Scrapbooking Layout - Sarah the Swimming Star

Just a quick update before we head up to the heat of Townsville. I am so into doodling at the moment and I have taken on the mammoth task of creating mum a birthday calendar for her birthday (which I decided to start 2 days ago and her birthday is on 27th Dec), and while trying to incorporate ideas for embellishing page including doodling which she is always complaining she can't do. Anyway back to the main subject - doodling here is the latest page I have completed.

Merry Christmas Everyone
Best Wishes
Tracy

PS I will post copies of the calendar when finished, 2 pages to go and only 1 day left before we head up north. Its going to be tight!

Hippie Birthday Invites

Phew I am so glad that is over with. I had the task to create for my friend 30 hippie birthday invitations for her 40th birthday. Whilst the first 8 or so was fun, by the time I got to the 30th I was so over it.

I printed the details on velum and attached to a card and flower which slides out of the envelope.

She is really happy with them with is what counts and I must say I am also. It was a great way to get rid of some of my scraps, which was starting to look like the Leaning Tower of Piza.

Gay Penguins?

I am all for gay rights and people to choose how they live BUT I had no idea the penguin world had these issues also. Click on the link, its true it was on Yahoo Headlines 16th December.

http://au.news.yahoo.com/a/-/latest/5217215/gay-penguins-given-own-eggs-to-care-for/

cut out snowflakes

Look at what I found at stumbleupon~:) Its amazing what people can do, mine would probably look more like a mushroom!

http://www.stumbleupon.com/toolbar/#url=http%253A%252F%252Fwww.cutoutandkeep.net%252Fprojects%252Fbeautiful_paper_snowflake

Merry Christmas from my2angels

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

Merry Christmas from my2angels

Have a Merry but safe Christmas and New Year Everyone

Thank you for your continue support this year. 2009 is starting off to be very exciting with the launch of our very own brand of ribbons - the first range is for the boys.

Dying ribbon and flowers with coffee

I thought you might like to see the page I finished this weekend and to also share a tip with you that you may not know of. I needed some beige ribbon and flowers for this page but only had white so I soaked them in coffee (no milk or sugar required ;) for approximately 5-10 minutes - let dry and then I had the right colour to finish my page with. I use my2angels white ric rac and our yellow/white flowers. Also used on the page was our brown buttons and rhinestuds.

On the search for a new trimmer

Whilst I love or am just use to my stanley knife and metal ruler for cutting I thought I might go on a search for a trimmer. Now I know the world is getting advanced and the technology is mind blogging, I mean I am still trying to get my head around fax machines. My sister lives in Scotland and I can draw a picture and in two minutes she will have that picture on her fax machine. Truly how does that happen? Anyway going back to the trimmer search, take a look at what I found, not my cup of tea / glass of rum and coke but could be yours!

http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=TiqrKTSQC7U

Take a look at this blog, www.juliestone.typepad.com and I dare you not to want to get involved and help ;)

If you can't get online ... here's a basic run-down. Southern Cross Kids Camp run (charity/donation funded) week long camps for abused and at-risk kids across Australia. The kids 'Buddies' create memory books that focus on their holiday week , that sadly might be the only happy childhood memories recorded for them . A fellow scrapper helped out at two of the SCKC camps held early this year and helped create gorgeous “Scrapped” memory books……they were the best ones yet, easier for the tired buddies and treasured beyond imagination by the children. The books were so successful, the Australian Directors contacted her and asked if all Nine of the camps in Australia and NZ could get the same albums! 325 kids memory albums!!! As you could imagine, to achieve that they need your help!

What can we do to help?

We can take the pressure off the Buddies by creating as many 6x6 layouts we possibly can. Then all they need to do is add photos & journaling then get a good night's sleep :)

How many?

They need about 6300 pages ... surely we as scrappers or crafters can help make these children's albums a reality!!! Make 2, make 6, make 12 ... make as many as you can. These pages are for camps for the entire year, not just the 2 that Julie is attending. Exciting stuff!

What can I do?
You can dig into your stash (I know you've got a big stash of papers & cardstock ;) LOL) ... and start creating. Here's what you need to make:

Pages are 6" x 6".
One photo per page (approx 5" x 3.5"), add a photo mat (I cut mine 14cm x 10cm).
Make a space for a bit of journaling.
No need to punch holes ... they're being put into 6x6 page protectors in a 6x6 album.
Colours - try for neutral, brights, muted, multi coloured, they need boys and girls pages but usually need more boy pages… bold colours are great as they suit both Girls & Boys.
Make the page so that it will suit a portrait or landscape photo (can be turned on it's side).

Where can I see an example?
On Julie's blog. Real fancy designs aren’t necessary, simple is best
Try making the same layout using different papers or
a few designs with co-ordinating!

