{time with us}

A big catch up ...

So what have I been up to this long weekend?

Well, I have:

• had some great family time;
• celebrated my little man's 6th birthday;
• coordinated the first visit by the tooth fairy;
• enjoyed a wonderful Easter morning through the eyes of a child;
• snorkeled in Kiama pools (yes it was cold) and watched Benson chase schools of tiny silver fish;
• bought a new pair of togs in preparation for our trip to Fiji;
• ate lots of chocolate (though not as much as hubby and child!);
• went on 2 x 5km runs;
• walked for 1.5hrs with a friend;
• went to a bosu/boxing class organised by the gym;
• drank lots of coffee and went out to lunch lots;
• had friends over for dinner;
• relaxed in the sunshine;
• took lots of photos;
• rediscovered an absolute LOVE of scrapbooking (again after a bit of a lull); and...
• drew the winner of my GCD prize giveaway.

 

and the winner is ....

 

 

Jane Butler!  Congrats Jane!!!!  Please email me with your address details and I will be sending a parcel your way.

I also have another giveaway for Cass who wanted to pass on her prize to a dear friend if she were fortunate enough to win.  Well she did not win, but such generousity should not go unrewarded, so I will be sending a parcel Kathy's way as well.

Thanks to everyone that participated in the giveaway - I had so many wonderful comments left, I wish I could give everyone something.  I also did not get a chance to respond to everyone, but I do want to say thankyou and that I appreciate everyone that drops by.

One other thing I did on the weekend was purge a HEAP of new unused past DT products that I will just never in 100 years be able to use all of, so watch this space for an upcoming Jillibean Soup giveaway!

I did lots of challenges this weekend, so I will photograph everything tomorrow and get it posted up here on the blog.

OK, I am off to organise dinner.  Enjoy the last evening of your super long weekend if you live in Australia ...

Kim  :o)

Final GCD project

This is my final blog post as a member of the GCD team. 

This past year has gone so quickly - I know that the new team is going to love their 12 months as much as I did!  Thankyou GCD Studios and Heidi for the opportunity to work with you.

So Heidi asked as to do something with a Spring feel for this project ... and I thought Easter (even though Easter is in Autumn downunder!).  This was the project that I came up with using a mix of Material Girls, Animal Crackers for boys and Animal Crackers for girls.  How cute are those birds that I cut from the die cut paper in Animal Crackers for boys?

And here are some shots of the details ...

Cheers
Kim xxxx

PS - giveaway draw coming - watch this space.  I had to prioritise cleaning my office/scrap space as I could not get in the room and the "creative mess" was killing me.

GIVEAWAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!

My term with GCD Studios has now come to an end and I want to share some of the love - GCD Studios is a VERY generous company with its DT and I have so much paper left from my term.  So I want to share with my wonderful blog readers.

I have one sheet of each of the 7 new GCD releases to give away - yes, 7 releases ... that is 84 sheets of double sided new release patterned paper!!!!!!!!!!

The ranges are:

• Funhouse
• Animal Crackers for boys
• Animal Crackers for girls
• Material Girls
• The Great Outdoors
• Soulfood by Melody Ross
• Scandia jul (Fun and bright Christmas range)

They can all be viewed on the GCD Studios website.

So, how to enter?

1. Leave a comment on this post for one entry
2. Put a post on your blog promoting this giveaway (link back to this post) and let me know in your comment and get another entry
3. Become a follower of this blog through either a reader (google reader, bloglines) or typepad (see left column) and let me know in your comment and get another entry!

EASY!  The competion is open world wide - I am happy to share the love no matter where you live.  I know that I have people from all over the world reading my blog and I don't want to leave anyone out.

Again, a big thankyou to everyone that drops by!!!  Good luck ...

Cheers
Kim xxx

PS - Forgot to put the cut off date!  I will leave it open until the 9th of April!!!!!!!!!

 

3 Announcements!

I have three annoucements that I need to make:

1. I will be teaching two classes at Scraploot in Sydney on the 19th of March.  Please contact the store if you would like to attend ... I would love to see you there.  Phone number is 9688 3391.  I will have some sneak peaks of the classes up on my blog soon.
2. Inspired Blueprints is having a DT call - full details below.
3. GCD Studios is having a DT call as well.  I can't believe that my 1 year term with GCD is now over.  It went soooo quickly.  If you are interested in applying the full details can be found here.

* * * * *

Inspired Blueprints DT call

Are you passionate about scrapping? Do you love using sketches? We'd love to have you on our team! Inspired Blueprints is an awesome sketch inspiration blog and we're looking to add to our team of talented designers.

The period of commitment is from April 2011 through September 2011, with the possibility of extension.

We are looking for:

• Five 12x12 layout designers
• Two 8.5x11 layout designers
• Two digital layout designers

The Responsibilities:

• Create one layout every two weeks based on the sketch provided. On average, we have two new sketches every month.
• Meet deadlines for submitting layouts.
• Participate ACTIVELY and REGULARLY in our online community by giving positive comments on layouts and welcoming new members.
• You will also have the opportunity to provide prototype layouts for new sketches, however this is not an essential requirement.

The Perks:

• The opportunity to be part of our inspiring and growing sketch blog and community.
• There is no designer remuneration but you may get to work with sponsor products from time to time. 

Please note:

• If successful, we ask that you will not design for, or apply to be on, any other sketch blog during your term with Inspired Blueprints.

How to apply
Create a new layout based on this sketch...

Please also include in your application

• Your Name
• Address
• Email address
• The position you are applying for
• Link to your Blog or Online Gallery
• List of current design teams

International applicants welcome.  The Inspired Blueprints design team covers all four corners of the world.

