Day 29!

Last night was full of connection issues, so please excuse my lateness of this post.. here is yesterday's LOAD (Layout A Day) layout.

 

Back in my day:
If you wanted to listen to music you would put on a record;
if you wanted to read you’d pick up a book;
if you wanted to make a phone call you stood in one place;
if you wanted to buy something you’d head to the store;
if you wanted to look up a country you’d grab an atlas;
if you wanted to play a game you’d go to the games cupboard
and if you wanted to take a photo you had to load the camera with film!

NOW!
One device, one little tiny device does it all.... awesome!

Kit used: All About Me by ScrapVine. 

Feeling Sketchy 72

The second sketch for October over on Feeling Sketchy looked like fun so I decided to have a go, and then once I started I had to make two! One for a boy, and one for a girl... 

The optional challenge this week is to use patterned paper in your design.

Well I think I covered that, I used ALL patterned papers, had too much fun.

 

This is the boy card front I made first and I used the same amazing kit that I used for my layouts over on LOAD (Layout A Day), Day 27 - Kit used: 100% You Bundle by Meghan Mullens found at Sweet Shoppe.

While I had it out, and I was having so much fun, I used the same template that I created from the sketch and made a girly card to match :D

 

Was just having way too much fun this time round.

Day 28!

I think I'm running out of steam! Usually at this time in LOAD I'm sad to see it be over soon, but this month I think I've had enough - not LOAD's fault, just private 'real life' stuff stifling my creative mojo!

So, this year I turned 42, or as I like to say 21 (again)... I found a photo of me contemplating life, the universe and everything and went for it. This is a 12" x 6" going into my About Me album.

 

21 (again)

Getting older is scary.
I always planned to grow old disgracefully, although I don’t think I’m there quite yet!
After all I am only 21! (again).

Kit used: Birthday by ScrapVine.  

Day 27! & Guest Designer

Remember yesterday when I said today would be exciting for me? Well now I can share, I was asked to be a guest designer for LOAD (Layout A Day), and I cannot tell you how exciting it was to be asked. It was also really hard to keep it quiet too! Blabber mouth Chelle had to put up a gag-order!

So, anyway, here is the layout I did last month, for this month:

 

I choose a couple of kits that had fun, bright and playful colours/images and just went for it. I used a template for the 100% YOU, and filled it up with some other goodies and really let loose. This LO is of my oldest, only girl, who would rather be curled up with a good book than pretty much do anything else (she’s reading the Hobbit at the moment, again!! Lost count of how many times.)

Kits used: 100% You Bundle by Meghan Mullens found at Sweet Shoppe & Reading Books by ScrapVine.  

 

For today's layout I decided to take the same kit as I had used for my Guest Designer layout, as it came with both boy and girl packs, and use it to highlight my son! I used a template again, although I fiddled with it a lot, and I love the colours and I think it really shows off Peter's personality. I think this LOAD (Layout A Day) has pushed me in all sorts of directions, what fun!

Kit used: 100% You Bundle by Meghan Mullens found at Sweet Shoppe

Now I need to go and rest my arm, it's cold here and it's really playing up again today, roll on SUMMER, please?

Days 24, 25 & 26 Catchup!

Argh, don't you just hate when your internet connection is dodgy? It's been awful the last couple days and therefore I didn't chance blogging my layouts, just had everything crossed they'd upload to the group on time (and thankfully they did)... so here is my catch up post:

Day 24!

My arm is really playing up today, and then I wanted to do something outrageous and tried to get my angles all right so this would look like a real computer on a real desk and photoshop was giving me grief so I gave up on that idea... oh well, anyway: Layout is of what actually got me "HOOKED" into the computer age, it was back in 1994 when Paul bought me my very first computer game, he thought I'd like it, and boy was he right!! Up until that point, computers to me were just glorified typewriters (I know, I know, OLD!!)




