Category: Uncategorized

Before we got a puppy I was told many times it was the same as having another small child in the house.  I've since discovered this to be true.  Penny will do things naughty, just to be told off by the kids, then she'll act all sorry and they melt and they'll give her big cuddles. She wins.

When the kids were small it was raisins and half-eaten muesli bars I might find stashed in the car or in random places around the home.  Penny, on the other hand, doesn't stash things in the car, but she stashes things everywhere else.  Her "Bury the food, save it for later" instinct is strong.  I find tux dog biscuits in the strangest of places.  She can very carefully line them up behind curtains, she can push a cushion over, place one behind and push the cushion back in place.  My favourite though?  She tries to bury them in beanbags.  I apologise in advance to anyone visiting my home that finds a month old tux dog biscuit as a companion.

Ahh yes.  You all warned me that getting a puppy was like getting another child.  WHY is it though, when I demand "Penny, come!" in my best authority-like voice, that she takes one look and slinks the other way.  She knows if I walk one way around the table, that she can take off around the other side.  I'm not going to play that game for long.  My biggest question though?  If dogs are so much like kids, why doesn't she respond to the thing that all kids respond to?  I can't tell you how many times I've got to the end of my patience with her not coming to me and starting with "one….two…."  doesn't work with pups though, does it?

Leaving you with a 30 minute layout.  Totally unrelated to anything puppy.  For full isntructions see the FancyPants blog!

Oh!  And click the link in the toolbar – I have more kits for sale, many from Autumn Escape!

laters…

 

<< Giveaway closed – winner is Sherie as below – I'll be emailing you, Congrats! – class opens tomorrow – regsiter now if you were thinking of doing so! >>

I looked at my schedule and realised May was here, yep it usually follows right after April but somehow I didn't expect it just yet, and then I realised I have an online class in just over a week.  The worst part?  I haven't given away a spot in class – bad me!

Alright – so the details for the class are here:  You can tell I was deathly sick in that photo – Lordy me… I think I was about 2 steps away from being admitted to hospital last year.  Anyway… go visit the page, you might even want to watch the dodgey video (May and I don't claim to be video extraordinaires – it's fairly dodge, but FUN at the same time!).. anyway, do that and come back and visit me.  Leave a comment and tell me what exactly it is about the class that makes you think you'd enjoy it.  

Apart from the fact you might see more of those amazing videos, note the sarcasm.  Which actually, is very likely. 

Giveaway closes Sunday 6th May.

Leaving you with one of my fav pages from the class – there are many, many, many more though!
Laters

Because one event wasn't enough.  Because we are always sold out 10 months in advance every year.  Because it makes us sad to see a huge waiting list and scrapbookers turned away, and because we just can't wait a whole 12 months inbetween events…

We're right back into it.  We have one of the BEST mixed media, scrapbookey type, vintage lovin' tutors available to spend 3 days with us.  Paula Cheney is the amazing mind behind much of the 7Gypsies artwork and products and she already has huge shipments of 7Gypsies products headed our way for the classes and the retail store…

What are AE retreats?   They are the best.  We hire out one of the most amazing conference centres in the country .. with everything on site, hot pool, huge conference and classrooms, cosy bars, wonderful accomadation and staff that know us well and cater to our every need.

It's all about being creative.  Being social.  Hanging out with a whole group of women that are quickly becoming old friends.  (I'm becoming especially old this year… *sigh*) .. Spend some time with Lucy, the AE Crew and myself as we do it all over again – this time in Spring.  More details here. 

Facebook group is here.  Join us, even if you aren't coming along to the retreats, because you need another group of scrapbookers that talk far too much about scrapbooking, bargains and the next hot thing in this wonderful craft of ours.

laters

It's been one of those days.  You know.  When you decide to nip into the book store quickly while still in your gym gear… noone will see me.  And they do.  Once back to the car I couldn't find my car keys.  They were in my hand.  Once in the car I reached back for my seatbelt and reached and reached and couldn't locate it.  I look around and I was already wearing it.  I'm a step behind myself today.  However, spirits are still high,  I've had some blessings lately so I'm happy to take the good with the bad. Actually it's more like vague.  What was I saying?! 

One such blessing was the opportunity to be involved in True Scrap 3.  True Scrap has come and gone, a whole lot of fun was had and I'm thrilled I learnt a whole pile of stuff.   I enjoyed listening to Becky Higgins talk through Project Life (I'm now a complete convert) but my favourite class of all was Shimelle's "The Perfect Collection – using your favourite collection to the very last scrap".  Most of us only use a part of a collection we buy, me included, but Shimelle is a genius. She showed us how to make the most of the whole collection.  Seriously, to the last scrap. 