How long have we got?
The camps will run through 09 But to be repackaged and sorted they will need to reach Julie anywhere between Mid to late March 09.

Where do I send them?

Julie Stone
C/- SCKC memory Books
PO Box 290
Unanderra
NSW 2526

No time?
Simply don't have time to create, but really want to contribute. Your old stash need a good home? Some left over odds and ends taking up space? You can contact Julie via her blog or email juliest35@optusnet.com.au as they desperately need ink pads (stazon or other permanent) acrylic stamp bocks, embellishments and alphabets etc for the buddies to decorate the front covers. Anything would be greatly appreciated.

Are you keen? Are you excited? I know I am. I challenge everyone who is able to donate to this worthy cause to rise to the occasion and create for these kids in need. You might be thinking ... I can only do 2 layouts ... well ... that's 2 more than they had before :)

Do you get together with friends to scrap or do craft? Why not challenge your group to create a couple of pages each? Been looking for an excuse to hook up with other Scrappers in your area? Kids enjoy scrapbooking? Get them involved making a couple of pages, a brilliant way of sharing some meaningful time and teaching them about helping out those in need..

SCKC need our help, we can make a real difference and all with our left over scraps!!

Come on! Lets try put a smile on a Childs Face!

Storage of Ribbons

Just like shoes, clothes and handbags you can never have enough ribbons. But I felt recently I needed to address my fetish of ribbons as I was stuggling to keep my stash from taking over my already overflowing working space which was once called the dinning room table. So I came up with this solution - empty film cannisters so now they fit neatly in drawers and safely out of sight (we will overlook the scraps thrown into my 20cm x 15cm tin which is starting to overflow).

I am now ,having to be a secret scrapbooking shopper as my Angels keep asking to sit at the dinning room table to eat dinner - poof as if, just because the table is in the dinning room doesn't mean to say we have to eat at it, honestly those kids do they think oh look there is the vacumn cleaner, lets clean our room!!! No I didn't think so!
Back to important things, the cannisters can take up to 2-3 metres of ribbon depending on the side and shape. I just cut a square out of the lid with a stanley knife. I got all of mine from the local photoshops who usually throw them out so I can also say I am being environmentally friendly by recycling - there thats good jusfication to my every increasing need to buy more ribbon! Oh and get the clear cannisters so you can see at a glance how much you have left.
Tracy
PS However it still doesn't stop the fact that I never have the right colour, shape or size when I am working on a project!

Stamping with Clear Acrylic Stamps

Clear Acrylic Stamps, I have discovered the versatility of these stamps and it has become one of my favourite tools for scrapbooking, especially as you can use them over and over. I keep most of mine of stamps in CD covers, which also double ups as an acrylic block. You can see exactly where you are stamping because you can see through the case. And if some of the pattern doesn’t come out the first time, you can re-ink that part of the stamp, which hasn’t appeared and carefully restamp over the top of the first image.
There are so many creative ideas to add interest to your scrapbook page by just using a stamp.

Once you have stamped with your ink, for example, you can then apply some kindy glitz or rhinestones to sections. Your stamps don’t have to be ink, I have also used paint.

Try inking your stamp, then lightly spray water onto your stamp then apply to paper – this gives a watercolour effect.

You can stamp on different mediums such as chipboard, transparencies, buttons etc. There are so many possibilities, it is only your imagination that limits you.
To keep them clean, depending on what type of medium you have used, either baby wipes or wash them in some mild soapy water and pat dry. Don’t leave them to soak in water though, as they could loose their shape abit.

Also check out “you tube” there are lots of different stamping technique videos on there.

My examples, nothing spectular, that I quickly made up this morning are: L is on a wooden letter, O on actuate with StazOn Cherry Pink, V is inked chipboard and used Brilliance StarLite Silver for the stars and the E was lightly sprayed with water.

Women CAN read maps and men DON"T listen

This thought for the day doesn't involve scrapbooking but it came to me while trying to think of some rambling for a retail page to be submitted into a scrapbooking directory / newsletter.

Women CAN read maps and men DON'T listen

We can read maps and also ask for directions, however directions are not neccessary because we can read the bloody map in the first place. It should be compulsory that boys join the boy scouts to learn the skills of map reading to prevent the use of half a tank of petrol while driving around and around trying to locate the destination. Now it is not neccesary for girls to join the Brownies and Girl Guides - I was one and I don't remember being shown how to read a map, why, because it isn't that bloody hard!!!!

But on a final note, as men don't listen, it will be pointless sending them to Boy Scouts. So really, us multi talented species called females, will continue to take on the role of driver, co driver, map reader, referee of kids fighting in back seat, all while driving, drinking a coffee, speaking on hands free mobile organising car pools for kids weekly activities and thowing in an occasional outburst of tourettes syndrome of yelling at useless bloody drivers on the road!

