Nikki Sivils, My2angels, skirmish

Hi everyone, on the mend now, feeling lots better today. Still haven't been able to scrap so just pulling some of last months layouts out to show you. This layout was for the Nikki Sivils contest at Sketches4all and I was honoured to win so I look forward to receiving some of her gorgeous papers and embellies. I really love her gorgeous papers, and she is such a beautiful person, her love for dogs is another wonderful trait I love about her. To check out Nikki Sivils papers and gorgeous DT just PRESS HERE.


I combined her papers with some of the new October Afternoon Seaside papers from My2Angels which reminds me Tracy has a 15% off sale on until Sunday night...... 
 
  Here is Nate at his Soccer break-up playing Laser skirmish:

The gun was really heavy and it was starting to show after 10 minutes here. Thanks for all your wonderful comments, I will spend the next couple of days catching up with you all, just not able to scrap as yet but I am sure Mr Mojo will return with time. Love to you all. Melxx

Artastic Challenge

This is my entry for Artastic this month, PRESS HERE for the inspiration picture I designed the layout from. The criteria this month is to do a layout in shades of pink, have a bird on the layout and some roses. There are some amazing prizes for the winning entries. Hope you can give it a go.

Wow the Nook Uni is over now, I just couldn't compete with the girl's, the last challenge was 24 layouts, cards, tags etc in 24hrs. Nate has got a lot of congestion at the moment and now I feel like I am awfully slack too. It was a heap of fun though, I just cannot be on the computer like some of the other girls are.

One of the five cards I made for Final's challenge #2, made this for Nate's 4th birthday well in advance......

A layout I did for challenge #4 for the finals.

And while I was uploading this week, I walked into the kitchen and this is what I found, a whole tin of coffee, a tin of pineapple, and that empty container at the back was full of brown sugar.....and this is why I cannot afford to be on the computer for long periods, Mr Mischief would just have a field day,  I seriously wonder what the hang he thinks he was making......it was super disgusting and sticky, but I just had to take a photo and I did have a laugh.......to myself of course.....

Love to you all. Melxx

Sketches for all, The Nook Mini Album

Hi everyone, Well if you have noticed I have been absent a little from blogland of late, well I am back and looking forward to getting back to normality. Nook Uni was actually very full on, here was the mini album I made for the Final's challenge #1.

So this took me almost every scrappable hour this week, their was also 2 layouts, 5 cards and a 24hr = 24 projects day too, but unfortunately I just could not compete as I had to go shopping with mum to Orion for a dress for my sister's wedding.

I am again today missing the finals as I am taking Nate to the Pictures for his very first time to see "Cats and Dogs" so I cannot wait.

I am guest Designer this month at SKETCHES FOR ALL so I will be back in a day or two to tell you all about it.

Love to you all. Melxx

Nook Scraflift challenge, Nate with stash

Hi everyone, hope you are all well, a beautiful day here today, gosh I hope it stays like this, just want to get some washing done, whinge and whine, I sound terrible......I must be getting old.

The above layout is by TANYA TAHIR, she is a fantastic scrapper and is the reason I joined The Nook's monthly kit subscription, and attended the Nook Uni, so thank you Tanya, I am so glad you encouraged me.

We had a challenge at the Uni to Scraplift a layout, so below you will see my layout, I just loved how Tanya used her mist, but of course I couldn't quite replicate it but was happy with the layout none the less. I hope you like it.

I feel very honoured to have made the top 15 at the Uni, their are 4 Aussies, Nicole Pomeroy, Anthea Peterson, Karen Brierly and myself. So this week is going to be very full on. Wish me luck and I look forward to getting my inspiration from you all.

Just have to tell you that Nate had on his superman suit (just a shirt) but don't tell him it's not the entire outfit and Jan put his flashing sword up on top of the cupboard as he was getting a little rough with it, he ran into his room, got naked and brought me out his spiderman outfit and said, help me mum, I put it on him and low and behold he starts climbing up the side of the cupboard and he said "Spiderman will get it" wow the kids say the cutest, well thought of things when they want to hey. Oh wow, Aunty Jan and I just cracked up, where do they know these things from, is there a gun,sword, superhero gene built into little boys.......