I have only managed to sit through some of the classes, I have about 9 to go.  Lucklily they are all recorded and I'll be playing them while I work today.  Inspiration on tap 🙂

Anyway… I've been asked when the classes will be available individually, they are usually available as individual classes about a month after the event, I'll keep ya posted.  If you want to see how they sell individually (and make the most of some awesome classes?) take a look here for True Scrap 1 classes individually, and True Scrap 2 individually here.  Here is the link for True Scrap 3 if you want to look what was on offer. 

(And for those Lain Ehmann fans out there – she has opened the Layout a Day registration for May – 31 layouts in 31 days… it's about 80% full I think, but still time to hop on board… I personally did the whole "It's only a one month commitment and 31 layouts done" vs "I'll never get it done" angel-devil argument… but apparently,according to those that have done it previously , it's one of the most motivating classes out there, so I may join in yet!
But then I'm the girl that couldn't find her keys when they were in her hand and couldn't find my seatbelt when I was wearing it – don't know how I'd manage 31 days?  Still thinking!

Fun. Serious fun.  And did you pick up on the Project Life thing?  Yes.  I have everything I need thanks to the Crafthouse team and I will be jumping in on the 1st of May.  Something new for me but really looking forward to it.  I feel the guilt growing wings and taking off already.

Laters

Oh!  Wait!  Kits for Flower Frenzy still available!  The last 3 kits are available at $39 each – next batch due in soon and the price may have to rise slightly! (And I have TWO new kits in the process of being created…busy times…busy times…)

It's amazing what being in a room fullof 145 inspirational women for a weekend can do for one's creativity.  I am LOVING creating right now.  The guest Design Team spot at Websters has been a whole lot of fun and the weekend seeing so many amazing creations at AE Autumn Escape was just the push I need to create. 

Some of you will recognise the format of this layout.

How cute are those girls. 

Love the little cameo accents – Websters have a whole range that go with each collection called "Perfect accents"

Anyway. Websters.  Loved it.  Inspiration from being at Autumn Escape with all you lovely ladies.  Awesome.  Thanks so much for the kickstart this week!

laters

I made it home from Taupo and Autumn Escape, with registration for AE Spring Edition opening on the Sunday, I didn't think that things would slow down for me anytime soon.

I was wrong.  Maybe it was the inspiration I saw at Autumn Escape.  Maybe it was the teaching of classes, maybe it was seeing amazing pages being created, maybe it was the Moro Gold Caramel Max. I don't know but I sat down to scrapbook on Monday, gorgeous Webster's product in hand, and it was the most relaxing FUN scrapbooking I've done in a long, long time.

I've created painter's tray type layouts before.  I had the 'Palm Beach' collection to work with though, and the little cards in there were begging to be gridded on a layout.  That and I was inspired by Piradee Talvanna's classes at Autumn Escape… I haven't sat and cut, glued, sand along to my radio and enjoyed myself as much as I have this last MOnday in a LONG time.

Cute product helps.  As does inspiration.  As does those Moro Gold Caramel Max.  You all tried them yet?

Thanks for the opportunity, Websters!

Checking in quickly, because quickly is all I have these days.  I think constantly about things I'd like to say on my blog.  I always have stories to tell.  They are always ticking over in my mind.  It seems like an age since I've chatted on my blog.  Told stories, celebrated the silly things the kids say.  Celebrated the silly things I say. 

I know time will return.  I leave for Autumn Escape in 36 hours.  This time next week it will be all over.

For now I'll leave you with two things.

Firstly, a reminder that i have a new kit for sale. 
'Flower Frenzy" all details here.  I have about a dozen left.  Email me ASAP if you are interested, if you need one, I'll put it in the mail before I go.

Lastly, a thank you.  A thank you for all of our Autumn Escape sponsors for making it so much easier for us.  Sponsors like Prima… what would we do without them?

laters

Time is tight – for all of us. You can always imagine me this time of year being dragged kicking and screaming out of summer and into Autumn, but the added bonus is that Autumn Escape isn’t far away. Keeps me busy. All of a sudden I look up from my desk and the seasons have changed. Time seems to be flying particularly fast this year though with all the prep that goes along with True Scrap, and Big Picture Classes ‘Double Take’ with May Flaum, and Dimensional Details (pumped for that one – it’s the expanded version, hundreds of students LOVED it last time – registration opens in May sometime!)

BUT anyway, all this talk of busy leads me to talk about quick scrapbooking. Which is something I have NO idea how to do. But in the name of an awesome post on the FancyPants blog I pulled the FancyPants goodies out and I created a layout, perfect for busy people. Visit here to see the instructions to a 30 minute layout. Yes. 30 minutes. Didn’t think it was possible did you?

