Dreams Really Do Come True!!!!

Well Hello Everyone,

It has been a while and boy do I have a tale to tell.

Where do I start????  Okay here goes....

My eldest daughter is totally smiten with Justin Bieber, okay maybe a little more like totally obsessed as are thousands of other teens her age.

So Justin was gracing our shores this past weekend and my daughter has been in a frenzy for the last couple of months trying to work out how to get to see him or win tickets to one of his live events.

Fast forward to Friday of last week when she realised that she hadn't won any tickets to anything or any live gigs she was heartbroken and in tears.

Her and a friend also totally obsessed with Justin, decided to make a scrapbook of his life (okay I will take credit for the influence on this one, although it was not my idea and in fact I thought it was a complete waste of time, because lets get real he's never gonna get it...Right????)  I didn't tell them this I just thought okay just go for it at least they're having fun being creative...

They spent 10 hours over Saturday making this scrapbook, infact at 1.30am on Saturday Night/Sunday Very Early Morning I had to tell them to wind it up and go to bed, nothing like leaving things to the last minute.

Here is a picture of them working and in their matching jumpers of course.

One last piece to the puzzle is that they had been given a hint as to where he may have been staying.

The next day they set off at 9am to find the biebs... and find him they did.  Not only did they find him but they also handed a crew member the album they made and later when they saw Justin they asked if he had recieved their album and he answered to Danielle, that yes he had and it was beautiful in his amazing American accent, according to her.

To top it off my daughter and her friend were on all 3 news channels on Sunday Night.  My daughter even made the screen headline photo on Channel 9, that is her in the front looking at her idol, so funny.....

So what does this have to do with scrapbooking, not much aside from the fact that I will probably scrapbook this photo and the memories that go with it.  Also that they made an album which he may have seen, that we will never know.

However what this post is really about is........drumroll please........if you really want something bad enough, and you believe it, you feel it and you act on it, you will achieve it....... You guys know I am all about positive thinking and really being in charge of your lives, I received a lesson from my own 14 year old daughter this week to reaffirm and as a strong reminder that anything is possible.  If you are in alignment the universe will indeed conspire in your favour....

Follow Your Dreams People!!!

The Next Generation of Scrapbookers....

A couple of times in the holidays I have had my eldest daughters friends over to make a scrapbook for one of their other friends who is celebrating a birthday soon.

I was thrilled and excited when they rang to ask about how to go about making a scrapbook as part of their birthday gift. 

Of course I invited them over and the rest is history  As you can see here they are having fun creating and I have to say it comes natural to them as well and I hope they continue to make their own albums or even to make a art life journal for themselves once this completed.

The best part is they are off their phones, interacting, creating and achieving (for a little while anyway).  Maybe those millions of photos will have a creative use after all.

Well done girls you are doing a great job and the album looks amazing and I am so proud of you for giving it a go!!!!! xox

New Card Making Video

Hey Everyone

My newest video is up.  This was a really simple card to put together, not to mention quick also.  Underneath the video is a list of supplies used and where you can find them.  Enjoy and please share the video and leave me a comment, I would love some feedback!!

Supplies used in Hot Air Balloon Video

Simple Stories Summer Fresh 4x6 Vertical Journaling Card Element
The images that I used in this video are on the reverse side of this patterned paper
Vandoros Red /White Gingham Ribbon
Green Tara Lime Green Elastic Gingham Frill
Zva Crystal Dots Rhinestones
Green Tara Gerbera 2cm Turquoise Blooms
Lime/White Bakers Twine 100m roll


Thanks for watching

Handmade 40th Birthday Card

Hey Everyone,

How are you all on this cold and rainy sunday??

Most of us are sick here with colds again including me.  Not happy esp since its school holidays.  Oh well some codral and rest will probably nip it in the bud fairly quickly.

Anyway I wanted to pop in and share a card I made for a 40th Birthday Party we had last night.

The patterned paper I used for the background of this card pictured is Lilybeedesign Head over Heals Swoon.  Loving the vintage feel of this paper.

I didn't manage to get the video done yet as I mentioned in the last post, however some new product arrived on Thursday which I have some swirling ideas of a theme to use for the video, so definitely want to get onto it in the next couple of days while the idea is fresh.

Just to finish here is a photo of my daughter Mel who painted the canvas pictured, as part of an art group which is displayed in the National Art Gallery for a little while.  Very proud of her she is a budding little artist.

Have a great day xo

Scrapbooking a Card Layout

Happy (early) Monday Morning Everyone,

Last week after the previous post I decided to set myself the challenge of creating a scrapbook layout from the card layout, see post below.

Here is what I came up with

This photo is of my daughter Melanie a few years back at a birthday party where they had a butterfly show.  The papers perfectly matched with the photo which was a bonus.

I used exactly the same products and virtually the same layout as the card just altering a bit to add the photo and adapt it to a 12 x 12 page.  Of course the sentiment was different.

For a list of all the supplies used to make both the card and layout, see post below.  Every item is linked back to the store, if you see something you would love to purchase. 