1994
The game to start all games.
Although titled Sim City 2000 it was actually released in 1994. It was the beginning of a beautiful friendship for me and my PC. I was in love. I could play as "god" and let my imagination loose.
It was persimfection. Of course since then, I have gone back and collected the original Sim City and then every other Sim game since, much to my husbands disgust. He only has himself to blame. He did, after all, introduce us ;)

Kit used: High Tech Computer by ScrapVine.  

Day 25!

New Year, what can I say about New Year? When we were living in town it was exciting, but these days we're old and tired and we just like to have a couple friends, good food and good drink! Kept it super simple too..



Happy New Year! We’re not really one to make a huge big deal, but as long as we have good food, good drink and good friends then we’re happy. I do like to do a review of my year on the 1st of January, just making up some goals and plans and work out where we’ve come and where we’re going!

Kit used: Fireworks by ScrapVine. 

 

Day 26!

I decided for today's prompt to scrap (celebrate) my Big Blue Ted - the layout is 6" x 8" and will go in an altered page protector (to accommodate the hidden journaling) in my "All About Me" album.



So Precious
The Story Of Big Blue Ted.
Just as I was about to turn two years old, I had to go in for a major operation, which was to drill holes through my pelvis and cut and push muscle through to help me “walk”.
My father had already left my mother but he was aware of this operation as it had been planned for a long time.
Although I cannot remember him coming in or anything about it, I have been told he came to see me just days before the operation and he brought in this big blue teddy bear, it was huge, bigger than me (remember, I hadn’t yet turned 2). My mother was furious at him, a yelling match occurred and I never saw him again. To this day I have no idea who my father is or what he looks like now... sure I have photos, but that is of a younger him, not him now. Anyway, by freak of chance or guilt, or whatever, my mother decided I could keep the teddy bear. She (to her credit) was always honest about who gave me the bear, and it was always known she hated that I loved the bear so much. He came everywhere with me, especially hospital.
To cut a long story short (well shorter than what I could make it) I’ve had that bear since just before my 2nd birthday, therefore he’s now 40 years old! He’s seen and done many things with me, he’s dirty (he won’t survive another wash), he’s falling apart, and to be honest I’m not really sure how much longer he will last. He’s eyes are now missing, and his stuffing is falling out. He wears a t-shirt to try and “hide” the holes. One day I will have to say goodbye, but for right now, he’s here and I’ll look after him as best I can.

Kit used: Baby Boy-Girl by ScrapVine.  

NOW, hopefully I can hit post before my net goes down again for the night! Tomorrow is exciting, I can't say why just yet, but come back to see!

Day 23!

Go Big!! Go Big!! Go BIG!!!
WOW, I had nothing... nadda, not a single thought..I went away and had dinner.. had a cup of coffee, talked to my daughter, read some more of my book... watched House, even had some jam on toast - and still nothing! I really thought I was going to have to go off topic this prompt but as I was browsing through some photos I thought about a trip Paul wants to take soon to Melbourne (about 5 hours from where we currently live) and to help me resolve my fear of heights! That's IT!! There is my BIG!!!!

Scared of Heights
Paul has it in his head that a good way to help me overcome my fear of heights is to take me up into the tallest building in Australia and let me go on the observation deck.
The observation deck at the Eureka Towers, Skydeck 88 features thirty different viewfinders that help you pinpoint many landmarks all around Melbourne. There is also a class cube called The Edge, which extends itself from the building to hang over the edge of the tower about 3m, or 10 feet. The glass is opaque when you enter, then when the cube has reached full extention the glass becomes clear.
Um? I think I’ll leave that one to Paul alone.
I’m pretty sure he’ll have a blast, but I just know I’ll have a panic attack and freak the heck out! Best not when your 300m, or 984ft above the ground in a clear glass box!
23/10/2013

LO complete, thanks to Google and Wikipedia.

Kit used: Road Trip by ScrapVine.  

Day 22!

Back to a big 12 x 12 today, celebrating how amazing my Daughter is... she always goes beyond the call of duty. She really is SO MUCH MORE

 

Kit used: Photography by ScrapVine.  

Day 21!