Check back over the weekend for the Heidi Swapp winner and details of a new kit I'll have for sale soon!

Laters

COMMENTS CLOSED:  Winner is Vicki (gypsykate) – email me, Vicki!

Many of you know, I'm one of the 4Experts at Big Picture Classes again this year.  My class, Dimensional Details, opens for registration during April.  BUT Heidi Swapp's class is just about ready to kick-off… it's a fabulous class, wouldn't you love to win a seat?!

Here's the details!

Art of Observation by Heidi Swapp
  

Class Description
We have all heard about the unexamined life and its worth… when Socrates taught his students to challenge the norm and question the world, the outcome was his death – a high price to pay! Are you ready to challenge your norm and look at your life in a new and exciting way?

Questions are the creative acts of intelligence. It is through asking questions and figuring out the answers along the way that we learn to value and cherish the life that we live. Novelist Thomas Berger said, "The art and science of asking questions is the source of all knowledge."

 

Asking questions and making observations in our life and in the world around us will help us to appreciate the beauty and wonder that is our everyday. Life is CRAZY! It's busy and full, and complicated and dramatic! It's up and down; there are beautiful triumphant moments, and heartbreaking disappointments—somehow, all combined, they equal something wonderful and worth remembering.

To win a seat in this 12 week class, all you have to do is go to Big Picture Classes and let me know the name of ONE class on the website that catches your eye.  Heidi has a fabulous style and this is an amazing class – you gotta be in it to win it, click, comment and win! 

Winner drawn Sunday 25th of March, so be quick!!!

(Scroll down for True Scrap info and giveaway!)

Updated:   The comments are now closed and I have drawn a winner…  Tina, you are in for a FABULOUS time at TrueScrap!   Thanks for commenting, everyone!   And for the record… doing happy dance.. I get Hersheys.. I get Hersheys…  Thank you everyone for sharing the love!

 

 

I love free stuff and I love giving free stuff.  Lots of it.  Keep checking back this week – for some reason I have LOTS of stuff that people are asking me to giveaway.  Fun times in blog land.

Before I start, do me a favour and spread the word for me.  I do have a little wager with someone about how much traffic I can get through my blog.  Usually when I do this kind of thing I bet a bag of lollies (candy) and this time is no exception.  This time if I’m right I get some seasonal Hershey's kisses from the USA.  If I lose, I have to send some NZ candy over to the states.

So, in the name of good chocolate being sent my way, link me, Pin me, facebook me, gossip about me and most of all – enjoy the giveaway. 

Details of the first giveaway…. True Scrap.

I gotta tell you about my class first – and the giveaway details are at the end.  So keep reading – remember there is a chocolate riding on this.  And you have a chance to win a spot in my class too (As well as the 14 others at True Scrap!). 

Class: Flower Frenzy by Nic Howard

(GREAT NEWS!!!  A kit for my class will be available here from the 29th March!  So many people wanted a kit last time – this time we have one!)

Class Description:
Floral accents are the centre of so many scrapbook layouts these days, from cute little flowers to dazzling blooms, they add that little bit of gorgeous to every layout they adorn. Whether it’s using pre-made flowers or making her own little floral creations, Nic has long loved to include them on her pages. Join us as Nic reveals some of her favourite floral techniques, demonstrates several different ways to make home-made floral accents and then brings her ideas together in a project you’ll love. She’ll take a little inspiration, add a some easy step-by steps, include some gorgeous examples and bring it all together in a video presentation and handout that will have True Scrap students inspired for months to come!

Cute sneak picture: (perfect to pin so I win the hersheys chocolate..)

 

So where will this class feature?  This class will feature at TRUE SCRAP 3. 
15 instructors with various amazing classes and ideas to share.  Make n Takes.  Virtual Crop.  All in one weekend.  But if you can’t make the weekend you get 15 classes recorded to enjoy at your own leisure.  Bargain!  Perfect for those that can’t get to big events.  Perfect for those that want to stay home and do things at their own pace.  Perfect for those that want to stay in their jammies.  Lovin it.

 

So.  Would you like to win a seat? Yes. Yes you would.  To win a full-pass to True Scrap (that’s ALL 15 classes), just click here. 

Check out the classes and post a comment back here telling me which class interests you most… (saying mine doesn’t count… I know you are all nice polite people but you don’t have to say mine), tell me which OTHER class interests you most and you are in the draw for a seat to all 15 classes.

Easy as that.  Draw closes Thursday 22nd March PST.  Don’t forget to link me, pin me and generally share the love.  Hersheys.  There are Hershey's riding on this.  Just sayin’.

(and check back later this week! I have MORE giveaways!)