Am I right?

Tracy :)

PS I hope to not offend anyone who is a victim of Tourettes syndrome, it certainly is not my intention. The recent episode of Domestic Blitz brought an awareness to our society of how extreme this condition can be, and I am sure many families are greatful for this. I was crying my eyes out watching this, but mainly in happiness for such a positive result for Bianca and her family.

How to tie ribbon

Too easy you think! Well I can tie a shoe lace so how hard can it be to tie a ribbon for your scrapbooking creations! Well honestly I use to produce some very pathetic bows and always using some dimensional magic to keep it in place. Now I have no excuse as I found this great video on you tube.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yojsEtR4uZI

Just click on the back arrow to return to blog when finished watching.

PS Finally found the sketch competition for my catching malteaser page see further down - its from Scrapbooking Savvy. Yah I have finally posted my first competition.

Sketches

Too often I sit armed with photos and a blank piece of cardstock just waiting for a miracle. You know when you have intentions of creating a work of art but then when its time to start - nothing! Well I discovered my miracle YEAH HA sketches - oh man how much easier is it when someone who is very clever creates a sketch and you just just go from there. As long as you have the photos, some of the hard work is taken off you. See below the following sketch, it took me under an hour to create the page and in all my excitment of completing the page so quickly, I can't remember where I got the sketch from and I know its a November Sketch Challenge for a competition. Oh well at least I have 25 days to track down the location.

As always all the products used, except the pattern paper and black & white ribbon used to tie our pendant, can be found on our website http://www.my2angels.net/

There are so many sites with sketches, just searched for scrapbooking sketches on the net to get a huge list.

Another miracle may happen and I might create some sketches and upload them to the blog. But first I gotta find that sketch comp.

Angel Son Approves of Velvet Silicon Ribbon

Just wanted to share with you the page I finished over the weekend. You see I started it about 2 weeks ago but when I am complete a page for my 12 year old boy he has specific requests - limited buttons & using blue, no girl colours and most definitely no flowers. I am also a card stock girl, some days it is just too hard to deal with patterns / extra colours for a layout, how lazy do I sound!!!

Anyway I got the seal of approval with the velvet silicon ribbon and also got away with using yellow!

My Unique Style - No Pressure

I am amazed when I get a new scrapbooking magazine or am surfing the web for ideas for a scrapbooking page. Where do some people get these ideas for their pages, how do they keep coming up with new ideas! It gets me down because I can never come up with the ideas or scrapbook like some of them. Is it the competitiveness or the Capricorn stubborn goat in me but then I realise I do create just as good as them but in a different way because I have my own unique style!

When I use to attend classes at the local scrapbooking shop, if I put something in the wrong spot or didn’t pop dot it like the teacher had done, I use to justify it by saying its my unique page – and looking back now I was right, I was adding my own touch to the page not creating exactly what someone else had done.

Definitely look through magazines and on line galleries as they are a great source of ideas but remember the pages you are looking at are not yours nor do they have your personal touch to them.

I am currently doing an album for a client’s grandson 21st birthday. Now boys are hard enough as it is but this client likes simple pages eg very limited on embellishments and one to two colours. I did her granddaughters album last year and a page of her graduation screamed out for bling, so I put ONE silver bling ribbon slide on it and the client was and still is not 100% happy with it being there. To make it worse she has provided the album, Myers black paper expensive album, so if I make a mistakes I am in trouble cause I can’t take the page out. So you imagine how difficult this job is considering I have a store fill of wonderful, gorgeous and unique embellishments at my disposal. Anyway my point is we all have different tastes.

So in summary, each page you produce for yourself, is created by you, so it is unique and has your own personal touch to it. This now allows me to like and enjoy what I create and it takes away all the pressure I put on myself.

Do you drink cans of soft drink?

As a regular pepsi max drinker - dash of rum is complusory after the angels have been picked up from school the email below which I received from my mother recently put the heebie jeebies up me! Whether the story is true or not it still made me wonder about where the cans had been:

A woman went boating one Sunday, taking with her some cans of coke which she put into the refrigerator of the boat.

On Monday she was taken to the hospital and placed in the Intensive Care Unit.
She died on Wednesday.

The autopsy concluded she died of Leptospirosis.

This was traced to the can of coke she drank from, not using a glass.

Tests showed that the can was infected by dried rat urine and hence the disease Leptospirosis. Rat urine contains toxic and deadly substances.

It is highly recommended to thoroughly wash the upper part of drink cans before drinking out of them. The cans are typically stocked in warehouses and transported straight to the shops without being cleaned.