Another 12 x 6 for my "about me" album.. this time talking about a photo taken right before I was going out with my now husband, just days before my birth-giver kicked me out of home yet again. Got some feelings down about that, was very good therapy! The photo was taken in 1989 just before we got engaged in the October. TFL I'm thinking they should change the name of LOAD (Layout A Day) to FREE-THERAPY! hahaha

Kit used: Summer Romance by ScrapVine.  

Day 20!

I've had these photos for a while, and I've even scrapped them before (I do that a lot, re-visit old favs and scrap them again and again for varies albums on varies topics), so I had to use them for this, Lil has been our "support" right from the beginning. She was a friend of my Birth-givers (was being the operative word here, but that is another story, for another day) since I was 4! She has always stepped in to save the day when my Birth-giver couldn't cope or whatever, but when I turned 16 and she refused to let me have a sweet 16th, Lil once again stepped in and I cannot thank her enough. I met Paul on my 16th, yes I had kind of met him before, but we'd never spoken except for the "hello" when we were first introduced. But at my 16th, we sat and talked, really talked, really, really, really talked. We talked so long that even after everyone else had left and all the party had been packed up we were still talking. My Birth-giver actually ended up kicking him out after a while and scolded me for "chatting to a young man until 3 in the morning!". Of course at 16 I had no idea what would be... we became the best of friends and we didn't start dating until I was over 18. I was married a month before I turned 20 and we're still together (23 years in Feb), stronger than ever... and guess what, it's all down to Lil!! She has also always been there for our children, they think of her as a grandmother, my Birth-giver is totally useless, and Lil (as you can see by the photos) is closer to them than she will ever be. Yep, Paul and I are really thankful for Lil... and the journaling reads:

 

Paul and I are so very grateful because Lil, our darling Lil, truly has been there from the start... we’d never of actually met if Lil hadn’t stepped in, damn, I would even be here if Lil hadn’t stepped in, she really is
ALWAYS
THERE
FOR US!

thankful (tag at top)
13/6/2010 (date on top of tag)

Kit used: Autumn Blush Thanksgiving by ScrapVine.

Day 19!

Traditions! Eeek... I don't have many, but then thought, although not a "family" thing that we do, I do have a sort of tradition of not eating meat on Good Friday, here is the story:

Why No Meat?
I don’t eat meat on Good Friday, not for any religious reason, simply because growing of up with my grand parents. They didn’t eat meat on Good Friday and. I guess I’m trying to keep that tradition, when so many others were taken away from me. I don’t force it on my children, quite often Paul will cook me a separate meal for Good Friday, or just leave the meat off my plate. I truly believe that everyone should make their own choices, and do what they feel is right for them. I guess it’s my way of telling those who keep trying to take away my choices, that it’s not their place.

I hope one day my grandchildren get to read this and understand why the old chook doesn't eat meat on Good Friday!! This is another "odd" sized layout (doing a lot of them lately for my About Me album. It's 4" wide by 8" tall, going in a modified protector.

Kit used: Art Journal Basics by ScrapVine.

Day 18!

Mood rings, reminded me of my mood swings that seem to be occurring in higher frequency than normal for me at the moment. So yep, that is what my LO is about for today, hubby keeps asking me if I'm-

Too Young For Mood Swings?

Kit used: Apple Festival by ScrapVine.

Day 17!

I laughed when I saw today's prompt as I was complaining yet again today about the fact that I cannot find my rings... here is the story:

with this ring I thee wed...
(above) Unfortunately not one person told me on my wedding day that during one of my pregnancy’s I’d swell so much I would have to remove my rings and put them away in a “safe place”.
(below) That was back in 2003, and now 10 years later, for the life of me I still cannot find that “safe place”.
So frustrating.
So heart-broken.
So stupid!
Everyone is NOW telling me that I will find them when I least expect it, but I want them back now...

Now off to go through more stuff, I just know they have to be here somewhere?? Where would you be if you were my "safe place"?

Kit used: Wedding by ScrapVine. 

Day 16!

I think I strayed slightly from prompt today... oops!

