Christmas mini album

These photos were from our 2010 family get-together and I meant to have this done for our Ellis family Christmas this year, but I didnt quite make it! Every year my 2 brothers and I and all our kids and partners get-together the week before Christmas. Last year we only had 2 of the nine cousins, missing.
We started this tradition about 30 years ago and it is one of my most favourite days of the year! Christmas 2010 I added the years and months together that the 3 of us (Rick, Chris and I) have been married. 100!! Pretty impressive these days I reckon!

These wet, humid summer days have been perfect for scrapbooking! Which is fine for me, but not so much fun for Jeff and Aimee who have gone over to Kawau Island with 6 other friends for a few days! I just hope it clears after New Year, so they have a safe journey back!

Have a fun and safe New Year everyone!

Sue x

Merry Christmas!!!

We have had a fabulous day with our extended family Christmas here yesterday! Too much food and wine as usual, but I just love family get-togethers!! We always got together with all the cousins when we were children and my brothers and I have carried on this tradition when we started our own families (over 30 years ago! OMGosh! Seems like such a short time ago!) Some of the children are now overseas, but whoever is in NZ still get-together every year, the week before Christmas Day.

 Thought I would share this decoration, I made, using the Damask Cricut Cartridge. I cut the flourishy part from chipboard, painted it with TH Picket Fence Distress crackle paint and then with Tattered Angels Glimmer Glam to give it sparkle (hard to see in the pic) and a bit of Peeled Paint Distress Stain around the edges. I love all the layers you get with the Damask cartridge and I am still in love with dyeing seam binding with Distress stains!! You can match it to anything!!
I am entering this into the Southern Girls 'Let's Celebrate' challenge.

Get the Christmas music cranking, everyone and have fun with all your Christmas preparations!
Sue x

 

Christmas wreaths

I just had to have a play with my new Ribbons and Rosettes cartridge that I got from Scotties, so decided to make Emma and Aimee, each, a Christmas wreath. Aimee's tree has silver and turquoise decorations and Emma's, red and gold. The finished size is 10 inches. I noticed after I photographed them that the 'i' needs a jewel dot added! Will go and do that! I sprayed the tuquoise wreath with Perfect Pearls which give a lovely silver, snowy look, but it doesnt show in the photo.

Southern Girls challenge this fortnight is 'Ribbons Madness' so I am entering this project.

Have a great weekend everyone!

Sue x

Lots of LOVE at CMH

I just love the photo to be used for this fortnights challenge at Challenge Me Happy. I was inspired to use the word 'love' and the gorgeous colours that worked well with the beach wedding photos.

I lightly misted the cream cardstock background with Mister Huey's Bonny Blue on the top half and Classic Calico on the bottom half. I found a lovely quote which I printed onto a Glitz Designs Paper Layer and added with the charming Glitzer. I cut a heart from chipboard, added Distress Crackle paint and metallic rub-ons and made a little hat-pin with matching beads.
I am really pleased with how this came together.
Cheers, Sue

Bonjour Mini Album

This is my last project using the Kaisercraft Bonjour papers and Prima embellisments from this months Scottie Crafts kit. I was so inspired by our Prima Day, that I wanted to make another mini-album!
I cut and dyed canvas, pink, aqua and cream,  mostly using Adrirondack sprays and Perfect Pearls Spray and glued the pieces to the chipboard album. Apart from Bonjour papers, I used sheet music paper downloaded from a free internet site and a little Prima packaging.

You might have noticed that one page has been created, but is actually minus a wedding photo!! No pressure, guys!!!!!

I am putting this album in the Southern Girls Bingo Challenge, (3PP's, Gems and punches).

Cheers,

Sue

Bonjour again!

Another layout using the Kaisercraft Bonjour papers from Scottie Crafts. The colours in the Bonjour range are so soft and romantic! Perfect for wedding, heritage or black and white portrait photos. I love the 6x6 Paper pad which includes all the range including some embossed pages and die-cut journalling labels. There is also a super Icons Sticker Sheet with birds, butterflies, journalling blocks and more! Just gorgeous!!
The medallion under the TH Rosette is cut from the Fancy Frames Cricut Cart.

I love this photo of Lloyd and Jodie walking along the Watson's Bay Parade towards the reception venue.

They look like movie stars!! LOL!!

I am off to make a cup of tea, grab a magazine and sit on the deck to enjoy this amazing weather we have today!

Cheers,
Sue x

Anything Goes at CMH

If you havent already, pop over to Challenge Me Happy, check out the great DT samples and put up your own LO, because this fortnight 'Anything Goes'!

In this layout I have used the gorgeous soft papers from the Kaisercraft 'Bonjour' range from Scottie Crafts. There is also a great Icon Sticker sheet in this range, with birds, butterflies, journalling blocks etc.
The cool fence (gate) in the background is one of the new Prima masks. The bird bath and bling are also Prima. I have dyed the ribbon using TH Stains, Sun Sugar and Milled Lavender and made the bow using Wendy's bowmaker. This great bowmaker is available at Scotties with great written instructions! Thanks, Wendy!

