SCRAPBOOK FUNDRAISER, closeups of my layout

Welcome and thanks for visiting my blog...... a couple of promised closeup views of my layout taught at Hillcrest Primary School's Scrapbook Fundraiser event held this past Saturday, 18 September 2010.... Thank you for joining and supporting this VERY worthy cause...

Tag Mini-Book opened and layed flat....

Title and Tulle.... select the sub-title that best suites your layout.

Closeup of tulle heart stitched to background... staples add effect and purpose

Embellishments placed around title

Tag mini-book tucked in pocket.... hand cut tiny dictionary paper heart and written words on tiny tea stained tags.

Flap created in tag mini book second page so that I could journal underneath...

Dictionary paper heart with staples to embellish.... Page 3 of tag mini-book

Embellished the top left corner of my layout....

Visit soon again..... will be sharing more photos from the day soon.

Been a while....

Gosh I can hardly believe it has been two weeks that I last posted... phew, what can I say but busy busy busy. With deadlines, stall at a school fair, school outing, school functions and just life as a mother and wife.. enough said really. And as if that is not enough, I cannot stop wasting time on everything else that is not that important and get on with WHAT I SHOULD BE DOING... seems everything is more important than what I should be doing (insert a rolleyes here).

Today is wet and chilly in Africa but you would NEVER have said that the last few days.... just been gorgeous here in South Africa. Infact I said to my hubby on days like these - WOW why would you want to live anywhere else. Yes it is Winter here and look what us little Matthews' got upto this weekend. Oh it was a long weekend here so no school on Monday and Luke had an extra day on Friday due to an outbreak of Scarlet Fever in his class.... hope all those little ones are better and back to school soon.

So if this is Winter then......

Also did two story boards of Hannah and Luke... boy these two love the beach, especially the water. And I adore photos from behind... well this is my view of them while they play.

It is the annual Sardine Run here on the east coast of South Africa.... I am hoping to catch it better soon... I desperately want to see when the millions of sardines (yes fish sardines that is) "beach" and you can literally run into the sea and scoop away. Mostly want photos and of course the pure excitement that the kids will show to see this, feel this and scoop up some fish. Well, we did catch some action albeit the fish being netted a little deeper in and brought to the shore. People filled their crates, packets, handbags... you name it. Well my kiddies managed to get a few and well, they were thrilled to bits. Not so thrilled to hear their dad say that their little fishies was going to be their dinner (not sure what the intention of now frozen fishies is but.... they are in the deep freeze). Luke and Ty were insisting that they are taking their fish to school today. How do you explain that dead fish is not something we generally "show and tell" about... the teachers will be thanking me that I did manage to convince them that photos of them will be even better... Luke's afternoon of beach pleasure got even better when the man alongside us managed to catch a small shark fishing... boy that made his day.

Here are the sardines creating happiness for the little Matthews clan...

Sunday saw the annual Comrades Marathon here in South Africa. I have watched this race from the comfiness of my sofa for years and years now. I tend to stay in my pj's till the winners finish their race... one of those "just keep watching, watching watching watching" events. The race is 86.9km long and our local roads are closed for some hours for the race to take place. The runners never cease to amaze me and year after year I think... mmm I could do that. YEAH RIGHT, I don't even run to my car and back... wishful thinking right.

Fathers Day was spent lazing around hence the marathon but it was also my anniversary. Craig and I have been married for 12 years on Sunday... crazy stuff. I actually cannot remember life without him. We met at school when we were 15 years old, so although married for 12 have been together for 18 years. Phew time flies for sure.

Can't share what I am working on right now, but to inspire some crafting happiness I will share projects I did for the latest issue of ScrapBook Inspirations Magazine ... all glittered up projects (not very clear here), some yummy glitter projects. Talking of which - have you seen the glitter thickers by American Crafts.... sooo yum----meeee , look look look (and MUCH better in real life - lucky me :) )

This is such duvet weather... oh and a mug of hot chocolate and marshmellow...yum....meeee. Going to Luke's parents evening at school just now, so have to brave the wet...

Thanks for visiting... hope the sunny WINTER beach photos have made all my English buddies drool :)

Photo contest...

This is sooooo cool,
just wanted to post about the photo contest that American Crafts is holding... pretty cool, you could have your photo on the main website for American Crafts and win $ 150 of AC goodness, HOW COOL is that....

It's time to change up the photos on the main page of our website and what better way to do that, than to include you! Enter your photos anytime between June 1st and June 30th, 2008 and you might be one of five winners that will be chosen. Not only will your photo be used, you'll also win an American Crafts prize pack worth over $150!

Check out the official rules to enter!

Go on, enter.........

Scrapping days...