A study at NYCU showed that the tops of drink cans are more contaminated than public toilets (i.e. full of germs and bacteria).

So wash them with water before putting them to the mouth to avoid any kind of
fatal accident.

CHARMS new arrivals

today has been a blur of taking photos and listing my new charms which arrived today (see photos below of just a few of them). Great news I have the popular frogs and ladybirds back in stock phew!
Most are in packets of 5 for $1.60 excluding the angels and frames which are in packets of 2 for $1.00 as these are much larger than the usual size charms I stock.

Example of using glitter ribbon

I am in shock I actually completed a page in two days. I have so many I haven't completed that I started, mmm don't think I will mention when!
We attended a presentation at Sharks AFL club here on the Gold Coast where mum was presented with a medal for donating blood 100 times. I am so peeved as I am unable to give blood which I first started doing when I was 14 but because I went to the UK in the early 1990's I can no longer donate because of mad cow disease. I don't have it, well depends who you ask!, and as having the second rarest blood type it is frustrating.
Anyway here is the page and of course all products used can be purchased from
www.my2angels.net

PS click on the photo to get an enlarged picture AND if anyone can tell me how to take a photo of my pages and it not warping I would love to know.

Glitter Ribbons

I was so busy rambling on about my day that I forgot to mention I also received an order of glitter ribbon. These are a nice soft ribbon and come in 3 great Christmas colours - red, green and silver. However don't stop at Christmas, they will look great as a border and easy to tie for your off the page creations. They are 1cm wide and 1mm thick for only $1.50 per metre. Hopefully by next week I will have create a page using the silver, which is currently sitting on the "dining room" table half completed with a few other half completed pages...

Today in the Life

Working from home sure has its benefits, especially when the Angels are at school, its a wonderful peacefulness that surrounds you. Then there are the days that seem to stretch out long in front of you and sometimes you miss the chatting around the table in the staff room. It was one of those days where I had a plan of attack: complete a page and to order more blings. Then the phone rang and my day turned into a unorganised mess. Firstly Victoria from Scrapbooking Top 50 rang regarding some advertisements and she ended the conversation with 'so you will have it ready by 1st November, sure I said not realising until later that is only a week away". Bugger me where has the year gone, I have already received 9 year old Angels school book list for 2009!!!!

10 minutes later Carla from Scrapbooking Memories phones "just a quick chat" she starts with. I advised her that I don't have quick chats, the memories of the table in the staff room come back to me. A lot of laughing happened for the next 10 minutes or so and my bank balance was less - this always seems to happen when Carla rings me. Sure I can supply some Kits of the Month no problems, great she said send me your first lot of products by next week!

Why is it I can say NO to my angels but not to anything to do with scrapbooking?

Well I ain't got time to sit here and type and rambling on I've got to choose some products for kits and get my head around photoshop. I reckon a 'quick" call to PointShootPlay to organise some lessons arh no best I send an email it might be quicker!

my 2 must have products - Dimensional Magic and Ink

I only discovered Dimensional Magic about a year ago and it has got to be my 2nd most used product, after cardstock. It is excellent for sticking down small items eg my2angels charms, rhinestuds and rhinestones. It adds a gloss or dimension to what you put it on. As I am cardstock girl, (patterns can sometimes be too hard to coordinate but that is a discussion for another blog time), by putting some DM on a strip of cardstock just adds some dimension and a gloss to it. And how quick is it to dry! I suppose the only downside to it is it dries up in the top of your bottle so you need to have a pin handy to unblock it. DM is definitely at the top of my list!

Ink, now as mentioned before I am a cardstock girl, which can sometimes be a bit boring but by inking your edges gives it a bit more colour and softens the hard edges of your cardstock. Actually thinking about it, I ink all my papers, pattern or not. Don’t forget to ink the edges of your pages also.

Small snapshot below is of a page I am currently doing using Dimensional Magic, self adhesive Christmas Tree ribbon, velvet ric rac and rhinestones. All products available at our website

New Products - Silver Bling Buckles, Hearts, Stars and Squares

Gorgeous new bling have arrived to add

to our already stunning range

There are some ranges out there which don't have stones in them, these do and they are beautiful

Check out the rest of the range at www.my2angels.net

Scrapbooking with my2angels

Well I thought I had better keep up with the Jones's and create my own blog. They tell me it will bring more people to my website. It is frustrating as a mum at home trying to create a small business when there are so many big companies out there.

At my2angels I aim to have more unique products listed than just the standard items. We still need adhesives and cardstock to get us started (which we stock a small range of) but its the other items that I concentrate more on so check us out.

Everyone who orders gets a small thank you gift and these change each month.

Tell me what you think of my site because I don't know what you want unless you tell me

Enjoy your day everyone and get creating :)