I have been wanting to scrap these photos from my son's 20th for ages (well since I got them back in June) but had no clue what to do with them until now... so I made a photo collage in Photoshop and then just used the whole thing like one giant photo. Kept everything else to a minimum, as I wanted the photos to shine on through... love the result even if it is a stray!!

Larissa & Robert
1st June 2013
Robert’s 20th Birthday calls for Selfie-Fun times.
Love these faces, miss them so much!!

Kit used: Romance by ScrapVine. 

Day 15!

WOW, day 15 before I scrapped Alice, think this is some kind of record! LOL So anyway, my layout is all about a concert I got to share with my daughter, who is also an Alice Fanatic!! (maybe even worse than me?) Journaling reads:

Rock On!
Alice
Larissa bought me two tickets to see Alice Cooper for my birthday/mother’s day. She intended for Dad to go with me, but I know he’d not enjoy it as much as Larissa, so I asked her to be my date! Oh what a night. If you had told me just 10 years ago that one day I’d be rocking with my daughter at an Alice Cooper concert, I’d of told you your mad! Boy am I glad we could share this night.


Kits used: Spooktastic & Trick or Treat Halloween by ScrapVine. 

Day 14!

I'm starting to think "who needs therapy when you have LOAD?" (Layout A Day).
I seem to be really telling all my family secrets (ha!) this round, and I have no idea, it's not like the prompts are screaming it? Maybe it's just me?? Anyway, black and white photo, check... almost all black and white layout, but I did use some pop of colours, the greeny colour is relevant as it reminds me of hospital blankets (where she would stick me when it all got too hard) and the red is for blood... family blood that should tie you together, but instead pulled us further and further apart. The rose is her "gift" each time she would ask for forgiveness, she would be "SHOWING" the world what a wonderful mother she is by bringing in flowers. Yes, although a strange concoction, it's all relevant.

OUR FAMILY SECRETS
Behind closed doors... scary thought!
In public we would put on a “show”, yep, a show of sorts, we each had a roll to play, and we each had to make sure we played our parts with purpose and no mistakes.. We must appear a nice, happy, well balanced family... no-one should know how messed up we really are. I, yes I was sent to more counselors than I care to admit... apparently it was all my fault! (whatever “IT” was?)
As I grew older, I realized that maybe YOU had to take some of the burden as well. You were,
after all the adult in this relationship, I was the  child. The innocent that was learning from your
behaviour, your mistakes, your lies. Even today you will not admit to any wrong doing. You still find it in your heart to blame me and spread your poisonous lies.
It’s a pity no one has bothered to ask my side, lucky for me, you can not infect my husband or my children, they’ve all seen your true self. They judged for themselves. I will not waste any more tears on  you. I’m now done, no more chances.

Anyone can have a "pretty" scrapbook... one filled with Christmas celebrations and birthday parties, weddings and christenings.. school photos and the "good" everyday events. And, if that is what you choose to do, that's great, but me, I like to tell it how it really is. Sometimes that means airing the dirty laundry, getting in and digging deep. So, do you dig deep? Or are you a "pretty" scrapbooker?

Kit used: Brothers & Sisters by ScrapVine. 

Day 13!

Living in cold and rainy South Australia I don't have too many occasions to go tropical (prompt for today)l!! Then I remembered a bitter-sweet trip to Darwin (which is in the tropics here in Aust.. so my layout is all about "Remembering Darwin". Again, personal journaling, but glad to get it down.

 

Kit used: Jungle Baby by ScrapVine.  

Day 12!

& The Importance of Saving;

I am my own worse enemy, I am quietly working away on my layout and I got to a point where I thought, oh better hit save! As my mouse hovered over the little save icon, BAM!!! Power goes out. Really not happy... fortunately I only lost about an hour of work, I know it doesn't sound bad, but I was angry with myself for making such a stupid mistake. Once the power came back on, and I had to start again, I was hitting save like a digi-scrapbooker possessed! Lesson learned (until next time).