The weekend has come and gone, and with that another scrapping event too. The little event hosted by Fantasia in Hillcrest went off so well. Laurie Glenny and I loved the girls that attended and I must say I have been touched by these woman. I have learnt how incredibly blessed I am to have a healthy family, and just what we as women have to face each day. Four particular ladies had me fighting back tears and I hope that somehow I too touched their hearts with the powers of scrapbooking.

I realise more and more how healing this hobby is and the power we have to help others. I know scrapbooking has changed my entire outlook on life. I would love to have the time someday to setup a healing program and after Saturday, realise just how much I would love this.

One particular lady, Denise really plucked at my heart strings and amongst many other things in her life, her sweet three year old's plight for cochlea implants. I hope to make the time and setup something to help them fundraise, even if I can only add a tiny bit to her Trust Fund. Would love to have some ideas if anyone has any, let's help Jaime-Lea to hear her first sounds. Scrapping for a cause.... a really wonderful one. In South Africa, we have to have our own medical aid facilities, just like the States. And so at a cost of R 225 000 per ear (that is exchanged as £ 15000 / $ 29220), you will understand their helplessness.

Thanks to Laurie for being the nicest person I have ever worked with (love this girl) and Jenny from Pick 'n Pay for all she did to make the event a success. And not to mention the lovely prizes donated ... ooh and the flowers by Flora Flowers, wow, Penny did a sterling job and we all got a bit of that too. Ina at Fantasia for all her work - thanks...

And the good news... well there are kits for the classes available for sale. More than just a product kit, but a class in a bag really, as they come with full instructions. Laurie and I will be teaching our classes in groups of 8 in store if the demand is there. So to get hold of a very limited number of kits, call Ina at Fantasia or email her..... The kits are available at R 200 each per class or R 225 per class to attend one of the limited seats classes (dates to be announced)...

Got to get cracking on some deadlines, amongst two photo jobs I need to complete for clients. Never a dull moment here... and just because it is getting cold down here in southern africa, thought I would celebrate with an old layout that celebrates fun Summer times. My boy having a ball spraying his best friend Nicholas with the hose. Have a good Summer all my English and American buddies (I love hot weather)...

Swimming ....

what a beautiful day and with it creating some "Matthews happiness" today is my little stars Hannah and Luke... today being their swimming lesson certificate and badge ceremony before their free play session, a sort of "season-end" party. As we head into Winter, and coach Kerry is taking a break for the colder months (although who would have guessed we are literally into Winter and having glorious 24 degree days, eat your hearts out England buddies).

How sweet Hannah and Luke sat and listened to the lovely things Kerry said to them and shyly looked into her eyes. Boy they are so proud of their gold award and novice swimming level awards, so cute how they gleamed. Luke says to me at dinner tonight " are you proud of us getting certificates today Mom?".... of course I am. Funny how they just love to soak up as much praise as they can possibly get... anyways some cutie photos today to share...


Hannah doing her little hand shake (sorry Kerry - got your b*tt in)


Luke's big shake
(got to love the drawn up shoulders and smirk, and Hannah admiring her awards)


Kerry and Hannah....
I know, a scrapbookers dream swimming costume that only a scrapping friend would spot and buy (thanks Anne)


mmm Luke's "out of focus" hug... sorry you two but it is all I got




and let's not forget that "bite-the-bottom-lip" smile (still gorgeous though)

Thanks for an awesome season Kerry... you are the best. Just love this lady, so glad we met.

Having "thank you" in mind here is some cards I did a while back for PaperCraft Inspirations using the Making Memories Grommit Tool. I am a bit of a tool junkie so always love trying new ones out, infact some fun examples of what you could do with this tool using it as a grommit setter... still need to explore it even more since I love the freedom of having two more larger sized anywhere hole punching tools (I just love effects with holes). Clara in my class on Tuesday was just asking about this gadget - the grommit setter, so some ideas that could easily be adapted on scrapbook pages or other paper crafting projects.

Tuesday ramblings

What a day - the usual though, just busy busy busy...

Created some happiness teaching two minibooks to some lovely ladies at Fantasia. I just love my new sweet friend Louise who has taken up all my classes since she first took a class with me. She is such a happy and friendly little soul and lovely to have in my class. I know what it is like for her since she is a foreigner living here in South Africa (and that for a man ... you know the things we do for this species :) ). Well hope this man holds onto this lovely girl. She is from England and doesn't have a work permit so cannot work or have a bank account here (not a bad thing if you have the man's bank account to use). Just going on a year since she has been here but I know - it never gets easier being away from family and she is real home sick. So Louise - hope scrapbooking in Africa helps you make new friends... we are pretty unique people us scrapbookers.

Oh and do go visit over at American Crafts Design Studio Blog to see this months' design team contributions.... always a treat to see the other girls' projects, AC has an incredible collection of talented ladies... my contribution this month can be seen here... can't wait to play with my new goodies that arrived yesterday either...

