the list some photos of things that happened each month and we would scrap each others photographs. It certainly was an honour to be asked to be a part of this circle journal and a little daunting too with some of the girls quite well known and i must admit i hoped i was up for the challenge. It was fun and challenging and great to actually do the project on canvas somthing I hadn't attempted to do before.. I now have a great mini album of pages that these girls have created for me and a little momento of each one of them. At CHA this year we all met and exchanged our pages - finally.... a few of you may have gotten to see some of my pages before i handed them out but for those of you who didn't here they are. So inspired were we from this project that another group of us here in Geelong have started it all over again - so stay tuned...

Page for Michelle
I really enjoyed using the inks and masks on this piece. Even using rubons on canvas was a new thing for me. It was great to see them actually work and stay on.
and one for me from Michelle

Page for Jennifer
Lots of glitter and sparkle, and a new christmas range to play with (well it was new at the time)

and another for me. Guess she knows what my favourite colour is hey???

Page for Candice
More masking and glimmer mists this time. Basic Grey you gotta love this range - Origins. well i do maybe because it has a "green" feel to it and one she did for me.

Will upload a few more over the next few days.

Brain Overload....

2010-03-12T23:49:00.003+11:00

Well i know i have been AWOL for awhile. I have been trying to keep my head above water and not screw up....

Confused.... well i still am so you can be.

About a month a go we had a few changes in management and to cut a long story short my old boss Tommy resigned to move on in his career and start his own business and i have taken his place as manager or director of design, creative director - whatever you want to call it - boss lady hubby says. It has been quite a challenging month but i must admit i have learnt so much in the past few weeks its ridiculous. I haven't learnt this much since i left school.

Most of you know i have been with Kaisercraft for nearly 5 years but majority of it has been cutting and pasting - teaching others to cut and paste and basically being paid to do what i love best - scrapbooking so actually having to manage people is a learning curve. I have to admit our DT guys have just been awesome the past few weeks. We have had such a insane amount of work to do and they have been fantastic. I really do miss all the laughs with Al about everything and anything but hopefully things will get back to normal soon once we have finished playing catchup. Its terrible when things are so busy you can't muck around - as much as i still attempt to try.

Its not all bad as im always in for a challenge and to do something i haven't done so i guess that is my life at the minute.

There are lots of exciting things on the horizon though including a trip to China and Hong Kong with Richelle, teaching in Sydney (SIA), Aust Scrapbooking Expo (Brisbane, with Al and Al - stay tuned or classes as we would love to catch up with some familiar faces), New Zealand SENZ (again with Al, can't wait for that weekend) and then today finding out we are off to Chicago again. Sounds crazy but thankfully its spread out over the next 5 months - ANDyes i do get to spend time with my family - thankfully things are slowing down a little now. Im sure for a while its was pretty much a case of Mr Mum - thank goodness for a supportive husband. On that note soooo looking forward to the school holidays where we will be going camping again at Bright but what is going to be more fun is that Al's family is coming with us. What a Hoot - i don't think i have looked forward to a break as much as i have this one. So if you hear alot of laughing coming from somewhere down in a valley you are probably in the vicinity of where we are camping - come and say hi....lol we will probably be around a camp fire toasting marshmellows....

The only scrapping done lately has been from work so can't share anything at this stage but will soon. If you have picked up the latest kaiser mag you can catch up with the latest releases, though must admit what im working on now is probably my newest all time fave... (this regularly changes) but really do love this one.... sorry you will have to wait to see them but will be teaching a class in Brisbane using this range.

Well thats pretty much it for now - promise i will share more soon but i didn't want to bore you too much now but thought i better let you all know i haven't fallen off the face of the earth.

For those of you who have more spare time than me at the moment - Happy Scrapping

love

Lis

and FINALLY....