Love to you all. Melxx

Nook Uni Art Class and Botany Class

Hi everyone, hope the wet weather and overcast days aern't driving you crazy where you are, I cannot mow or time my hedges and they are just growing out of control and the driveway is all muddy, but you know I shouldn't complain because I really love going to bed when it's raining, just hate all the washing building up and muddy toddler and poodle feet I have to wipe........ Enjoyed camp, really missed scrapping so am going to do some tonight and will visit you all over the next few days.

The above layout is from Nook Uni Art class, this was the final layout I made from August's indie girl kit,  and below is the Botany class, still have some Christmas photos to scrap so would just love to have them done before this Christmas which is only approx 13 weeks away I think. Scary stuff.......

Haven't had a chance to catch up as my computer broke and my trusty computer man has just left my house AGAIN, so I am super tired tonight and will do my blogging in the morning to catch up with you all.

This is when Nate gave Uncle Col his pressie last year, I think he was the excited one here......Hope you like it. Talk soon Melxx

Bisous, Nook University, soccer

Hi everyone, I cannot believe the month is almost over, what happenned to it. This month I was honoured to be Guest Designer at Bisous Scrapbooking in Canada. I want to take this opportunity to thank Suzanne for the honour and sending me all the gorgeous products to me. I had a blast, if you would like to check out the site please click HERE.The above layout is made using all her wonderful products.

Well I made it to the final week of Nook Uni, this was my layout for the Geography class and it is a picture of my nana's (dec'd) old house in Hervey Bay. She was a sewer so I just had to use a technique I learn't from friend Louise Nelson and covered the cardstock with pattern sheets. Tanya Tahir was the teacher of this class and although it brought up some emotional memories for me, I am so thankful I scrapped this photo. I was honoured to come tied 2nd with Anthea Peterson (can you believe it- I was super stoked), Nic Pomeroy won with her amazing layout design. As of next week the top 15 will start from scratch and be challenged in a new series of classes to decide the valedictorian.  I will let you know if I make the top 15.

Here is Nate with his under soccer photo for 2010, he was so pround to receive this and his trophy and he wanted to put it up here so Mikayla, Cooper, Connor and Jazi could see it.

We are off to another Currimundi camp from tomorrow morning 27th to Wednseday 29th, so I will be blogging to you tonight and catch up with you soon. Love to you all. Melxx

My2angels, Purple Pumpkin, Nate

Hi everyone, well would you believe it is still overcast, showery and well just not great outside weather for small boys or poodles. lol   So today we went to the Ipswich Global Gallery to the Circus fun events there, he had a great time, and then to the Mall to decorate a hat for National Slip Slop Slap Day. Wow they have a day for everything.

The above layout was created using the papers from Purple Pumpkin they are Fancy Pants. I love the gorgeous colours in them, this is Grampsy helping Superman learn to fly. He is sooo cute in his little suit.

The layout above is using the gorgeous new Prima papers (Road Trip Collection) they are gorgeous, and just perfect if you love fussy cutting too, the felt frame, papers and gorgeous little puppy charm are from my2angels, and of course the cute little car button is Purple Pumpkin.

The artiste at work making his hat perfect.

And having a boogie at the Slip Slap Slop Show.

Still doing Nook Uni, 2nd last week, hope all of you are super well, catch up with you all in the next day or so on your blogs. Love to you all, Melxx

Noel Mignon "fall fashion layout" and Creative Scrappers sketch # 120

Morning everyone, it's a gloomy showery day here today, but you know I kinda like days like this, it's 9.23am and a friend gave me a copy of the original "Astro Boy" yesterday, can you believe it was made 28 years ago and my little man is just glued to it. Some things just don't date hey. But I have to tell you it has given me a wonderful chance to pop on and put a new blog post on.

The above layout is for Creative Scrappers Sketch # 120, I used the papers from the September Nook Kit, which are the Crate Restoration papers, and these photos are taken of Nate at Aunty Jan's house, and he just looked so relaxed in them watching something on tv, he is usually outside in her garden or playing with the dogs but on this particular day he was just chill'n.

This layout is one I did for Noel Mignon challenge site, I have been so busy at the Nook University that I have forgotten to put it up. I used some old and some of the beautiful papers I got in her kit for this month. This is Uncle Col playing spiders, he is so wonderful with Nate, just devotes time to him and gives his 100% to him, Nate would like to spend a lot more time with him, but Uncle Col still works full time, so he sees him Wednesday arvos after work and usually Saturday arvos too.

