Visual highlights

I've been so busy creating that I keep forgetting to update here. so I'll give you a few highlights.

Scrapping Outback layouts:

April white with a twist- **STILL OPEN

April DT mini kit. Such a beautiful kit. There are still some available here, and they are just $15.80

Best Creation:

Such cute papers this month.

I have more, but this post will get too long. Tomorrow we are running another Blog Hop for Best Creation. You could win some of the brand new papers that you see above...the Robot and Ballerina Princess collections.

A few more

I had my March sketch layout picked up for publication, so I created another one for the Scrapping Outback forum. Really like how this one turned out too.

I also got another layout done with the March product kit for A Crafter's Passion.

I'm off to Rockhampton in the morning, so I will finally get to see the store for myself, and also meet my nephew for the first time. Hope to get a few photos of the store to share.

New kit reveal

First up, thanks to everyone for the lovely comments from the Best Creation blog hop, and a special "Hi"to my friend Celeste who I haven't seen in ages :)

The new kit from A Crafter's Passion was revealed today, This kit features papers from Doodlebug Design and have bright and fun theme to them. The embellishment pack is huge this month, there are alphas, 3 types of flowers, lace, ribbon, stamped images, chipboard, gems, plus you get a full set of project instructions designed by Me.

The kit is $25, plus the add on kit with even more is just another $6. Combine both for less shipping...you could even include the monthly challenge kit in there. There is still time to complete a layout for your chance to win a free kit.

How about some pictures of the kits.

A closer look at the papers
...and a closer look at the embellishment pack

...and the challenge kit

To order your kit, just contact the store on acrafterspassion@bigpond.com

Best Creation Mini Book Blog Hop

Welcome to our Best Creation Mini Album blog hop.

Can I just start by saying that through both the last two blog hops, I received so many wonderful kind comments from everyone. Thank you so much. I read every single one of them and I am very grateful.

Now, let's get on with it. You should have arrived here from the Best Creation blog where you will have seen the step by step instructions for creating this little album that was such a hit as CHA. Now you will travel through all our DT blogs to see lots of different variations on this little project.

I made an album with pictures from one my second little boy was just brand new. I've scrapped all this pictures before, but it was nice to go back and look at them all again. These papers are from an older collection, and I just love all the cute little animals, especially that big zebra. The pockets are made from a cut up doily.

For the pages, I used Helmar acid free adhesive, then I used Helmar 450 quick dry adhesive (my favourite) to adhere all the embellishments. I also used some Helmar Zapdots as always to lift my elements off the page, including my matted photos.

Be sure and leave a comment at the bottom of our Best Creation Blog for a chance to win a huge prize pack of goodies and 3 more chances to win if you sign up to be follower or join us on facebook! And don’t forget to leave comments along the way letting us know how you love all their designs. I would also love it if you would become a follower of this blog if you are not already. Just click the link on the right hand side.

Now, for your next stop, you are off to visit the lovely Sandy Ang.

Thanks for visiting.

New stuff to share

Have been very busy scrapping, but haven't had time to share much on here. Have plenty to show, so will try to update over a few days.

These ones are all for Scrapping Outback. All the new challenges went up on the first, and you have until the end of the month to enter and earn store credit.

First up is the sketch challenge, which was designed by me this month.

...and here's what I did with it.

Next up is the DT mini kit. This kit has Echo Park Little Boy papers which I love. I got heaps from the kit too. 2 layouts and 3 cards, and one of the layouts wasn't even a boy layout. The kits are really great value. You can purchase this kit here.

And lastly, this one is for the White with a twist challenge

A Great Opportunity

Just wanted to share a really great opportunity. Helmar are calling for some guest designers. This is a great team to be part of, and the products are really awesome. If you think you have the time, I strongly recommend you sending Tracy some of your work. here are the guidelines:

Submissions Guidelines:

Email the following information to: info@helmarusa.com by March 20th.

Full contact information: include your shipping address, phone number, email address, blog/website.
A short bio...tell us about yourself.
Let us know what your favorite Helmar products are and why.
List any current/past design teams you are on.
Post a minimum of (3) projects that you have created using HELMAR Adhesives on your personal blog. Provide the DIRECT Link to your blog post that features your Helmar Design Team Submission. A blog is a must-have to post your submission. Remember to provide the DIRECT Link to your Submission. Please include the following in your blog post;
TITLE: Helmar USA Design Guest Designer Submission
Project Photos (videos count too!)
Materials List
Helmar Adhesives you used and how you used them
Any unique techniques
Remember to link your Guest Designer Submission on Helmar's Facebook Wall: http://www.facebook.com/HelmarUSA

If selected to be a Helmar Guest Designer you will receive a wide variety of Helmar adhesives and art mediums to create with. You be asked to post a minimum of (3) blog posts during the month on the Helmar USA Design Team Blog: www.helmarusa.typeapd.com.