It is really drizzly outside, but the garden is growing inches every day and everything is looking so lush and green! Love this time of the year!
Cheers,
Sue x

Emma's LO for CMH

Anything Goes over at Challenge Me Happy this fortnight. Below is Emma's LO.

I think it is really cool! Especially the mix of fonts and the photo cluster. Well done, Babe!!
Sue xx

SGC - Signed Sealed Delivered!

Southern Girls have a Song Title Challenge this fortnight, so Stevie Wonder's song, "Signed, Sealed, Delivered" kinda fitted this photo of a very chuffed couple who had just signed their Marriage Certificate! I dont know what Lloyd had just said to Jodie, but I love the look on their faces!!

There is a real mish-mash of product on here - Bazzill cardstock, Websters Pages patterned paper, Kaisercraft 'Bonjour' stickers and tags, Lost and Found brads and Prima flowers. I cut the frame from the Fancy Frames Cricut Cartridge, first from chipboard and then patterned paper and glued them together.
All these great products came from Scottie Crafts. They have just got in a huge range of fabulous Prima goodies. Well worth checking out!!
Cheers for now,
Sue x

Emma's LO for SGC

My daughter, Emma, doesnt have a blog, so here is her LO for Southern Girls Challenge... Stripes and Polka Dots.

I love how she has threaded the hearts with embroidery cotton!
TFL
Sue :)

SGC - Spots and stripes!

Hi, All you Southern Girl Lovelies!!! A Christmas card for your Challenge - Stripes and Polka Dots. I had done it before I read Lou's growly post! LOL!!


I just love the Lost and Found Christmas papers and the Spellbinders poinsettia die that I got from Scotties.

If you havent already checked out this fortnights challenge at Southern Girls, head over here and check it out!
Missing ya!!
Sue :)

Sun Setting - Wedding LO

Em took some cool photos of the bridal party on the beach just as the sun was setting, before the reception.
I have used the lovely colour combo and sketch from this weeks palette at The Color Room. Most of the palette colours were in the photo, so it fitted well.The photo was also perfect for the triptych effect.
The paper and tags are from the Lost and Found range available at Scottie Crafts. Scotties also has lots of Prima flowers and twigs etc arriving soon also.
I was so excited because I got a call from the honeymooners yesterday....living it up in a resort in Mexico. I have to confess that I was starting to feel a little nervous not having heard from them, worrying that they may have been kidnapped by some banditios! LOL!! But, no, they are sitting by a pool drinking tequilas and eating fresh crayfish! C'est La Vie!!
Sue :)

Beautiful

For my second wedding LO I have used the sketch (plus purple and dressed up) from Another Freaking Scrappy Challenge and have made an embellishment to fit with the Challenge Me Happy challenge.
My embellie is the pleated ribbon...seam binding dyed with Distress Stains and pleated onto dble-sided tape


The pp is a HOTP Color me, a gorgeous resist paper, which I have inked two-thirds with
Distress ink. The transparent frame is a Glitz Design Peek-a-Boo.

TFL
Sue x

Waiting

Well, we had the most awesome weekend in Sydney for Lloyd and Jodie's wedding! There was not a cloud in the sky (for the first time in weeks) and a gentle sea breeze on Clark Island, looking across to the Sydney Harbour Bridge. After the ceremony we had a short ferry ride back to Watson's Bay for the reception at Dunbar House. The kids planned and organised the whole wedding and every little detail was perfect! We were so proud of them!
Soooo....... here is the first of, no doubt, many layouts!!! Unfortunately, I wont get the professional photos to scrap until after Christmas :( LOL!
I based this layout on this weeks sketch over at Sketchy Thursdays.

The clocks are Kaisercraft acetate shapes and the print circle, a Glitz Peek-a-boo.

The purple pp is from Basic Grey, Indie Bloom  and the slightly patterned paper is actually cardstock which I stamped with Milled lavender Distress Ink and the raised side of the TH Texture Fades, pocket watch, embossing folder. Using an embossing folder as a stamp gives quite a fun, weathered effect. Leave the folder open and press it onto your card. Have a go!

Cheers,

 Sue x

My last SGC post - so sad!

Sadly this is my last layout for the Southern Girls Challenge. After a year on the team, I am stepping down, but there are so many new girls joining the team, that there will be endless inspiration! Of course, now I get to enter the challenges and still enjoy the fun, but I will miss the very chatty, friendly girls on the team!! :(

The topic this fortnight is 'Slugs and Snails', so pop on over to Southern Girls and join the fun!

Well, Lloyd's big day is this weekend! We are heading off early tomorrow morning.