The only thing left to do on this layout is add some journaling.

I absolutely love the butterfly sticker sheet used above and as I have some butterflies remaining I will add them to the She Art Canvas below.  This is a work in progress and I can't wait to show you the finished project.

As I woke up really early today, and it was still dark outside,  I decided to bake some cookies for kids lunches and do a blog post.  Officially I am ahead of schedule for the day as I wouldn't normally add these things to my morning routine, first time ever...

Now to get the kids dressed and organised so we get out the door on time.

Just to put a little pressure on myself I have carved out a day this week to make another tutorial video woop woop!!, I figure if I write it here it may just keep me accountable.

Enjoy your day!

Card Making Inspiration - Notebook Print Bitty Bags

Happy Wednesday everyone,

I thought I would pop up a cute idea for using the notebook bitty bags we have in stock on a card front.  My thought is that it would be great to add gifts cards into the pocket or make a matching tag using our Vanilla Shipping Tags and pop it inside.

You could add an extra special little note on there or an extra trinket to the gift you are giving.  Things like Hair Clips or a pair of cute earings.  Something small that may get lost in the big gift and it makes for an extra litte surprise.

Either way it makes a super cute embellishment to the card front.

Here is a before shot of all the supplies used on this card.  At the very end of this post there will be a link to the store for each individual product used.

Best Friend Card with a pocket front using the Divine Itty Bitty Notebook Print Bag

This photo shows the tag from the outside.  Perfect for a little added special message or a little trinket.

Close up of the details.  You can add any sentiment you prefer as there is a whole alphabet with some doubles and triples of the most common letters.

As you can see I covered half of the notebag with the red spotty vellum.  Love how its see thru.  I also used lots of butterflies to decorate you can use as many you like, there are heaps in the sticker sheet.  You could make a few cards like this with these supplies you may just need to alter the sentiment for each card as you will run out of letters.

Here is a list of supplies used

Aussie Scrap White Textured Cardstock
Basic Grey Konnichiwa Sui Sui Patterned Paper
American Crafts Dear Lizzy Neapolitan Sparkling Smile Vellum
Jenni Bowlin Studio Butterfly Red Stickers
Vanilla Shipping Tags Large
Notebook Bitty Bags
Red/White Candy Striped Twine
Vandoros Peru Stitch Natural/Red Trim
Scalloped and circle Shapes were punched out using EK Success Punches.
Scalloped Circle 1.5'
Circle Punch 1 1/8'
Punches can be purchased in store

Hope you liked this card inspiration.  If you did feel free to share it around and come sign up on for our newsletter and join our facebook page for daily updates.

See you soon

  

Soul Restoration

Hey everyone, its been a while....

It haven't been around much this week because I have been focusing on finishing an online course that I signed up for in January.  The course closes in a couple of days and I hadn't finished the whole currciculum becuase it has just been a crazy 6 months for me.  The course is Soul Restoration found on the Brave Girls site.  There are many courses to choose from and  I thorougly recommend them for self growth and to give you an excuse to get those art supplies out.  Lots of both included self development and art. 

Above is one of the truth cards I made, it is kind of like making your own set of affirmation cards.  These cards are meant to be the opposite of the messages you keep playing your head.  Messages like I am not good enough, I don't do enough, I am not skinny enough, I am not pretty enough etc etc.  These are some of the ones that roll around my mind and have for years.  It doesn't really matter how they got there it is just about healing these parts of yourself.  Accepting who you are right now and looking at the strong parts of yourself and celebrating those but also knowing that we ALL have weak parts to work on, some are more obvious than others. 

I know for me weight is a huge one, I loose weight I put it on and so the cycle goes.  I know what the right thing to do, I know about nutrition and healthy eating, I've read lots of books I own lots of books???? but and here is the but food is my emotional comfort.  I can get really angry and down about the fact that I am nearly 40 and I still don't have a hold on what I put in my mouth, that I am still struggling with that part of myself.  How can something that is so simple be such a challenge?? All of us have different fears and doubts we need  to work through it may be some other addiction or habit, or a thought holding us back from truly living our dream.  Either way working through it rather than stuffing it down and pretending it doesn't exsist or that it will go away, needs to be on everyone priority list and not just females either everyone.

 I understand now why I am so drawn to scrapbooking.  It is not so much about documenting your life but about discovering your life in the process.  Art is also a form of self healing and moving through those blocks in your life.  As you know art can happen in many forms and it is different for everyone.  I encourage you to take time out to journal and create and know that it really is important, it isn't a luxury, it is an essential part of being human.

I don't mean to go on but I just wanted to do a little heartfelt share as I haven't for a while.  I also wanted to let you know its okay to be real, to be vulnerable and to be open to others about your struggles.  We are here to grow and connect to each other above all else.

I hope I have inspired you to really question those beliefs and labels you put on yourself and challenge them.  Get some supplies out and journal and create. I am really excited about this process and it is definitely more of what I am going to do even after this course is finished.

Love and Hugs, and go find your inner self!!!