Resolutions

So one good thing about my work is getting the old magazines. Yes, the covers are gone and yes, they are last months issue, but I love it!

And the part I love the best is ripping them apart and sticking different things in my book.

I have a book I started not long ago. Call it an inspiration journal, call it a scrapbook. It might be a colour combination, a design layout, the way a photo was taken... anything.

It goes hand in hand with my New Years resolution.

Last year was to read more, this year - to grow my craft.

To find inspiration anywhere

To acknowledge that I am creative

To be proud of myself and what I create

Happy New Year to you all. Bring on 2007 and all the adventures, moments and hope it holds for us all...

Smiles,

Neen!

Boxing Day

Christmas is over and I am really looking forward t spending my vouchers and my Prezzy card with Meg at SE... look out online shop here I come! Hee hee!

I thought I'd post some pics of the box I altered for Monique for Christmas. Monique, Mikes sister, has just finished her teacher training and got her first job as a new entrance teacher. So I got this idea from my scrap buddy Paula. I altered the tin and filled it with all sorts of teacher stuff like stamps, stickers, awards, funky pens and rewards.


Thanks so much for the idea Paula, Monqiue was stoked!



Anyway, off to the Boxing Day sales!
Hope you all had a fabulous Christmas!

Christmas comes but once a year...

...and thank goodness for that... I keep hearing that song "Oh I wish it could be Christmas everyday".... and thinking, ARE YOU KIDDING ME! We'd all be broke, fat and insane!

Anyway, just letting you all know that my layouts from the Santas Workshop are up at Scrapbook Essentials. The gorg new kits for January are whisking their way out to us so when Mike is working on Boxing Day I guess I will have something yum to play with!

In the meantime I an frantically trying to organise myself and the house for Christmas and the arrival of Mike's Mum and her partner from England on the 28th.

The biggest issue I have right now is my scrapping area... it has sort of exploded throughout the entire study room... frankly I am a little scared to even do in there.

In case I don't get to post again, have a lovely Christmas everyone! Thanks for all your support this year. I hope you have a fun festive season with all your friends and family!

December Kit

We'll be posting our projects from the December Kit at Scrapbook Essentials on the 15th...

So in the meantime here is a little taste of what Ive been playing with...

FYI

The kits are GORGEOUS!

So much better than the photos... and yes its possible... thepaper is so nice to work with.
Anyway, I brought it with me to Auckland and am scrapping like mad in my hotel room!

We post on the 15th! Watch this space...

Holding out...

So I have been holding off on the scrapping over the last week or so. Mainly becasuse I am waiting excited for the next monthly kit from Scrapbook Essentials to arrive. I am REALLY excited to see the kit... there is soooo much in them and the product is really great quality - yay!
So in the meantime the bug did get the best of me and I have done one layout...



PRODUCTS: Basic Grey Paper, Lil Davis Chipboard Alphas, Heidi Swapp Cupboard Alphas, Mo Daisy Rubons, white paint, green and aqua cardstock.

They are up

So my little projects are in the gallery on Scrapbook Essentials...

Typical case of "look so much better in real life". It's pretty hard to get good photos when the weekend weather was so nasty :)

But they are there... I think I will have to go back to scanning them instead.

Sneak peek...

OK I can't help myself... I've always wanted to post a "sneak peek"... and now I'm on a Design Team I can!

We post on the 10th so til then...

Thanks Mr Mailman

My first Kit arrived yesterday.... and all I can tell you right now it YUMMY!

Thanks everyone for helping me to pick my photo. Meg is frantically working on the site so all of our pics and bios will be up soon (exciting in itself!).

Hope everyone has a safe Guy Fawkes weekend. Remember to keep your animals inside tonight!

Help me pick...

OK So I know a lot f you will have this same issue... being scrapbookers we are more often than not, behind the camera rather than in front of it. So whe Meg asked for a photo the struggle began. I have so little photos of myself and because I don't get home til about 6.30-7pm its not the best light to take some new ones... so these are a few that I found and I figured that you can all help me pick which one to use for the Design Team page on Scrapbook Essentials... I know the choice isn't great.. in fact if someone is really good with Photoshop steal a photo and make me look like Cameron Diaz... thanks!

NEWS FLASH - NEEN'S ON THE TEAM!

I have just been selected to be a member of the gorgeous Design Team for Scrapbook Essentials. It really is a huge honour as Megan honestly runs a fabulous scrap shop and there is so much support on the site.

The site is growing all the time and Megan has a lot of new things in store for the next few weeks. Its really exciting stuff.

WOO HOO! - Picture Neen doing back flips through the lounge!

Mikes official comment was "Goodbye Carpet!"...

Tagged!

Firstly massive thank you to everyone for posted a comment on my last post... I guess people are reading this so I will keep it up (like I could stop!).

Also for the for the first time ever really... (unless I missed it before - if so then sorry!).

