Twice in a week.

Well, I did promise to try to get better, and I just revealed these over at Scrapping Outback, so I figure I would get straight in here and post while it was fresh in my mind.

This first one is for the October White with a Twist challenge. This month I chose this combination of pink, turquoise and a little green.

This next one is for the October 5 product kit challenge which will soon be available in the shop here: http://www.scrappingoutback.com.au/shop/

Oops.

I guess it's been a while since I updated. Things have been a bit crazy. First a few highlights, then on to some sharing:

* Kyan turned 7. We had a really fun Lego party.

* Amelie has moved into a big girl bed.

* Michael has been made permanent at work.

* Cameron and Amelie have started at daycare 2 days a week.

* 5 weeks until we go to Japan for our wedding anniversary holiday.

* The washing machine leaked all over the floor and our entire timber needs to be replaced.

* My vegie garden is almost finished. We are eating home grown lettuce, and tomatoes and eggs.

Doesn't sound like much, but we seem to be busy all the time.

And now some of my recent scrapping stuff.

September sketch layout for Scrapping Outback.

This one was published in Scrapbooking Memories.

Kit layout for A Crafter's Passion

Must share Kyan's birthday photos. If I don't do it soon, someone email and remind me please.

The best of intentions.

I always have the best intention to keep this blog up to date, but there just never seems to be enough time, so here's the last month in a nutshell.

* Michael back at work

* Kyan back at school

* Michael went to Hobart

* Amelie turned 2

* Visit from Shaun and Lesleigh and Lizzy

* Retaining wall still not finished

* Chris and Rod visiting

And here we go for a new month in the scrapping world.

The new White with a twist challenge is up at Scrapping Outback. Love the colour combo from Joanne: Grape, pink and green. I finally used up these papers that have been in my stash for ages, and I love the finished layout.

The new online class kit for August is up in the Scrapping outback shop. The class goes live ont he 15th of August, so get in now to get a kit.

The new August Monthly Mini kit is now available at A Crafter's Passion. This one is especially good value as you get an entire sheet of Bo Bunny glittered chipboard.
I have my next class at Somewhere to Scrap this week. We are using chipboard in a variety of ways for the best value. You can book by calling the store on (07) 3341 0060

Catching Up.

Things have been quite busy around here lately. We have half a retaining wall, half a painted fence, and half a vegie garden. We now have a new washing machine after the last one self destructed a flooded the laundry. We have a new baby coming in the (extended) family...no, not me, an engagement, and a new job.

Amongst all that I have been doing lots of scrapping projects helping to run a competition, designing kits and teaching classes. I have become so behind in sharing these all in one place that I think I will spread it over a few days, perhaps focusing on one team at a time.

Let's start with Best Creation. Here are a few highlights.

June release: Rock Star. Love this line, and so perfect for our Rock Band days.

June release Splish Splash:

and finally for June: Loops and Scoops

Summer blog hop...it's Summer somewhere!

Well it's getting colder by the day here in Sunny Queensland, and I am sitting here with my little heater on, but over in California, the home of Best Creation, the Summer holidays are just beginning and so we are celebrating with a Summer Blog Hop.

So, you should have arrived here from Katarina's blog. If not, head back to the Best Creation blog to get all the instructions you'll need.

I have used some brand new release Splash Fun papers to create this fun layout from a family trip to the beach.

I love all the different ways the die cut papers can be used. On this I cut the inside away to create a frame, which I positioned slightly off the page. I used smaller photos so I could use two without cluttering my page. I cut and overlayed some wave shapes, and some individual water spurts for embellishments.

Best Creation has been partnering with Helmar adhesives..who I also design for, so naturally I used plenty of Helmar product on this. Being glittered papers, a slightly more durable adhesive is a good idea. Helmar 450 or premium craft glue are both perfect. I raised both my embellishments and photos on Helmar Zapdots.

And of course we have lots of chances to win some of

our New June releases and 6x6 mini packs too. Be sure

and leave a comment on either Facebook or the blog

or sign up as a new Follower!!!

Next you are heading off to see Kim Holmes. Thanks for visiting.

