First Almost Swim

Hello

Today I have a share from about 2 weeks ago. At the start of the month I kicked off with some inspiration to get lots of challenges done but then I discovered project life and my challenges went out the window, however I did manage to do one. It was originally going to be for the Stuck challenge but then I realised I used the exact colour palette for the Polly Scraps January challenge so I'm instead entering it there and to the Anna's craft cupboard sketch. Unfortunately with the gloomy weather we've had in QLD the past week, there just hasn't been a good time to photograph and I just had to go ahead anyway as I've already left it for ages. Today one of my cats was walking all over it so it was time to photograph and put out of cat reach lol

 This layout actually features my daughters almost first swim. We had every intention of having her swim for the first time but she was tired and hungry and unimpressed when the water touched her toes so we didn't worry that day. She has since had 2 swims and loves it!

 Materials: Co-ordinations cardstock; Kaisercraft paper, alphas, paperclip & collectables; Echo park papers; D-lish scraps twine; AC thickers.

Soon I'll take some photos of my first Project Life layouts too but hopefully when we get some sunshine. It looks to be a dreary Australia day this year. Ahh well... can't be helped. It'll still be fun to have my hubby home for a long weekend. Actually, an extra long one as he's been off sick from work for 2 days but hopefully he's recovered by the weekend. I also get to teach a friend how to scrap tonight to make a present for her mum. Should be fun!

Holly x

Project Life Baby Album Cover

Hello

 

Just a quick post mostly photo focused with a few pics from my phone. Below is my completed title page for my baby Project Life album. Not great pics as they are all from my phone.

 

 

 Materials: Becky Higgins page protector & Baby edition for her core kit; American Crafts Thickers; Scrapmatts chipboard; Kaisercraft rub on; other - butterfly diecut.

 

I have done a lot of my baby album but have been jumping back and forth to different pages so still a couple of gaps on most pages where I need to add photos or journalling, however I will hopefully have a couple more pages to share soon. I have also started working on my 2013 album title page. A post to follow sometime this week in relation to that, with a lot more info on project life for those of you that aren't too sure.

 

I'm linking this up to The Mom Creative page:

 

 

And a couple of recent photo of the day pics:

 Shadow

Two things

 Delicious

Something yellow

Have a great day!

Holly x

It has arrived...

My Project Life parcel is here. Expect progress updates soon 😀

Time to get organised...

Evening,

Well I believe I may have said this at the start of 2012, that I planned to sort out my craft space... and my whole house actually, well before Lily arrived. Unfortunately of that plan the only room that really got the full make over was the nursery, which used to be the junk/spare/storage room. But in doing so, the other spare bedroom has since taken on that role. Not quite as severely but definitely a horrible sight to see.

But I can ignore that room by pulling the door shut haha It's another room in the house that is more cringe worthy than any other... the scrap room/office. It is really really bad. I'm not exagerating. There are piles of stuff covering most of the floor, other than the path from the door to the computer and another to the guillotine/paper shelves. Otherwise, it is just horrible.

I'll admit I've always been prone to clutter and am a bit of a hoarder. But a lot of this is because of my excessive habit of acquiring new craft products or keeping anything that might be useful. I have sooooooo much patterned paper for example, yet can't help buying new sheets that take my fancy. I have gadgets for so many purposes. Embellishments that scatter across every corner of the room and just random scraps and mess all over the carpet. If we are entertaining, this door is definitely close off since its right off the kitchen/living area of our house lol

So with my plan to kick off Project Life (whenever my goodies arrive... last recorded leaving Auckland a couple of hours ago by courier), I have seen so many lovely Project Life organisation ideas. In theory that would be wonderful, but I simply do not have the space with things the way they are. And if I am waiting impatiently for my stuff to arrive, I might as well get a start on getting this room sorted once and for all. Last year I started by investing in an Ikea cube shelf and it has helped a little. There was a short time when the floor was mostly visible too... but it was a long time ago. I guess its time to tackle the worst job ever!!!

Here is some PL organisation stations for motivation:
                               

Something like this isn't possible with any clear desk space... and I certainly have no desk space. You will see what I mean below.

Here is what I'm facing (yes there is a desk under that):

Please don't judge me LOL

 Told you it was bad. Really bad!

As you can see, there are no OCD traits here. Sometimes I wish I was a little bit OCD when it came to organisation. But no... instead I create myself big messes that take much more effort to clean up than if I had been clean to start with. Oh well... time to get into it. Wish me luck! And if you don't hear form me soon, chances are I was buried alive in the mess...