So... today's layout (twice made) is all about my favourite, but hard to come by, comfort food. It's another odd sized filler page for my All About Me album, it's only 5' wide, by 9' tall. I'm interested to know, how many of you do "odd sized" layouts? Or do you tend to stick to the 12 x 12's, 6 x 6's and A4's (8.5 x 11's)?

 

Comfort Food...

Hard to find, but oh so worth it! I tend to buy in bulk when I do find them, shame on me, but hey, once a year, it’s a treat!

Kit used: Office by ScrapVine.  

Day 11!

Today I had to go to the Mount Gambier Hospital for a scan, I took this photo of the long hallway at the hospital and thought to myself "this is the beginning of my long journey to wellness".. I find it hard to look long term right now, I prefer to take one day at a time... hence the LO. Journaling is a bit private, but it's basically just telling me it's ok and it will be ok, and I just have to take it slow and work with what I have. I know it's not "looking into the future" so to speak, but for right now, this is what I look forward towards.... I think I've run out of sense for one day, time for bed I think...

 

Kit used: Journal It! by ScrapVine.    

Day 10!

My intentions were good, but my brain kept yelling at me in a totally different direction from the prompt today, well kind of, anyway...

 

Moon River

Although we were married in 1991, we choose Moon River as one of our songs in memory or Pupa Bob. If he’d still been alive, he would of walked me down the isle and given me away. At least this way, we could have a part of him with us on our very special day. After the service, Paul and I went to visit his grave in private, to have a moment. I would like to think that he was looking down on us and smiling, proud to see his little girl married.

Kit used: Wedding by ScrapVine.  

Day 9!

And feeling fine.. ok, so I won't ever make it as a poet, that's cool.

We had to work with an awesome colour scheme today, and I struggled with turning to my photo to black and white or leaving it alone! Usually when working with a vintage theme, I will turn my photos black and white, but today, just because I wanted to see if it would still work, I left the photo as is, and guess what? I love it!!

This is a 6 x 12 filler page for my family album.

 

Our Family

We’ve been through a lot, more than most, but less than some, and yet as long as we’re still together, it’s ok.
When life hits us hard, we take the knock and get back up.
We remember the good and learn from the rest.
We are always Family.

Kit used: Family Portrait by ScrapVine.   

Day 8!

And the beginning of week #2, and I think the first time I've had a good cry over a prompt...

 

When my grandfather passed I was devastated, truly, I didn't want to live anymore, part of me went with him. So many times I've needed to ask him something or just want him to hold me and say it's ok.
 

Due to some recent health issues, I've decided that I want to leave something (besides my scrapbooks) for my kids.. something that tells them each how much they're loved and how I would never of chosen to leave them... that sort of thing, so behind my photo is a letter to each of them. That way, when I'm gone, they can Always Remember...

Kit used: Just A Note by ScrapVine.  

Day 7!

Survived my first week of LOAD (Layout A Day), just! I celebrated by doing what I thought would be a super simple layout, turns out, not so much! But happy with the results... even if I will never ever try to make my letters look "stitched" onto the page again. LOL

 

You Make My ❤ Sing!

Kit used: Be Thankful by ScrapVine.  

Day 6!

I tell you they're getting tricky over there on LOAD (Layout A Day). Truly keeping me on my toes, so to speak, not even sure if this layout goes with the prompt? But... it's another layout done so I am happy.

I was also playing with the sketch from the card I made (Thinking Of You) and thought, that would also make a pretty awesome layout, so had fun with that too!

I also had more fun "cutting out" a bit of my photo and bringing it forward from the frame as the padlock was getting lost, I've never done it before, but I sooooo hope I get to do it again! It makes it look almost like the real, actual diary is sitting inside the frame, love it.

 

The Keeper of Secrets

Every little girl needs a special place to write down her dreams, hopes and secrets... the very first “lock” diary that I was given at the tender age of 8 was precious to me. It was given to me by an old family friend who truly knew what it was like to grow up in a house with no privacy. I still remember the inscription ~ Shelly, I cannot always be here for you like you’d like, but this little book can be your keeper of secrets, much love Liz xx

Not only did I treasure my little diary, but I treasured the thoughtfulness of the gift.