I am so excited!!! Hope the weather is kind, because they are having the ceremony on a little island in Sydney harbour and then back to the mainland for the reception.

Soooo.... lots more wedding layouts coming up!!

Cheers,

Sue x

I Believe Using The Color Room Palette #78

The Color Room puts up a new beautiful palette each week. I have been looking at them for a while and finally got a chance to use one! The colours fitted perfectly with the new Glitz Design goodies that I got from Scottie Crafts last week.
The last couple of days I have been playing around in Photoshop...Its so annoying when you forget how to do something you have done before!! LOL!! No, darlings, age has nothing to do with it! LOL!
Anyway, I worked out how to get rid of a busy background and put some cool colour in its place!! So rapt!

I am loving the new Glitz Designs embellies.. the bling, the What-nots and the Glitzers! They work well with Prima papers too.

The bow, rayon seam binding, and the lace I have dyed with TH Distress Stains. 

TFL! :)

Have a great weekend! Back to watch the rugby! LOL!! Go the All Blacks!!!!!!!!!

Sue :)

Sketch plus exotic

Another Freaking Scrappy Challenge has put up a sketch which you have to give an exotic touch!
Last year Mike and I had 2 days in San Francisco on our way home from Portland. We wandered down to the Saturday markets and wished we had somewhere we could cook. The produce was incredible! The colours, the variety and the freshness was amazing!! Producers would travel from miles away, in the early hours, each Saturday to get their stalls set up.
I have enjoyed using some of the brighter papers from Glitz Designs and Basic Grey for this layout.

These papers are available (and the gorgeous Glitzers) from Scottie Crafts, here.
And if you havent already, then check out the fun challenges over at Another Freaking Scrappy Challenge, here.
Hope you all have had a peaceful weekend!
Cheers,
Sue x

SGC- Anything goes

In this fortnights Southern Girls Challenge just Anything Goes!! So why dont you hop on over and upload your latest creation, card, layout or OTP here before midnight,Tuesday 4th October and be in the chance to win an awesome prize.
Here, I have a card and a layout that maybe of inspiration!

These gorgeous MME Lost and Found papers, on the LO and the Prima papers and embellies,on the card, are from Scottie Crafts. Check out their website here!

Cheers,
Sue x

Blog hop winner!

The bloghop winner of the very cool paper pack from Artfull Crafts is....................

TANYA WATSON

Congratulations, Tanya!! I know you will love the goodies you receive!

Can you please email southerngirlschallenges@gmail.com with your address details.

Well done,

Sue  :)

Card and flower tutorial

I made this card this morning for a special friend and thought that someone might be interested in a tutorial to make these simple flowers that I have used here and in the previous Southern Girls bloghop LO.

Materials:
• Rayon seam binding (1 metre)

• TH Distress Stains

• Cardstock circles (1 ½ inch)

• Button or brad of choice (for centre)

Equipment:

• Xyron sticker maker

• Water spritzer

• Plastic gloves

• Heat gun

Instructions

1. Randomly stain seam binding with 2 or more stains of choice. (Leave a little white space as well)

2. Spritz with water to mingle colours. Leave to dry or use heat gun

3. Run a cardstock circle through the Xyron sticker maker.

4. Starting on the outside edge of the circle sticker, attach the ribbon, pleating as you go.

5. Continue, in a spiral, until nearly at the centre. Cut and stick the end into the centre.

6. Attach button or brad.

So simple!! Have fun!
Sue x

Southern Girls - Birthday Blog Hop!! (8th-20th Sept)

Southern Girls - "Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday dear girls....."

I cannot believe we are a year old! And it has been a fantastic year with wonderful support from all our  sponsors and getting to know all the other awesome girls on the best and friendliest Design Team ever!
So, to celebrate our birthday, we have an amazing bloghop with some of our fantastic regular sponsors giving away fabulous prizes at every stop!
I am last on the hop and you should have arrived from Kirsten's blog. If not, head back to www.southerngirlschallenges.blogspot.com where a full blog hop list is posted.

I have done a layout in celebration of my year at SGC and Liz from Artfull Crafts is giving away some free product to one lucky lady who:
 1 - comments on my blog
 2 - enters this fortnights challenge at Southern Girls.

So, make card or LO and enter on Southern Girls Challenge, also, leave me a comment here and on the 20th of September I will draw a random name and someone will win this fabulous Kaisercraft Paper Collection from Artfull Crafts. Check out the prize Collection on Artfull Crafts' site, here!

 Good luck!

Cheers,

Sue x

 

Layout by Emma

I wanted to share this fabulous layout done by my daughter, Emma. She has started doing some scrapbooking this year and has done some wonderful stuff!!
In this layout they went for a walk around the rocks with Frank. He was intrigued with the fish moving in the pools!
Dont you love the button and fibre embellishment!!?

Cheers,

Sue x

Foxy Lady

I did this layout of Aimee a couple of months ago (before SENZ - to showcase one of the flowers in my class) and havent got around to posting it. Jeff took this photo while they were out trying her new bike and wearing her new 'Fox' clothing, It has been so much fun for them having a sport they can now do together!

Cheers, Sue x

Through the Decades -SGC

There are some great sample projects over at this fortnights Southern Girls Challenge! The topic is Through the Decades! Here is my very BRIGHT 70'S layout!! The cute little stamped digi is from one of our wonderful sponsors, Tickled Pink stamps. I'm looking forward to seeing the variety of ideas that everyone submits this time round!

Cheers, Sue x

Challenge Me Happy scraplift

The challenge over at Challenge Me Happy this fortnight is a scraplift of a layout by the very talented Piradee Talvanna!
Here is my take. I love this pic of my DH, taken by my brother when they were tramping the 'Across the -Island Track' in Rarotonga. My sister-in-law and I enjoyed a more civil coffee and lunch at a nice garden cafe while we waited!!

 Scrapping, today, has been a nice way to spend this COLD day!! Back to stoke the fire!!
Cheers,
Sue

Children's class

Friday is the last of my classes at Wainui Primary. It has been so much fun seeing the wonderful layouts and other bits (gift bags etc) that the kids have done. I gave them a kit with papers and embellies, to have a play with over the school holidays, so I cant wait for 'Show and Tell" on Friday! I must remember my camera!!
This week, being the last, we are going to make cards and have a bit of a party! My niece, Carol (mother to 2 of my students) is making the cupcakes to go in the cupcake wrappers that I have cut on the Cricut and I have made everyone a fun straw as well, for the juice.

Over the 5 weeks I hope I have given them ideas that they can use and hopefully start them on a love of scrapbooking!!

SGC

I am a little late getting my blog done for this fortnights challenge at Southern Girls.
The challenge is to be inspired by this stunning photo of a frosty morning in Otago.

The Dt girls have come up with some awesome projects using stamps from this fortnight's sponsor, Meljen's Designs.
I have had this photo of Jeff sitting in the 'waiting to be scrapped pile', so... one less! He is 4 years in the photo and is now 28years old!! LOL! I just want to add that my pile is not 20years high!! I just wish I knew about scrapbooking 30 years ago when my first was a baby !

Cheers, Sue :)

Simple layout with Fancy Frames

I started to do a layout here, but part way through, decided to leave it simple and put it in a black box frame. I have used a little of my Melissa Francis papers, from Scottie Crafts, to cut out 2 frames from the Cricut Cartridge, Fancy Frames. This cartridge has so many cool frames on it!! I have put Glossy Accents on the smaller middle frame and layered it over the larger fancy frame. At the top is one of Tim Holtz cool Franciful Buttons.

This layout is now in the black box frame, but I had to take it out to photograph because of the glass reflection.

So simple, so quick and a great wall piece!

Actually I am thinking it is time to get some good frames and put up a gallery. I have a really good space to do one...it is just getting around to it!! ( I think I need A Round Tuit! LOL!)

Cheers,

Sue x



Challenge me happy #3

Challenge Me Happy has a great sketch this fortnight. Check it out here!
I wanted to scrap this gorgeous photo of these lovely girls at Katie's engagement party. Four of them have virtually grown up together and Kate , Aimee and Kim were bridesmaids for Emma and now it is Kate's time. So exciting for them all! They have all grown into such gorgeous young ladies!!
Emma gave me this fab Basic Grey paper and I have used my new Fancy Frames cartridge, from Scottie Crafts, again. The frames on it are so cool! Gotta love that huge Glitz Designs rhinestone inside the organza flower too!  Some misting here and the frame is sprayed with Perfect Pearls mist, also


                       

Cheers,

Sue x

Three Generations

Em was shocked last week when I showed her these photos of three wedding bouquets...hers, mine and my mothers (her Nana). The style that all three of us chose was so similar it was a wee bit uncanny!
I have some lovely Melissa Frances paper and embellishments in my Scottie Crafts kit this month, which were perfect for combining old photos with new.

The frame is cut from one of the new Cricut Carts in stock at Scotties, Fancy Frames. I painted it with Tattered Rose Distress crackle paint and then sprayed it with Perfect Pearls mist, which gives a light shimmer look. The leaves are a Martha Stewart punch.

Sue :)

Class at Scotties

Next Thursday I am using this layout for a class at Scottie Crafts.The gorgeous soft papers are Melissa Frances. The background has been made using a Crafter's Workshop stencil and, of course, there are lots of Martha Stewart and EK punches that are fun to play with.

We will be making the organza flowers and Karen showed me this flower butterfly she had seen somewhere and I thought it was to cute not to share! Perfect for a soft baby layout.

Have a great weekend everyone x