Creating happiness for South Africa today (and surely gleaming from cloud nine somewhere) is Sophia Allison.... you know the girl I recently met up with and realised we crossed paths when pigtails were fashion and going to the park was the main hangout... and now we live miles and miles and miles away from this hometown.... still in disbelief how this hobby of ours actually had us meeting up again some 25 years later... Well BACK TO THE POINT, Sophia is featured on Making Memories Blog as a VBlogger guest designer, so very cool : check it out here . Well done Sophia, so so happy for you.

Sharing an older AC layout I did a few months back as my blog contribution for them. My funny boy Luke who is obsessed with boxes (loves the recycle trash thing at school and always brings home other peoples trash - well clean trash). So this particular day he wanted to make this rocket from a huge box my hubby had thrown out - he has a wild imagination this kid, only wish I could have recorded the noises attached to these photos...
oh yesterday same sweet boy is crying about having to be Barney in the little show for grandparents day at school soon. He hates to be laughed at and thinks the other kids were laughing "at" him... because he is Barney (yes that purple dinosaur like creature every mom knows all the songs to). How do you explain to a self concious little 6 year old that the kids are laughing with him and that they are most likely more jealous about his role than teasing him about it. Where is that manual - the parenting one with all the answers in it? Oh well got to love the idea of what lies ahead of us with this precious boy, he is going to test out parenting skills that is for sure... here he is rocketing away

All products by American Crafts (minus the yummy pistachio and black Bazzill Basics Cardstock)... the green dots on the scallops: well I used some of the many full stops I never use from the (foam) thickers letter stickers sheets, love them now - so cute to use. (oh and any SATC girls out there - notice the paper from the range of your kits... deee-lish)

will end with just having my dad compliment Craig's photos he took yesterday, AND also had Ina the owner at Fantasia ask who the photographer is of these lovely photos just today too - HUH!!! he is positively gloating now... (thanks alot) but maybe just maybe I may have some photos in my kids scrapbooks someday now that he "thinks" he "has" it. Does he know the wonders of photoshop though... will leave him to gloat (it may work out better in my interests).

nitey nite

Monday..... monday... monday....

the end of a weekend and the start of yet another week... well I am sure glad Monday came along. Mr freight delivery man created my no. 1 happiness today, yeah a box FULL of American Crafts goodness. Boy am I sad that it is my last three months working on this design team, yip my two years are up soon. The design team boxes have been incredible... and I am never sure if it is pure excitement for new products, but I swear these guys design a better range each time (and that's twice a year too). I will always have my fav AC products, but gosh so much gorgeous products to see in this new box I don't know where to start. Making place in my scraproom would be a good starting I guess.

Doesn't help when my desk is in design turmoil either, stuff everywhere..... always the case when I am working on a project. And of course I am in grind mode this week with the run down to the event on Saturday, at Fantasia in Hillcrest. So my desk is extra laden with stuff.

Creating happiness no. 2 for me today (wow that is a good sign), I managed to get my hubby Craig to take some photos of me with my kiddies... got some lovely fun ones too, but these are the ones I selected for the current project I needed. My hubby never picks up the camera so I am just never in any photos with my kids. I guess I have to admit though that with the amount of photos I take I never give anyone else a chance to touch my camera. I love these photos, they are super cute and I even had a hard time choosing (always a better position to be in, right?).

These photos do make me smile... Hannah the natural loves to pose with her check glued to mine; Luke and his "biting-the-bottom-lip-is-a-smile-stage"; Ty actually smiling... but what is he doing in the little family shot??? he is such a little joker, you should see the other faces he did :).

Today my sweet Hannah had her very first Oral Presentation at school. So my Sunday was spent helping my seven year old put together her project on Water and Animals. I let Hannah do ask much of the cutting and sticking as she could, got to love that seven year made this look. A few little scrapbooking touches and presentation done. Well - not that easy, it took forever getting pictures together, deciding what to actually put in this project... boy I have no idea what a seven year old is able to do or what is expected. None-the-less, she is happy, teacher said brilliant and that is all I know (Hannah a girl of little words when it comes to school). So now I am left regreting not actually taking a photo of her before she parted with her project. The scrapbooker in me is so bummed by that.

So will leave you then with a layout I did of my sweet girl as seen in the latest ScrapBook Inspirations magazine. I love Making Memories, they have churned out release after release of gorgeous products and in the tools department certainly are a leader (in my books anyways). So lots of MM products on this layout. The postage stamp look I painstakingly punched away at the edge of the cardstock to mimic the MM paper available (just wanted the same look but in different colours) using my Basic Grey Notch Tool. Also machine stitched the franking marks.... The spiral notebooks by MM, yes I parted with one and had my daughter write a little note on it. She loves writing notes and is forever eyeballing my notebooks whenever I buy one. She just LOVES notebooks and writing little letters. Too sweet she is... so thanks for coming over :)

Venessa :)