Right Now

I am thankful for...

If you have at least one person that loves you, food, shelter, clothes, water & peace... then you are rich. Just something I try and remind myself when I start stressing and complaining about how little I think I have :)
heres a layout with a photo I took on Sunday
TITLED: dinner

Credits: Jesse Edwards In the Green paper; Lynn Grievesons paper from Barcelona pck, glitter stitches; Paint the Moon’s plower from Funky Flowers Take Three-3 pk; fonts - ss whimsy, chanson heavey, ck jaque and stalker.
and...
HE GIVES

Credits: SL designs kraft paper; Catrine’s button from Traces pk; Jesse Edwards hand drawn stitches; fonts- stalker & snowshoe.

Working on a big piece of art at the moment, very excited about it! cant wait to show you guys! hopefully I'll get it done tomorrow. 

LOVE HONOUR RESPECT

Thats the title of this finished piece! I think those words are very important in life, important for how we treat people close to us. (click image for full-size version.)

I am also excited to say that battered poppies, four hearts, above and under, and faith blocks are SOLD!
Remember my blocks page layout I did a while ago? well 2 amazing artists have lifted it and I must show you guys!
Danielle (aka Artemia), TITLED: me 0-12 months

to view credits
too sweet! I really enjoyed looking at the cute photos and the wonderful little touches she added.
And Catherine (aka CHUD23) TITLED: Sisters

to view credits
Don't you just love the colour explosion here! and the perfectly cropped photos of Cathrine and her sis.
Love it girls! Link me up if anyone else has lifted my pages!
heres one more layout from me
TITLED Happy Kids

I know it is really REALLY simple! ...but I love simple! plus I got to play with my friend Shaui's freebie. you can get it here! O and check out her layouts! they are amazing! Lots of inspiration for clean and elegant pages.
CREDITS: Fei-fei's Stuff - My heart is bound freebie; Jen Wilsons Laundry papers; Anna Aspnes textured paper; Mossa's heart; Katie Pertiet's Border Templates mask & stitches; font - ss whimsy.

I'm back for the second time today!

here are some pics from the Easter show in Auckland... it was such a hot day!

DH was a bit scared of the white bunny rabbit! (he confessed this himself a little later to me! LOL!) And look at that gorgeous Alpaca.... I want one! if we ever end up living somewhere with a big section, then this will be one of the first animals we would buy!
Here are some layouts for you guys!
ITS A PAPER LIFT! ... this page was inspired by Mireia Carbonell's  (aka - SoMnIs)  Sun of January page.
I loved the colour scheme,  and her homemade abstract flowers! I had to do something similar. Thanks Mireia for the inspiration! I love the cute and whimsy look of your pages!
heres mine... DADS GIRL

CREDITS- Katie Pertiet's rejoice bg paper, Woven Naturally paper,  buttons; Jesse Edwards picnics papers, Calypso paper & doodle line; Anna Aspnes FreeStyle Scribbles I brush set; Andrea Vicoria's autumn crush paper;  Border scribble and flower lines created using the brush tool; fonts- ss whimsy & stalker

Now I've got to get on with my other projects for DAM April!... while folding the clothes!

I hope everyone had a great break?

Mine was busy but relaxing. We couldnt afford to go away, which i was a bit sad about. But we took the kids to the Easter show and did work on our house. I will be back later today to show you pics!

now that I've got the hang of things...

I thought I'd start listing my categories, you can find them somewhere on this page! My very first post was at 12:18pm on the 2nd of Feb 08, and I am very encouraged by all the wonderful comments I have received since then. Thank you I always look forward to receiving them.

BLOG SPOTLIGHT
Every 2 weeks or so I will do a blog spotlight, heres the first one. Rebecca Sower an Artist/Designer, has a wonderful blog. I love her projects, they are full of depth and texture. For those that love the whimsy & collage look, check her gallery out! its FULL of inspiration.


HATS, HATS, HATS!

thats what inspired this layout...
RELAXING WITH DAD (click image for closer look)

So pleased with how this one turned out!
What did I take from the hat? and how did I apply it to my page?
1. the soft colour scheme, blue and brown. I only used these colours on my layout.
2. the patterns and textures. I found some floral paper(recoloured and clipped it to a frayed mask), and created a stripe paper to look like the piece in the hat. I also added texture by using a background paper that looked like material.
3. the button and tie embellishments. I searched for similar looking digi supplies.
TIP:
-first play with the main elements of the hat (or other inspired piece), then bring in other elements to compliment what you have already put together. This is what I first concentrated on...

then I linked the layers together, dragged it onto another page and concentrated on the whole page.
-converting your picture to blk & white might help with the colour scheme.
-use your hue & saturation palette to tweak colours in papers and elements.
here are some more fab hats! and if you end up creating a page inspired by one of these hats, pass me the link! I'd love to see it!

O and if anyone wants to buy me one of these hats you can do so at anthropologie.com hehee.... just kidding! I'll be doing more fashion inspired pages in the future so stay tuned!