 

 

 

Project Life

Hey there everyone,

For months I've been seeing more and more project life theme posts online, on blogs, pinterest and everywhere. I had a bit of an idea what it was but had not looked too closely, thinking there was no real fun in scrapbooking minus all the embellishing. However, this year I decided to try the photo of a day challenge which I have been doing on instagram. Although I am using a daily prompt, I am focusing my 365 day challenge on Lily with all my photo themes somehow involving her. I thought it would be amazing to see how she changes over a year.

With a daily photo, suddenly the idea of Project Life was very appealing. So in a space of an hour, I have decided I want to give Project Life a go and have ordered a whole heap of essential items to get going. The stocklist for Becky Higgins Project Life products is a NZ scrap store so hopefully everything arrives relatively soon. The best part... free postage... although that was maybe because of how much I spent haha Oops!

They have a baby core kit with cards/cardstock focused around a baby and there is an awesome video on the Becky Higgins site showcasing a baby themed Project Life album. Very cool.

One regret I do have now, not that I was in any condition to really think about it at the time though, was having more photographs to record the day Lily arrived. A couple of times during my long labour I thought a final belly photo would be good, but was probably overwhelmed by a contraction. We also took no photos in the birth suite until we were finally alone with our new arrival and about to head to the ward. I should maybe have annoyed Simon to take a few photos along the way lol Oh well... those memories will have to remain captured in journalling instead of photos!

At least it means I don't have to scrap every single great photo of Lily that occurs otherwise my house may not have enough room to hold all the layouts haha

And before I go... here are a couple of my photo a day pics so far this year:

So sad that tomorrow Simon goes back to work after having the whole time off since Lily's arrival. I guess I'll have to busy my arvo/nights with scrap time when Lily is sleeping as I won't have his company every evening.

Hope you've had a great weekend.

Holly x

Introducing Me... At Scrapmatts

Hello

Today is my first post and share over at Scrapmatts. If you are not yet a member, be sure to come along and join the Ning site as there is so much wonderful inspiration from the design team and members.

Here are my first Scrapmatts shares, which I totally love!!!

Me at 29

One of this month's themes was to create an introductory item to share, so I went with the easy option of a layout about me at 29... which is only for another 5 weeks before the big 30 arrives. My journalling is simply some of the main 'roles' I play, such as daughter, mother, sister etc.

Materials: Paper - Echo park; Scrapmatts chipboard; Manor house creations flowers; AC Thickers alphas; Adorn it alphas; Tim holtz distress ink; other - kraft cardstock.



The second theme for January was something 'new' since it is a new year, with a new design team. Well the obvious thing in my life that is new right now is my baby daughter Lily so of course she was the focus of my new layout. And it's a christmas themed one too with a photo my hubby actually took on his iphone.






The best Early Christmas Gift - materials - Echo park paper; D-lish scraps doily, flowers and calender; Chip chop shop crotchet doily; Adorn it alphas; Kaisercraft alphas; Scrapmatts chipboard.


And I also made an ornament for our tree to remember Lily's first christmas using a Scrapmatts mini frame.



Materials - Scrapmatts chipboard; Theresa Collins paper; Tim Holtz distress ink; d-lish scraps flowers & bling.


Hope you have enjoyed my first Scrapmatts shares. I am loving the products so much that I have already finished my DT work up until March lol It's good to know I've still got some creativity flowing now that I'm on mummy duties... and that I'm finding a bit of time in between naps.

Have a great day!

Holly x

My Top 12 Creations of 2012

Happy New Year!!!

Hope your christmas and new years has been a wonderful time, filled with good memories, family and food! Mine has been great, with a quiet new years eve spent at home with my husband, daughter and parents. We were not much up for anything more with Lily so young for her first new years. She was in fact 4 weeks old on new years eve... 4 weeks already. OMG!

So anyway, I thought it would be fun to do a 2012 top 12 of my creations this year, with the exception of those removed for publication that I cannot share. So in no particular order, here are my top 12:

 

 

 

 

It is so hard choosing a top 12. And of course sad I can't share some of my absolute favourites at this time due to publication (although that's exciting at the same time) but the ones I have chosen are definitely stand outs for the year 2012.

Now onto 2013... a new daughter, a new design team and another 5 full months before I have to go back to work so lets hope I can get lots of creating done in between being a full time mummy to my princess. There are quite a few new creations ready for reveal in January so stay tuned :)

Holly x