I was tagged by Lynda... so here we go!

1.Things that scare me:
Clowns - argh!!!
Death
Losing the people I love

2. People who make me laugh:
Mike - cause he's a dork
My scrap buddies... I love funny blogs
OK so not technically people but Madori and Opal crack me up every day

3. Things I hate the most:
Getting a migraine!
Rude people with 'better than you' attitudes
Cruelty to animals

4. Things I don't understand:
Maths - I swear I'm numerically dislecix
How chiefs make is so look so easy
Sewing machines - they HATE me!

5. Things I'm doing right now:
Reading as manay blogs as I can
Thinking about DT entrys
Researching something to do for the weekend

6. Things I want to do before I die:
Travel with Mike EVERYWHERE!
Get married and have a sprog or two
Travel the South Island in a camper car

7. Things I can do:
SHOP!
Make a mean sunday breakfast - I LOVE my waffle maker
Sudoku - A new mountain I just learnt to climb... considering my hatred of numbers and math...

8. Ways to describe my personality:
Nutter - I even have tshirt with that on it!
Kind
Loyal

9. Things I can't do:
Maths!
Beat Mike at Gran Turismo on Playstation
Throw stuff out - yip a hoarder to the bone!

10.Things I think you should listen to:
The voice within (unless theres more than one!)
Your mum
80's rock

11. Things you should never listen to:
Infomerials
Anyone with a nasty heart


12. Things I'd like to learn:
How to cook
How to win Lotto
How to win Lotto again and again

13. Favorite foods:
Sushi
Satay chicken
Chocolate!

14. Beverages I drink regularly:
Mellow Yellow
Coke
Lift Plus (yeah I am a sugar freak!)

15. Shows I watched as a kid:
3.45 Live
What Now
Jem

16. Persons I'm tagging:
Michele
Paula
Janine

Didn't make it... this time...

Well I didn't get onto the first ever design team I tryed for so I thought I'd share the layouts I submited... I won't pretend that I'm not a lttle bit miffed, it would have been fun. Huge CONGRATS to the girls who did make it though and I am NOT giving up!!! (I still have one more chance with the entry I sent in this morning for Scrapbook Essentials!!!).

I will find out about the other team I have tryed out for next week so fingers crossed for that now! :) Still trying not to get my hopes up... but it's hard. I'm just so passionate about this hobby... I mean, I have a blog about it for crying out loud! Hee hee!

PS: My altered project was an altered DVD case and I put the photos from my sisters 21st on the disk. I have done a few of these now and its a great way to give out the photos that you take at events to everyone who says "you can send me some OK!"... hee hee.

PPS: Also if you read my blog PLEASE leave a comment even if its just a "Hi I was here" just so I know if people are even coming here.... just for interest sakes! Ta!

Layout overload

OK so now that the design team calls are over and done with I can post some of those other layouts I was saying I'd done.... look out blog it's gonna get busy!

Finding inspiration

As scrappers we can find inspiration everywhere. I've been surfing the net and found some things that caught my eye and my imagination.












If you've found something that made you think "I could make that into a layout"... post a link to it in your comment... and share the inspiration!

Joys...

Of working in retail... the owner asks if you can use stuff before throwing it out... check out my new shelves (I got three) and the cool suitcases I got... now, what to fill them with?.... hmmmmm....




















I also hit the store and picked up some of the new Basic Grey (insert drooling face here). IT IS GOOORRRRGEOUSSSS!















Looking forward to spending the next couple of days puting them to use and getting some pages done... YAY For Long Weekends!

One down...

...one to go... Yes I have emailed on my first EVER entry to a Design Team call... big thanks to Michele for helping me to decide!
Back to the scrap floor...

I though I might post a photo of reality... yes I have a desk, yes I have shelves... but THIS is how I get my scrap on...

Trying to motivate myself...

Well to pick and sumbit anyway...

See...

I told you I've been scrapping. In fact I've done about 15 pages all up in the last month! As I said I'm still trying to figure out which to use for this DT entry but in the mean time here are some I've done from our trip this year...

Color Blog #1: One Colour

Well I was late for thw deadline but I want to be up to date ith the new Autumn Leaves Color Blog. The challenge was to use one colour and patterned papers for the layout. I've had this photo of Mike's dog Tarsha for over a year. She's pulling her "I see you have food, can I have some?" face.

Just wanted to let you know...

I AM still scrapping... In fact I have done about 15 layouts in the last month!
I am holding off posting any til I decide which ones to submit for Lisa's DT call. Thats due mid october so I will make up my mind and post some soon, I promise!

Looking back...

OK so Lisa has posted a challenge on her blog and I thought I'd join in. She dared us to share our WORST layouts... the ones we don't usually show. So here they are in all their glory... these are from years ago. You've gotta love the glittery letter stickers... I think I was STICKER MAD back then. And notice - no patterned paper!


