If you want a laugh go to this website - photoshop disasters

CREDITS:
VINTAGE FRAME AROUND HAT - Katie Pertiet
RELAXING WITH DAD PAGE - Nancy Comelab's wrinkled paper; Catrine's blue paper & button from Traces pk; Lynn Grieveson's tied and torn tie; Katie Pertiet's Branched Corner brush(coming soon to DD); Mossa's silver ball; Leora Sanford's frayed mask.  

    

Productive weekend

I cant believe how much DH and I got done last weekend! Saturday Dh pulled up the carpet, along with the phone cord! had to call a professional in to fix it - thanks God! cant be with out my Internet for too long!

We basically worked on the house for half the day. Justin went surfing in the late afternoon and I completed another painting. This ones called 'four hearts' the hearts have lovely texturing on them.

Sunday morning we had breakfast out & took the kids to rocket park. Got some great pics!



then we did the grocery shopping... soooo eager to get this over with! Kids had a nap before church. Back home to chill out with the kids. After tucking the kids in we tuned into youtube and laughed our heads off with Frank Caliendo and Flight of The Conchords... those guys are so funny! Geniuses actually! If you haven't seen these guys yet you should because they are so so SO funny. Thats my kind of humor! you'll either like it or hate it!
Any way I managed to put together this layout
UNTITLED

CREDITS: Anna Aspnes Avalanche papers & script brush; Katie Pertiet's pinned frame; Holliewood Studio's number 4 from love story kit; Joana Carvalho's staple from He kit.

And thanks for all the lovely comments that have been left here for me, love recieving them! thanks again!

Pencil Lines

heard of it? I found this site pencillines.com today and played around with one of their sketches, took me about an hour or so to finish. Really helpful if you have scrappers block or when you need to get a layout done quick!
heres the sketch, by Asa Bergstrand

...and my layout - Joy Bringer

credits: Anna Aspnes papers from His Valentine kit, bling circle & distressing brushes; Paint The Moon's Funky flowers; Pattie Knox's Great big black button; Mary Anne Wise's bangle brush; Catrine's black stitching; fonts- impact, Susie's Hand.

Check the site out its awesome! I'll definitely be visiting it often

some inspiration...

found some amazing and inspiring sites
http://laurenclarkphoto.squarespace.com/ amazing photography!
http://angrychicken.typepad.com/ very, very cool site! I love the things this lady (Amy Karol) cooks up!
I also thought I'd share this painting I did over a year ago, I couldn't bring my self to sell it so I kept it for my daughters room. click on images for larger version-


So pleased I kept it!
Here's a layout for you guys!
My Girl
   
Credits- Anna Aspnes black monoblenz paper, Bloom In Chic no.1 flowers, distress brushes; Katie Pertiet's File Cards No. 1 (coming soon), Scalloped Masks (coming soon), out of the box alpha, De Lite Alpha, Crumpled Paper Flowers No.2; Kellie Mize DIY Chipboard Alpha; Mindy Terasawa's green string from HunnyBun kit, Jesse Edward's brown paper Falling All Over pk; Catrine's buttons from Traces pk; Madame Mim's sequins from MyLady pk; Syrins gem from twinkle pk; Kate Hadfield's neutral stitches.

thanks for viewing!

Gravity helps...

DH was doing some renovation work last weekend and he thought he'd give me a tip on how to untangle an extension cord, 'throw it over the deck and gravity will help untangle it... its the gravity you see... the gravity helps'  I didn't know that, did you? I wish gravity would help with my washing! wouldn't it be great to just throw it over the deck and have it all sorted! (sigh) its a never ending pile!
While DH was working on the house I was getting my paintings finished. here they are -
faith blocks

above and under


And while I was working on those pieces, Noah spent the day with my Mum and siblings. Heres the layout using a photo taken on that day.

CREDITS: papers, flowers, stitching, tag and ribbons from Jesse Edwards Indian Summer kit; Amy Martin's Tiny beaded bits; Birgit Kerr's green beaded wrap; Pattie Knox's Simple Glamor metal Flourishes.

Hope your all having a great start to the week!

TODAY

Not a very exciting day I know! but busy yes! (credits for above image - Katie Pertiet's new Tailed Journalers and Bird Watcher Silhouette brush)
Here are some layouts I've finished this week. After working with the layered page I previously posted I was wanting to go back to my simple designs! (click on thumbnails for larger version)
Friends

CREDITS- Paint The Moon's paper from Charmes d antan kit; Holliewood Studio's frame from Love story pack & glitter foliage from Fall Glitter pack; Pattie Knox's Classified Clipping brackets; Anna Aspnes distress tools.
PAUSE PLEASE!

CREDITS- Katie Pertiet's dirty frame, circle paper & overlay from zoo keeper kit; Jesse Edwards bg paper from Sunday Picnic pack;  Kate Hadfield's neutral stitches on the side.
Noah is growing up so fast! but I can still see his baby face!
AND
JUSTIN ON THE ROCKS

CREDITS- Anna Aspnes black monoblenz paper & textured white paper; Katie Pertiet's Canvas Tag Masks, graphic pop brush & staple; Pattie Knox's great big button & classified clippings paper strip; Lynn Grieveson's glitter stitches; Jesse Edward's lovely papers.
Simple just wouldn't do with this page, I had to give it more drama!   

Its almost 11pm right now, and my body is telling me to go to sleep! ... so ... goodnight.