Send your application to [email protected] no later than 15 March 2011. Please put "DESIGNER CALL" as your email subject. New designers will be notified by email on 20 March 2011.

Good luck!

* * * * *

That's it from me today.  Will post another layout very soon!

Kim

Have you seen?

Jillibean soup is starting to release sneak peaks of their upcoming CHA releases on the blog!  Spotted owl soup is up today and it is such a great range ... perfect for birthdays or just the everyday.  There are going to be heaps of giveaways too - so pop on over and keep an eye out for a chance to WIN!!!

If you are in American, GCD also has a great competition going where you can win a trip to Brave Girls camp!  GCD has also had lots of sneaks of upcoming CHA releases if you scroll back through the blog.  GCD will ba having more competitions in the lead up to CHA so keep an eye out.

Another layout from the January Storyboard Kits kit ...

It is a pretty busy layout, but I love how it turned out.  Lots of layering and dimension.

The title is cut with my MM slice.

OK, that is it for me - I am off to the gym for a solid workout.  Being in Sydney for work yesterday meant no exercise, so I am looking forward to it today.

Cheers
Kim

 

Creating your own embellishments

This month I am showing you a technique for creating your own embellishments perfect for a Christmas layout using GCD Studios products.

I made this Christmas layout using the Christmas Sleigh collection.

 

I needed the perfect embellishment to fit below the bow on the tag.  My idea was to make my own embellishments using the Christmas baubles on one of the papers in the range.

Fussy cut the baubles out of the paper - for some of the baubles you will need two of the same design so that you can layer them.

 

Arrange the baubles on your layout - overlapping some of them.  Attach them down.

 

For the baubles on the top of the design, layer a second copy of the same design over them using foam tape.

 

Add glitter glue to those baubles that don't have glitter and add pearls to the hangers.

 

It is so easy to create the perfect embellishments to finish off your Christmas pages!

 

 

I hope you try this technique out on one of your Christmas layouts.

Cheers
Kim

Simple but effective technique

I have a simple but effective technique for you to make your sticker embellishments more versatile.

GCD Studios makes a great sheet of butterfly stickers on a clear background (#839).  They are one of my favorite embellishments that GCD makes.

I, however, like to add some dimension to these stickers to make them pop from the page more.

This is the layout that I created using the butterfly stickers ...

You can see how the butterflies wing stand up from the page but it is still on a clear background.

Simply stick your clear sticker to a sheet of acetate.

Trim around it.

Bend the wings up.

Then using a clear drying glue just down the centre of the fold, stick it to your layout.  Oh so simple, but oh so effective!

Cheers
Kim

GCD and Pink Paislee giveaway

On the weekend I posted the tutorial about using the GCD Studios Chipart tool on the Pink Paislee Artisian elements frames (previous post).  Well now you have a chance to win these great products and give this technique a go yourself.

Go to the GCD blog and leave a comment, and then duck on over to the Pink Paislee blog and leave a comment to be in with a chance to win.

Don't forget that I am doing a giveaway of the paper range that I used to create the layout in the tutorial.  Just leave a comment on this post before the 24th.  Internationals are welcome to enter as the prize is sponsored by the lovely folks at GCD Studios!

You have to be in it to win it, so give it a go!

I am also guest designing for Pink Paislee this month, so watch out on their blog for my layouts which will be posted some time later this month.

Lisa at Storyboard kits also posted the sneak peaks of the gorgeous October kit - Dennison ...

I have to say that purple was NOT one of my favourite scrapping colours but I seriously enjoyed working with this kit and all four layouts that I made came together super quickly.  Lisa has more kits and subscriptions available this month, so if you are interested in a subscription let her know.  If you are interested in a one off purchase, get in quick on the 1st as they sell out fast!!!

Cheers
Kim

Themed inspiration with GCD

It is my turn to interpret this month's theme on the GCD blog ...

I have taken my inspiration from the rich layers of colours that work around a central plain space - and I have interpreted that by making a detailed "quilted" background that works around the central plain spot of the journaling page.

I have then included details in the journaling space, just like the dolls have details in the center panel on their stomachs.

Here is a detailed shot of the quilted background ...

I finished the layout with one of the beautiful antique style buttons and some of the chipboard word strips - definitely a favourite product of mine!

All of the GCD products on this layout are from the Homespun Chic range by Melody Ross.

Other products - American Crafts letters, Bazzill cardstock, Glimmermist by Tattered Angels and Kaiser pearl.

I hope you find lots to inspire you with this theme!

Cheers
Kim  :o)

Technique - creating texture on white core papers

I have a technique entry on the GCD blog today on creating texture on white core patterned papers.

I am not a big user of plain pattern papers and when I was working on this layout, I wanted a way to "dress up" the plain blue paper that I really wanted to use on one of the pennants.

This is the layout ...

and this is a close up of the pennant in question ...

The paper was originally a plain blue paper and by putting  a plastic template under it and sanding it with a large emery board, I was able to create a soft polka dot design on it.  It is so simple but effective!

Step 1 : select your template, I chose a dotty one

Step 2 : place under paper and holding paper in place sand across the surface of the paper.

Step 3 : you will end up with this type of pattern!

Step 4: use your paper however you want - I chose to cover one of the large chipboard pennants from this set and then use it in the super sized pennant banner at the top of the layout.  It is a great way to bring new interest to a plain piece of white core pattern paper

All of the GCD papers and embellishments in this layout came from Artsy Urban, with a touch of Homespun Chic and Zippity Collection.

Other products: Thickers by American Crafts, bauble ribbon from stash.

I hope you have an opportunity to try out this easy but effective technique soon to make a change to a piece of patterned paper in your stash!

Cheers
Kim  :o)