I think its a good thing. To think that just years ago this is where I was creatively. Make me think where I'll be 3 years from now... hmmm...

CHECK IT OUT!

Check it out!

I won Challenge #9!
Woo hoo!

Week 9: Me Blog - My First Real Job

I've had a lot of photos from my last job, my frst 'real' job, Operations Manager at the gym..

Here my layout... still got more scrapping to do - I'm putting in for Lisas DT... :)

Week 8: Me Blog - Scrap a confession

Fun challenge this week.... I'll make you try to read the journalling seeing as it is a confession layout :)

PRODUCTS: Cardstock, Rhonna Farrer PP, Rhonna Farrer Stickers, Autummn Leave Rubons, Provocraft alpha stickers, Heidi Swapp Chipboard letters, Foo Fa La tag, white pen, ribbon.

Week 7: Me Blog - Scrap Your Theme Song

Well this weeks challenge was by far the hardest yet.
It was so hard to pick 1 song that means something to me... there are so many! I wouldn't really call this my theme song because me theme song would be more like a medley... too much to scrap on one page!

So instead I went with a new song. Breathe by Anna Nalik. As a life song it's fitting because it really speaks to the way I feel about life and death at this stage of my life.

Through all stages of my life I was been scared. Either afraid of living, or afraid of dying.

This song really says to me that we can't worry about it. We just have to go where life takes us and enjoy what we can out of if while we can. Not to stress about the mistakes we've made and just move on... just breathe.

Again the scan came out really dark :(

JOURNALING: Cause you can't jump the track we're like cars on a cable. Lifes like an hourglass glued to a table. And no one can find the rewind button girl, so cradle your head in your hands, and breathe.... Just Breathe

PRODUCTS: Heidi Swapp Raw Chipboard Letters, DCWV Text PP, Grey Cardstock, Rhonna Farrer striped PP, Prima Flowers, Crafttime diamond flowers, pink and purple ink, white pen. Hourglass picture printed from the internet and coloured with watercolour pencils.

Week 6: Me Blog - You (NOW and THEN)

This weeks challenge was to do a layout using a photo from your past and a photo from your present and to reflect on the changes and even the similarities between your past and present.

I choose to do a list of what is different and what is the same about me in the 2 photos, one from 2006 the other 1994. 26 and 14 years old.

JOURNALING: SAME *I still have hair issues(not as bad though) * I still love music & movies * Still LOUD! * Still hate chores * Still love to dressup * Love to create
DIFFERENT *I can stand up for myself *I have a man I love *I enjoy my family *I am stonger *No longer BLONDE *I found found true friends *I don't take life for granted

PRODUCTS: PP by Rhonna Farrer, MM Mixed Font Stamps, Rhonna Farrer Stickers, Heidi Swapp chipboard letters, Craftworks Button Flowers, white cardstock, teal cardstock, tags, ribbon, seafom ink, blue zig zag pen, white pen.

(LINK TO LO: The Same Differences)

Feeling A Little Goofy

I had a disk of photos that my friend Jes took of us at Disneyland arrive in the mail a fortnight ago and I finally printed some out and had a play.

There is that white pen again :)

JOURNALING: When you walk around Disneyland and you see a huge group of kids... thats where you'll find the characters. It can be hard to wade through but I wasn't going to let Goofy get away... so Jes yelled out "Grab his tail".... so in my photos... Goofy looks scared!

PRODUCTS: Pressed Petals Chip Chatter alphas, Heidi Swapp Chipboard alphas, DCWV PP, Ribbon, black cardstock, white cardstock, white pen, black ink. (Ribbon, "Goofin Around" Embelishment and the Red Disney PP were gifts from my USA friends Lindi and Jes).

Week 5: Me Blog - Start an Art Journal

Well because of blogger being dumb I missed the deadline for the first time! But I am sticking to this challenge so I am going to post my entry anyway.

This week the challenge was to start an Art Journal. A chance for me to test out some techniques. Until recently I had been really 'safe' in my scrapping, so believe me this is a new challenge for me. Here are some of the pages so far.

My first Win!

The wonderful Christina P had a competition on her blog (see my side bar) to suggest a title for her layout... and I won it!

A Lesson in Laughter

I am so excited to see what will be in my goodie bag she is sending me... but also feel a little bad as I do live on the other side of the globe.

Thank you CP... :)

Rewards

OK yesterday was a tense day... you see I had a job interview for a job that I really really want. Translation, I was stressing. Now I have 3 major addictions, all of which I can call on to calm me down in moments of nervousness or stress; Chocolate, Cocacola and Shopping!

So as I was in the "big smoke" I hit one of the scrapping shops. WOW! so many new goodies since I was last there! I picked up some GORGEOUS MOD, Foof-a-La and Rhannon Farrer supplies and I am so glad I did. They are so beautiful and awesome to work with. Great to use in my art journal I've started this week as part of the ME Blog challenge. I will post some pages from it on Saturday night.