Hope all of you are really well, hope it keeps raining so over the next few days and I may get a heap of scrapping done being more reluctant to venture outside......well you know it is impossible to make plans when you have a 3 yr old..Love Melxx

Ps. Hey look what I just heard about from Tanya Tahir, looks fantastic, another great site for inspiration and challenges - and using multiple photos just click HERE 

Guest Designer at BISOUS PDQ papers

Hi everyone, this month I am Guest Designer for BISOUS patterned papers,  I found them about 1.5 years ago on Ebay and they come in packs of 10 double sided papers, gorgeous colours. This company is based in Canada so the papers are not readily available in Australia - YET, well I hope they do some time soon.

Suzanne, who owns the company is a very talented Scrapper and Jewellery maker, just click HERE to see, and if you would like to see or even receive the newsletter that I am featured in this month please press HERE.

Nate and I have had a very busy week this week since my last post, we had Speech Therapy on Tuesday and I am so happy that all the hard work with reading and expressing new words and little singing exercises that we do together on a daily basis has improved Nate's speech so much that we don't need to attend anymore, she said he is right on track, yay, I really thought it would take quite a while longer but we have only had six- 1 hr appointments since May. I won't be stopping the learning process here but wow can totally recommend going to anyone who may think they need some advice in this area.

The Nook Uni is still going and we are now half way there, I am enjoying the challenges and have learnt so many new techniques and found I really like shabby pages, even with boys on!

Here is the page I did for the Shabby Chic challenge, you had to use 7 techniques at least on your page including distressing, inking, and misting etc I hope you like my entry, I used the gorgeous Indie Girl papers from Sass Lass. Off to prepare some early tea for my boy now, will blog to you all when he goes to sleep a little later. Love Melxxx

Scrap the Boys, Scrapbook Uni

Morning all, hope you are well and happy, normally I dislike Mondays but today we go to Amanda T's house for a scrap day, going to leave after this post, can take over an hour depending on traffic but Nate has a great day and I get to scrap with another addictee.

The above layout is for Scrap the Boys using the Crate Paper - Restoration line, he is such a cutie here playing nudie with his socks on, but this photo is a little older now (about 6 months) and he has to wear pants now. So I am glad I documented him when he enjoyed being a nudey. Gotta have something for his 21st birthday collage.

This is another layout using the Restoration papers, this is for Nook Uni and you had to paper piece a living thing, I chose to do an owl and had to add one of Sam's gorgeous Purple Pumpkin buttons. I am up to date with all my assignments but tomorrow another new week starts and I am so enjoying the challenges they set.

Some of my dear blogging friends are not well at the moment and to each of you I hope you are all feeling heaps better, look forward to catching up with you this week. Love Melxx

My little Sketchbook, KIDZ ARTZ

Hi everyone, a rainy old day today here, hope it fines up for Nate's mini's soccer breakup tomorrow. I love it when it rains, somehow, it makes me feel like scrapping even more.

I did the above layout for My Little Sketchbook, I just love Liz Qualman's sketches, they always motivate me. I used the gorgeous Brook Collection papers from Crate paper and made some flowers and did some fussy cutting as you know I love. Click on the above link to give it a go.

Louise is one of my favourite scrappers and when she put the call out for KIDZ ARTZ I took a photo of Nate making a clown for Grampsy. He is a wonderful fussy cutter and always sits with me on th lounge and helps me.......

Here he is with my glasses on colouring the clown:

And here is the finished pic stuck to a piece of framed paper for Grampsy:

If you would like to see the other young scrappers go HERE and also, their is a great prize, but also just the opportunity to showcase the junior up and coming scrappers of the future.

If I haven't visited your blog this week yet, I am about too, been super busy with Nate stuff on, will talk over the weekend, love to you all and your family's. Love Melxx

PS. Look what I just spotted HERE thankyou dear Karen, just beautiful, and can you believe he was looking at the camera and I have a layout with machine stitching on.....YAY

Design DolliesSketch challenge

Happy Tuesday everyone, hope you are all enjoying the start to this new week. We have had a good start to the week, my mojo is soaring at the moment (touch wood) so making the most of it. The above layout is the sketch challenge for DESIGN DOLLIES, I just love Kristy's sketch's and decided to get out my Basic Grey papers for this challenge, I am sure this layout borders on being Monochramatic - just not entirely sure.