2010-02-15T23:09:00.004+11:00

drumroll please......

my new scraproom has been finished.... yes i have a few more things that need to find homes but i seriously have everything i now need right at my fingertips. Its not as big or as fancy as some of the gorgeous scrap rooms i have seen on the web but for the space we have here its just about perfect. I have a shelf for all my tools, and special little homes for my cricut and pazzle that i can now permanently attach to a computer instead of having to lift up onto the bench when i wanted to use it int he past. Its not until you empty everything out and then have to put it all back that you actually work out exactly HOW MUCH stuff you really have - or should i say, your husband SEES just how much stuff you really have - and then decides you really don't need any more.

Well anyway let him see it, as this was a great surprise for me when i returned back from CHA. Ok I kinda knew it was going to happen (saw what was going on in the garage) but i also thought it was going to happen on one of the past 4 trips overseas and little disappointed upon returns so this time it was so exciting to walk into my room and it actually be finished. Putting everything back gave me a headache and there is still so much to sort out properly. Those white IKEA drawers fit so much in though even the biggest punches i own which are pretty huge but they all fit nicely into the larger drawers at the bottom. And i have a massive box sitting here ready for the next garage sale of supplies i just don't think i will ever use.... do you ever wonder why you bought something in the first place. Looking at some of this stuff i certainly do.

Anyway i am so so so so happy with this room and so very proud of my hubby and dad who built it for me. They did a wonderful job and it the saying is so very true that the longer you wait the more you appreciate it and it is definately worth the wait.

Now that things are nicely put away i can FINALLY get on with some scrapping for me. Sorry nothing to show right now - have done plenty for Kaisercraft. If you want to see what we have been up to grab yourself a copy of the latest Q3 mag from your local scrap store.

Twenty Ten - One Little Word - POTENTIAL

2010-01-06T21:59:00.006+11:00

BALANCE
FOCUS
HOPE
CHANGE
EXPLORE
LIVE

PURPOSE
POTENTIAL

I haven't really had time to sit down and think much about this but today i did. Finally had a little time for me and sat and read a number of blogs from people who inspire me - people who inspire me to do better , to be better and many of them have chosen a word to focus on for the year . Ali Edwards did this "One Little Word" thing back in 2007 - read about the original concept here

As Ali says in the post - "it is a word that sums up what you want for yourself this year".

After a lot of "soul" searching and thinking - going from one word to another, family, priorities well big yeah, geez this is hard. Focus is needed, balance would be a good one, can't get by without love love love, change I need, change is a goody and actually very close to almost being MY word but I have gone with POTENTIAL.

"One little word can have great meaning in your life if you allow yourself to be open to the possibilities" Ali Edwards

I think I was just touching on this "word" when i designed my class for South Africa and is something that Im still very passionate about encouraging people to be - being yourself. We are all so different and all have loads of potential. Me, well I still have to convince myself at times of my worth and when I look in the mirror at times tell myself that I have loads of potential, but I know I can only reach it by being myself - not trying to copy the next person or change to be like someone else. Some of you may laugh and think Mel you have it together but if you only knew some of the thoughts I have - Im no different to you.

Anyway 2010 - i think if i focus on POTENTIAL - i think many of the other words i toyed with will play their part too - especially change. Change is good

It takes courage to grow up and become who you really are" E.E. Cummings

Well I want to know what I have in me, I have dreams, desires that I have toyed with for awhile now and I think I have the courage to give some a try and if things have to change to do so - bring on the change, Twenty Ten here I am. What is in store? I don't know but Im ready.

Before I go here are a couple of pages I did before Christmas. Not having posted these just shows me how far behind i really am. These are from two ranges that have been re-released but in different colour schemes especially for Spotlight stores. You may still see them around the traps in a few LSS. Both ranges look very different to the originals with the changes to the colours and additional papers added. There are now 12 double sided papers in each range.

Empire Paper Range

Praire Lane Paper Range

Hope you all get the chance to sit and have a think about a word that you would like to focus on for yourself in 2010. Its worth the thought.