New Kit reveal

I have just revealed the new Challenge kit for A Crafter's Passion. The shop is closed today because of the public holiday, but they will be available for pickup tomorrow, and we can take email orders now.

Welcome to another Challenge kit.Thanks to those who entered a layout for last month, we enjoyed seeing them. This month's kit would be perfect for Mother's Day layouts, with soft pastel blues and floral patterns. Not that you are restrictyed to that theme at all, just an idea.

So, are you ready to see what you'll be getting?

May Challenge Kit

This kit contains a sheet of navy cardstock, plus 3 sheets of co-ordinating patterned papers in pale blue florals.

For embellishments you will get a large silk flower, a piece of pretty gold wired ribbon, a handful of chipboard pieces, including buckles, 2 hat pins, 2 metal charms, diamonte brads, gemstones, and a whole sheet of Carolee's Creations mini alphabet stickers.

Here's a layout I created using the kit.

Sample layout by Alicia Barry

All this and as always the kit is only $10 (+$6.95 if you require postage).

Challenge entries are due at the end of the month for your chance to win a free kit, but please note that it is perfectly Ok to buy the kit and not enter the competition.

Kits are available in the shop right now, but are VERY limited in numbers, so I wouldn't wait too long to get yours. To order, just use the contact tab ont he left hand side of the page and we will email you direct deposit details.

Best Creation...time for another blog hop.

Welcome to another wonderful blog hop sponsored by Best Creation.

You should have arrived here via Kim Arledges blog. If not, head on over to the Best Creation blog for all the information and to get started. There you will find the list of participants and the order that you should visit their blogs. Visit all the blogs in order a

nd pick up the mystery letters on each blog as you go to spell our mystery word. Send this to teresa@bestcreation.us for a chance to win our grand prize and leave comments on our facebook and all of the design team for 2 more chances to win your choice of a pack of glittery goodness.

The first prize for this hop are the complete collections of BOTH Robot and Ballerina Princess. These are the lines from Best Creation, just released, and they are really super cute. There will also be a couple of chances to win through our Facebook page, where the winner will choose either of the new collections.

We try to focus on a theme or technique for each of our hops and this time around we are all showing some interesting ways to use border punches. I have been using my punches heaps lately, and my favourite technique right now is paper pleating.

I used my favourite punch which is a Martha Stewart doily edge punch.

To create this technique, punch all the way along a strip of paper, then turn the paper and punch the other side as well. It works best of the pattern being punched lines up on each side of the strip. Score the strip at regular intervals, and fold. You can either do single folds in one direction, or as I have done here a slightly more complicated fold. I then layered this on top of another strip in a contrasting colour. I used the same punch on both sides as I did before, but didn''t fold.

Remember that all the folds will shorten your strip, so you may need to join a few together to span all the way across a page, or just make it look that way, by tucking it under your photos and elements on wither side as I have done.

Here's another example I did a couple of posts ago, using the same technique and the new Ballerina Princess line that you could win!

While you are here I would like to invite you all to become followers of my blog if you are not already. All you have to do is click the "follow" button on the right hand side. Also be sure to leave a comment here, and on the Best Creation blog at the end to be in the running to win the awesome prize.

Next, you are off to see Kim Holmes to see what she has been up to. Wave Hi and tell her I sent you.

...Oh, don't forget your letter code.

It's ..... Right click and run your cursor over the space to see the hidden letter.

----->>>>>R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R<<<<<-----

Got it?

Thanks for stopping by.

Cheers

Alicia

More catching up

Today's catch up is some stuff I have done for A Crafter's Passion.

This was a class I designed for a few weeks back using brand new papers from Jillibean Soup.

And another class, again with Jillibean soup. I really like their new lines.

And a sneek peek of this weeks class, using Hello Lucious by Basic Grey. Cardstock and papers are included int he class fee (only $14). Bring or purchase your own embellishments. Call the shop to book in as places are limited.

Finally, here are the monthly kits. I think the main kit is sold out, but here are add on (mini kits) kits still available. It's such a beautiful kit.
This is the challenge kit. I believe there are still some available. Entires for the challenge close at the end of the month, but you are more than welcome to buy the kit and not enter a layout.