Kit used: Pink for October by ScrapVine.  

Day 5!

Searching for a particular photo to no avail, quite stressful, but just looking at it again as yet another "crafty opportunity" so my orginal plan went east, here is my plan B so to speak!

 

Crafty Budget

glue. paper. scissors.

As much as I try to stick to a budget of some kind, when it comes to my craft supplies, I have absolutely no control. I’m scary - I mean really scary sometimes... I figure as long as the bills are paid, there is food on the table and we still have a roof over our heads, what’s the harm? Neither of us smoke or drink and there is not a lot to do where we live. Home is our entertainment - crafting just happens to be my drug of choice. Paul some times thinks *CRACK* might actually be less addictive and less expensive! He just obviously has never had the pleasure of that first crisp stamp image, or finding that perfect paper to match that layout! I’ll convert him one day, maybe?

Kit used: Memory Keeper by ScrapVine. 

Thinking Of You

I've been stale for the longest time when it comes to my crafting, that is one reason I love LOAD (Layout A Day) so much, but now that I am blogging again I decided I would join in on a few other things as well... first up, I found the Feeling Sketchy blog (via craftsbymorgyn) and as I love making cards and I also needed to make some to send to my Grandmother who is in a nursing home now, I thought I would just jump on in with both feet.

The sketch was perfect for a "Thinking Of You" card, well I think so anyway...

 

The optional challenge was to use only 2 colours, I used Purple and Green, but I did use a touch of brown as I really liked the natural contrast against the Purple and Green. I'm ok with that too, as it was only an optional challenge :D

 

I make my cards 4" x 6", that way I can print out my digital card fronts on a standard 4" x 6" photo and it's ready to go.

Kit used: At First Glance by Digital Shop Talk.

Day 4!

And running late, which is normal for me on a Friday... and even worse on School Holidays.

 

ALW@YS ON!

In today’s world, it’s hard not to be always connected, always available, always on... between our smart phones, tablets and computers we’re never really un-reachable. Sometimes, when I’m having a bad day, it’s nice to just shut it all down and disconnect. Switch off. Be alone. It doesn’t take long though before the urge to get back online occurs.
Welcome to the 21st century, the time when we’re always on.

Kit used: High Tech Computer by ScrapVine. 

Day 3!

Day 3 has been tough, I'm in a lot of pain today, so faught with this one for a while, but am glad I pursued it.

 

GOODBYE BUZZER

With 4 children, and 4 boys in the house, and a very limited income, it’s only natural that we try to save where we can, so ever since the boys were old enough to need a hair cut Paul has always “buzzed” them with the clippers.

Peter however, with his tight curls thought that maybe going to the hairdresser would be a better option, and although she was lovely and very kind, he still didn’t appreciate that she too had to comb through his curls to make the cuts.
Be interesting to see what Peter chooses next time it’s time to cut his hair, but for now, I have one very handsome, although unhappy, boy!

Kit used: About A Boy by ScrapVine. 

Template used:  All Boxed Up by ScrapVine.

NOTE TO SELF: White backgrounds on white backgrounds, don't show well.

Day 2!

I'm on a roll, 2 days, 2 layouts, and 2 blog posts..

 

Mount Gambier, 9/13

It’s not often we get to go to the big-smoke, so when we do, we make sure we take full advantage of being…
OUT ON THE TOWN

Kit used: Date Night by ScrapVine.

LOAD 1013 Begins

I thought I'd give this "blogging" lark another try, and what better time to start than the month of October and the beginning of LOAD (Layout A Day).

Today's layout almost didn't happen, I almost forgot that it was the 1st of October (doh) but as I was just about go climb into bed, it occurred to me... that is ok, sleep is over-rated anyway.

 

So here is Day 1's effort - 

LOAD has TAUGHT me...

Always be true to yourself, no matter what.
There is no right or wrong, just your own interpretation.
Try something new and move away from your comfort zone, a good challenge keeps you fresh.
Everyone has their own voice, be proud and shout it out loud.

Kit used: A Year Remembered by ScrapVine.