We had our wonderful lady's morning today and had a lovely time, some photos are below:

This is Dawn and Barbara and make up 2 of the approx 10 ladies that we have that now come along.

Tomorrow is scrap Wednesday with Jan, because of Jan being sick and other things we have missed 2 weeks, so I am looking forward to spending the day scrapping, I hope Amber will come also, and I look forward to doing some more Scrapbook University challenges.

Talk soon, Love Melxx

The Nook University, My Mind's Eye, Maxi

Hi everyone, hope you have all had a good weekend, we have had a wet weekend here, still raining outside as I type this, I have arranged to take Nate to a friend's house to play with her daughter tomorrow, co-incidently she happens to be a scrapper also......lol

I got all my assignments finished for Scrapbook Nook University, I have to say a big thank you to Tanya Tahir, she encouraged me through her blog posts to join up and I am just loving every minute so far, this is my entry for the Topography Class, you had to use all sorts of differents fonts and sizes for letters and for the Economics Class I did these:



Nate and I went to mum and dad's for lunch, came home and had a nana nap, then I did some more scrapping tonight, if it's raining tomorrow arvo - (I was planning on mowing and whipper snipping) I will do some blog hopping and then I am so looking forward to seeing what the next uni challenge is.

This is my gorgeous old dog Maxi, he is my loyal 14 yr old boy, he gave me a scare this week, but is back to fighting fit again, chasing balls, this was taken just this Friday gone. I pray he stays well, he has been through so much with me. I wanted to share him with you all.

Talk soon. Love to you and your families, Melxxx

My little Shoebox August Sketch, Artastic Challenge for September

Morning everyone, hope your week is going well so far, just over hump day so that means it's downhill to the weekend, busy week so far, went to Amanda's on Monday, Tuesday's lady's group and yesterday, well just caught up with blogging and you know just how when you sit down at the computer you can sought of lose track of time........way too much inspiration out there

How gorgeous are thes amazing My Little Shoebox papers, this layout took me quite a while to complete, I hand cut those little green 3/4 scollops around the circle, and the banner also, I just love fussy cutting - can you tell...

Ingredients: base "Green - Treehouse range", the circle I used a plate as a template, this paper is also from the "Treehouse range", and the little cut out cars with are just so super gorgeous are from the "Away we Go - road trip" range, the pink base for the banners is from "Simple Life - Front Porch" now the gorgeous doily and that awesome owl button come from Purple Pumpkin, gotta visit this one, and the letters are felt thickers from Making Memories. This is an awesome sketch you can see it Here

This Frida Kahlo painting is the Artastic inspiration painting for September, it is a great challenge this month, the criteria is for 1 point have a photo of you or family member with a pet, 2 points do the layout in shades of brown and orange and for 3 points add a tropical flower. Now below you will find my submission, I based my layout on a Ali Edwards Sketch because I really was more excited about doing the journalling on this layout, these two have a special relationship and I just had to document the memory of it. I hope you like it. Here is the link to Artastic Challenge site, and I would love if you decide to do a layout you would mention that MEL sent you, the main reason is to let Shazza know we love her site and love to encourage others to play along.

Before I go, I have to tell you what I caught my boy doing the other night, I was sitting at the kitchen table (where I scrap) and low and behold he grabs the chux and t-towels and starts taking the griller etc out of the oven, and places it on the floor (cold not hot) and starts cleaning, well I got up as quick as I could and grabbed the camera and well, not sure why he wanted to do this but I am so glad I have the proof that it happenned.

Please Note:  the picture you are seeing here does not depict the mess that is on the kitchen floor whilst he is working on the inside........and once the cleaning duties were over there was an even bigger mess for mum to clean, but in saying that, wow I was still super impressed with the attempt....

Okay, sorry for the long post, don't forget the Purple Pumpkin reveal on Friday night, Amber and I are setting our alarms for 7.30pm so we don't miss out on any goodness HERE.

Love to you all, you mean the world to me, being able to blab about my creativeness and my little boy. Love Melxxxxxx