Lissy

Happy New Year and belated Christmas wishes

2010-01-02T10:15:00.002+11:00

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE. Well thats one way to start the New Year with FINALLY doing a post and not add the text...LOL sorry But at least I now have some text now associated with this . Thanks Renee for commenting anyway...you are too good to me.
Anyway as you can see we had a lovely Christmas and the girls as always were totally excited and SPOILT... as usual. Im not sure about you but it still surprises me when the smallest thing at times creates the biggest smiles. And can you believe that even after giving Caitlin some new toys Christmas afternoon was spent making a creation from one of her new empty shoe boxes...

As for New Years resolutions - well here goes.

1. Don't make any resolutions I can't keep
2. Family comes first.
3. Sorry Kaiser but home time is all mine this year. I'm sick of the girls telling me Im always doing stuff for work and not for them. Nothing like a little reality check to kick me in the butt.
4. To go somewhere where I haven't been
5. To do something I have never done (have no idea what yet - but will keep you posted)
6. Spend more quality time with friends. Need the giggles and the laughter
7. Make new friends - we can all do with those
8. Loose weight......OK well at least look like Ive lost some... Did you know Al and I joined the gym a few weeks ago. I don't think I have laughed so much as I do as when we go. Its so much fun. Mind you the fun stops around 10 minutes into the cardio workout and I start dripping. It is great having someone to keep you going when you want to give up and visa versa. So here's to the new look for the year.....LOL moiyebe not.
9. Hopefuly get these braces off my teeth in the next few months. Woo hoo and won't that be exciting - no more rubberbands and bits lying around the house and left on cutlery all over the place. And I can actually get a photo taken without the reflections coming off the shiny metal bits in my mouth. Straight teeth - that will be something to look forward to.
10. to Try really hard to keep this blog more regularly updated. i did say try girls
11. Get some scrapping done for ME.... with friends for fun not just for work.
12. Plus a hundred more things i should be doing like, trying to keep the house more clean and being a good wife and being patient with hubby and kids and trying to save money instead of spending it all on scrapping supplies - but then I did say I wasn't going to make any promises I can't keep so they will have to be TRYs and not a promise.

I hope you all have a wonderful start to the new year and you get a chance to sit down and think about what you would like to achieve in the upcoming year and GO FOR IT.

chat soon
Mel

Australian Scrapbooking Cruise

2009-12-02T23:29:00.015+11:00

The land legs are slowly coming back into action but the head is still spinning. Some may say that is normal but I don’t think so….
For those of you who debated coming on the cruise – you really should have come. It was a fantastic experience. The group of girls all got along well with each other and what made the trip more special was how they made my girls feel so very special and included. Little Caitlin spent just as much time in the scrapping room as I did at times. Lorelle did a great job facilitating and getting us all aboard and arranging everything like she did. Big Congrats too Lorelle as she just found out she was pregnant just before the trip so she did an awesome job considering how much that can take out of you.
One of the highlights and probably one of the best from a scrappers point of view was how we had the conference room to ourselves. They were able to bring as much stuff as they liked and trust me some of them did, and leave it set up 24/7. The only times they cleared their tables was before one of my classes which soon meant it was covered again. They were totally spoilt with product from Kaisercraft, Prima and American Crafts and the classes seemed to be well accepted even if I do say so myself..LOL. From the amount of girls who are eager for the next one I guess that is true.
Most of my classes were in the morning which left the afternoon to do not a whole heap but a lot of lazing around the pool deck area. With the excewption of the first day where YES I admit it, I was a little sea sick, enough to call maintenance cause I blocked our sink….. ewhhh yuck… yep but it happened – I was then OK after that.
The only tour we went on was to the Great Barrier Reef and when you have 5 of you that is about all we could afford but it was well worth the $$$ to see the girls enjoy it so much, and an experience that you don’t get to do everyday if at al, especially out to the outer reef. So glad they are competent swimmers and we taught them how to snorkel last year. . With the exception of the little pink piranhas, well not really but these pink fish kept chasing us and if we crossed into their territory they actually bit you – It freaks Jess out a bit everytime she saw one and we reversed up and went the other direction pretty quickly – thank goodness for flippers. And believe me the little nip you got from them actually hurt – one got me on the leg. Little mongrels.
As always out there the fish are absolutely gorgeous and very very colourful. The reef itself, well you can certainly tell it is damaged but still pretty in spots.
Food on board was unbelievable – I really don’t need to look at food for a week to wear off the effects of how I feel and how much I ate the past 10 days. Food 24/7 whenever you want it. OMGosh – and I don’t think I actually want anymore seafood for awhile. Blood is overloaded with fish oil. It was great.
Have to love Ellie’s quote – “TOTALLY SHOULD HAVE EVERYTHING WHITE” – the main dining room is like 5 star service with white table cloths etc and when you have three kids – that is not as you can guess the most appropriate colour. Quite amusing and even Ellie wished it was another colour when things just wouldn’t stay on her plate.
Classes