Please submit the above information to info@helmarusa.com by March 20th. No late entries will be accepted. The Guest Design Members will be announced by March 31st!

It is time to get your GLUE on and become a Guest Designer!

Good luck to anyone who enters.

Best Creation Flower Blog Hop.

Welcome to my part of the Best Creation flower blog hop. You should have arrived here from Julie Walton's blog, but just in case you came across this part way through the hop, be sure to head back to the Best Creation blog to join in from the very beginning for you chance to win great prizes.

We are having our First Blog Hop of the new season today and our theme is "Creating Handmade Spring Flowers" On each blog you will find lots of incredible projects and ways to create and use spring flowers that you can make yourself! In order to win our Grand Prize be sure and collect the kinds of flowers made on each blog and send the list to teresa@bestcreation.us. Also be sure and leave comments along your way on each of our DTs' blogs and especially on the Best Creation blog at the end of the hop. Be sure and check out www.bestcreationinc.blogspot.com for the list of prizes you are going to win.

I love handmade flowers of all kinds, but today I am sharing with you my very favourite one. These are called Kusudama flowers, and they are a form of Japanese origami. I must make it clear that this is not something that I invented. Japanese paper artists are far more clever than I am. I will however take you through the steps to creating this flower. Something to keep in mind is that this is a very bulky flower when finished. It's not really all that suitable for layouts, but is perfect for beyond the page projects and display items, as you can see on my finished frame.


For this flower I used Best Creation Basic Glitter Dot paper. Becasue the paper is so nice and thick, some of your folds will be a little bulky, but well worth it in the end. The key is precision. The better your folds, the neater your final flower will be.

Step 1:Begin with 5 squares. Mine are 3 inch/7cm.
Fold diagonally in half.

Step 2: Fold each of the bottom corners to join at the center point.Step 3: Take one side and fold back in itself in half. Repeat on the other side. Step 4: Open out the flap you just made and flatten down., to create a kite shape. Do the same on the other side. Step 5: Fold over the top of the kit shape. Be sure to get a neat sharp edge here as this will be the part of the petal you see most.

Step 6: Fold the side flap back onto itself towards the middle. It will start to become quite bulky now.

Step 7: Now gently bring the two inner sides to meet and glue. be sure not to crease the outer shell of your petal. I used Helmar 450 Quick Dry adhesive as it dries fast so I am not hanging around holding it in place. Do make sure it is completely dry before moving on.Step 8: Now repeat the process until you have 5 matching petals. One at a time, glue together along the long edge of the petal. Continue until you have one whole flower. Keep the petals tight together while drying. Because the glitter paper is so thick, you are unlikely to get all the centers meeting up exactly and may have a hole through the center of your flower. You can leave the flower is, or as I have done, finish off with a smaller paper flower, or even a button.All that is left now is to attach is to your project.

A bunch of these flowers can be joined to make a ball decoration. They could also make a great garland.

I hope you enjoyed my little share with you and feel inspired to give it a try for yourself.

Next on our floral journey is Nicole Wise. You can find her lovely blog here.

Now to be in the running for great prizes, be sure to follow these steps:
* Leave a comment here (and I'd love to invite you to become a follower if you are not already)
* Leave a comment on each of the other DT blogs, including the Best Creation blog.
* Take note of each of the flowers you have seen today and email a list of them to Teresa at teresa@bestcreation.us
* be sure to check out our Facebook page for extra chances to win.

Thanks for playing along.

Helmar blogging

Here are a few things that i have created for the Helmar blog lately. This first one was actually part of my submission, but has just now gone up on the blog.

This next project is one that I made for little Amelie. It was a lot of fun to make, and didn't take anywhere near as long as I expected.

Meanwhile, Kyan started grade 1 yesterday. He was totally fine with it. He is in a 1/2 class which I think could be really good for him academically. Here's my little (big) first grader

One last thing, for those of you who use my sketches, I have finally gotten around to moving them all over to a new facebook page. You can see a box over on the right hand side there that will take you there if you are interested. Still all free, just an easier place to manage them. New sketches will be posted there.

New online class at Scrapping Outback

I know we are a week into the month, but it's still a good time to show new month stuff.

First up is a layout I did for the Monthly white with a twist challenge at Scrapping Outback. This one had all my favourite colours; pink, purple, brown and blue.

Here's my take on the challenge:

Also this month, I got to put together the online class. You can purchase the kit here for just $16.29. Purchase of the kit will give you access to the online class through the forum. Here's a little peek for you: