Scrapbook Remix.....

I have been following along with Shimelle's Scrapbook Remix and have eventually completed a Scrapbook page for prompt 1.  Prompt one was all about colour.  So I was being very inventive and picked pink and followed along with one of Shimelle's layouts.   This layout is of my darling daughter Chloe when she was very young.  Her older cousins decided to play with her hair and by the looks of Chloe she wasn't too happy.    

Learn Something New Everyday.....

Here's a few more pages from Learn Something New Everyday with Shimelle.  One thing that I have learn't doing this is, that I have 'more ideas than time'.  I've signed up to do LSNED for the last few years.  The first year I got to about day 4, the next year I read all the prompts, the forums and browsed the galleries and didn't start an album at all.  This year I was determined to start an album and complete it.  Well I've got to Day 19 and only have 11 more days to do!! 

So for day 5 the theme of my page is all about Time - so I based it on Mark Rohan, who lives not too far from us, an Olympic Gold Medalist at the London Paralympics this year.



Day 6 the theme was all about gratitude - so I based my page of my family who I am so grateful for.

Day 7 is all about what you do with your 'in-between-time'.  I am totally addicted to Pinterest, so when I have a moment or nothing much is happening - I start browsing and drooling over food, lovely crafts, fashion, photography inspiration - the list is endless.

GBCE 2012.......

.....was a 3 day event held in Athlone Springs Hotel a couple of weeks ago for crafters from scrapbookers, cardmakers, felters, jewellery - basically anybody who loves crafting.

Kerry of An Siopa Bui organized tutors and demonostrators for the classes and demonstrations.  Also a shopping village where we were all able to stock up on craft supplies - loads of retail therapy!

Unfortunately I couldn't attend any of the fabulous classes that were on at the Great Big Craft Extravaganza this year.  But I got to attend some of the demonstrations and did a lovely make and take with Louise and then of course I had to get the supplies she used from Create with Kate.

Here's my make and take:

I also had the chance to alter a lovely set of mini drawers with Graphic 45 papers - more shopping with  Create with Kate.  Kate had a sample of a couple of altered mini drawer sets and now I am totally hooked. 

Halloween.....

I have had this Halloween theme paper for a few years now and only finally using it now.  I made this wall hanging using K & Co Halloween papers and Tim Holtz dies (House, Lamp Post, Graveyard).

Learn Something New....

Day 4.  Today's prompt is all about learning within the walls of your own home.  So I based my page on my daughter with a cup of tea and a picture of a seat in our back garden.  There's nothing like a nice cup of tea in your own home after a long day at work!

Learn Something New.....

Day 3.  Today it is all about goals - setting goals, achieving goals.  Today I based my page on photography - I love photography and one of my goals is to improve my photography.





Learn Something New......

Day 2.  The prompt today is all about learning, teachers, and role models.  To me my most influencial role models/teachers would have been my parents.  It is only when you have your own children you realise how much they do for you over the years.

Learn Something New.....





....Day 1 is all about 'MAKE EVERY DAY AN ADVENTURE'.  For this prompt I based my page on my son Ciaran who will be heading off soon on his own big adventure to college.  As his mother I'm not looking forward to it but I am excited for him and hoping he'll enjoy this chapter in his life.

Crafting Ireland.....

Back in May (yes May), Crafting Ireland held a fun crop in the Athlone Springs Hotel.  There were spaces to crop, fun demos throughout the day, and a raffle for some fanastic crafty prizes.  There was also a shop brought along by Create with Kate.

On the day the lovely Felicia gave a tutorial for a stunning Mini Album.  I made one on the day and just have to put the final touches to it.  I also made a second one as a birthday present and I used Graphic 45 papers which gave it a very vintage feel.

Learn Something New.....

Everyday.   Yes it is that time of the year again when Shimelle's 'Learn Something New Everyday' online course starts again.  This year I am determined to complete this course.

"Learn Something New is all about being aware of the world around you and taking away one little lesson from that world each day for a month. You can approach it in terms of gratitude. Or patience. Or steps toward a goal. You can then take on the documentation in any style you want: write in a journal. Make a minibook. Write daily blog posts. Take a daily photo. Use pocketed page protectors for a one-month addition to your albums or a September focus for an on-going Project Life album. Work with paper or pixels. Write a little or a lot. Total creative freedom to make it work for you." Shimelle.com

For my mini album I am using a small sketch book which I have altered.  I have a couple of Amy Tan's Day books but there wasn't enough pages in them so I decided to use this sketch book based on her day books.

Create with Kate.....