We had women of all of different scrapping styles and abilities but it was great because if they didn’t finish something in class there was no pressure as they knew they had the whole rest of the day and trip to catch up on anything they wanted to.
Anyway I can finally share the classes we did. By far the biggest hit I would say was the Cruise ship album I designed.

The girls seemed to love the idea of filling it in each day. We put the basics together on the first day and then with little xiary tags made available for the rest of thet rip they kept updating it each day. By the end of the trip many had a fantastic keepsake of their cruise and time away. Definately will have to make it become a kit for future cruises.

Other classes I took were the following

Just Walk Beside Me - Kaisercraft Duchess Range. Its a little hard to pick up this pic but it has pearl strips running around the Victorian border shape.

Just Me - Prima Double Page Layout

This layout was inspired by one Tracie Hudson taught at the recent SA Scrapbooking Conference which I just adored. We couldn't get hold of all the papers she used so had to recreate by making and painting frames but the girls had lots of fun.

All I Want for Christmas -Kaisercraft Belle Range

A Box Full of Friendship - American Crafts It really was a fantastic experience. Yes another one of them. This year has certainly been full of them and I will post up some photos of the cruise shortly. Seriously someone should do something about limiting the number of photos one can take on a holiday as you have to go through them all when you return and work out which ones we actually want to keep. Also camera should not be allowed to take more than one photo at a time....lol....

Not All Who Wander Are Lost

2009-11-07T18:03:00.006+11:00

It would be totally understandable if any of you have thought I was lost lately, as it seems I have gone AWOL from my blog. Lately I am finding it extrememly difficult to find time to scrap for me and its frustrating. Actually come to think of it - just time out in general is hard to find. I have to admit though last night, even though we were trying to get something finished at work a group of us had such a fun night. Thanks Al, Richelle, Ali, and Clarinda for a such a fun night. Truly not sure why we didn't just sleep the night there considering the time we actually got home but so glad we got so much done. Look out on the Kaiser blog in December for what we were up to.
This second half of the year has been a little crazy but you all know how much I love scrapbooking. I wish I could share all the things I have been playing with - in time I will. Ive been busy designing 5 classes for the scrapbooking cruise coming up. Can you believe its only 14 more sleeps and Im getting a little excited.
Here is a little something I found on my desk when cleaned it up. Can actually see half of it now. It was something I had a little play with when i was at the CHA consumer show earlier this year. I used Adrironack inks and this little air squirty thing to spread the ink droplets and to tell you the truth I had lots of fun creating it. Added to that was some of Tim Holtz stamps and i discovered i had just created a unique little piece of artwork that I totally loved. I had never really done anything like it before and now I want to do more. Now only problem is trying to get my hands on these inks in Oz. I can't even get them sent to me as they won't send them through the mail either. So if you know where to get some of them (that aren't hugely expensive, which they all seem to be here in Oz) please let me know.

So whilst Im out wandering and wondering where Im heading, what the future holds, what i want to do and how will i meet all the deadlines we have next week, remember

NOT ALL WHO WANDER ARE LOST

even if it appears they haven't a clue which direction they are going....LOL