Had a lovely day on Sunday in Athlone Springs Hotel with Create with Kate.  Kate had her shop with loads of lovely goodies - got some 12 x 12 Crate paper, a Dear Lizzy 6 x 6 pad and Stamp (to die for), some mistables and other bits and pieces.  Kate did a lovely make and take using the new Tim Holtz distress markers (must not get hooked!!!).  She also did a very simple and quick Bookmark (forgot to take photos).  I had a chance to make a quick Mini Album for my God-daughter Roisin using Prima - Sun Kiss Papers.  I kept it very simple and used very little embellishments. 



Explore

This prompt for Explore was all about Maps .... finding them, being inspired by them and creating with them.  So for this prompt I printed off a circular map, covered it in cardstock, stuck some photos of the family on the back of it ( and yes 'Bruce' is family) and embellishments. 

On the next page I printed off a few quotes and scrapbooked a photo of my son winning a football final.  That was his journey with his team, who had their ups and downs, fought hard and eventually they got to their destination!

Explore

It has been a while since I posted anything on the blog - but I have been busy - very busy.  September I always find can be quite chaotic, kids back at school and trying to get back into some type of a routine.  I have been busy playing along with Explore and now Learn Something New Every Day with Shimelle.  I also took part in Big Picture Classes and 'Words to Live by'.    Anyway here are a couple of pages from my Explore playbook:

This page included a few prompts - Adventure,  and sending a postcard to yourself.  For Aventure I used a photo of myself and Chloe on a rollercoaster ride when we were in Disneyland.  I just don't do Rollercoasters!!  But Chloe wanted to go on it so much but wouldn't go without me - so off I had to go.  And you know it wasn't too bad.  Loved the idea of sending a postcard to yourself.  Shimelle talks about "I want to remember this - like going on a holiday, experiencing a land part event in Life or something noteworthy is happening on a golbal scale, grab a postcard and write it down.  Then by posting it, you'll get a postmark with the date and location".



A Scrapbook Challenge

Over at Shimelle's Blog there are 3 days of scrapbooking challenges, giveaways, mini-lessons, special guests and free downloads on 12th, 13th and 14th August.

This is a layout I based on a sketch from Shimelle's Blog - one of the first challenges.

Instead of one 6 x 4 photo, I used two 6 x 4 photos and I eliminated the photo strip at the top of the page and added the title there instead.  Also as part of the Explore class I was more aware of matching the colours of the papers to the photos.  When I picked out the photos first, the colours that sprang to mind were greens, blues, teals and red.  When I looked through my stash I found this kit I had never used - I must have had it for a least 2 or 3 years!  The papers are Chatterbox Inc. - Together which I found were ideal for this layout.

EXPLORE

For the first prompt we had to take a self-portrait - which I dread so I'm afraid I cheated and used a self-portrait I recently took, for a photography challenge.  The camera I have in the photo is an old Canon film camera which belonged to my Uncle, who has sadly passed away.  So I hope to start learning how to use it properly and take some more photos with it.  Also as part of the first prompt we had to do a 'Note to Self'.  I printed off a quote and journaled on the back of it.  Here's a few pictures:

EXPLORE

Imagine I have done 4 weeks of explore and I am only sharing it with you now!

First up my "Playbook" - "a place to record our little steps on our journey of explore".  This is a place to record the smaller activities rather than full scrapbook pages or albums. 

Cover of Playbook

I used an old manilla folder as the cover where I cut down the width to 7 inches and left the length.  I then added a sheet of acetate and added embellishments to it.  I saw the idea for this over Shimelle's blog.  Then for the inside pages I used 12 x 12 folded in half - so each page measures 12 x 6.

Explore

I've just finished an on-line photography course, Beautiful People with Cheryl over at Feelgood Photos (I will do a blog post later on it) and I am now starting an on-line course with Shimelle called Explore.

Explore, is a new on-line scrapbooking class which starts today and runs for 4 weeks with prmpts Monday through Friday.

Explore includes:

• 20 full colour PDF prompts
• 4 tutorial videos
• a printable workbook
• a bonus printable minibook
• a private message board
• full, permanent access to all class materials.

Really looking forward to getting started on this project, here's hoping I will finish it!

Live, Laugh & Love...

This is a layout I completed recently using Websters Pages, 'Ladies and Gents'.  Love these papers and while browsing Websters Pages website I came across a lovely layout using these papers, so here is my take on it.  I also used some prima flowers and ribbons I had from my stash.

I love these photos of my daughter with her Nanny and Grandad.  I love how she loves her grandparents so much.  These photos were taken of her First Communion seven years ago and imagine I'm only scrapbooking these pictures now.