Zingz Votive Candle Holder

I recently received a couple of packets of Zingz sticker accents and immediately got to work creating with them.  This is my first project...it's an altered votive candle holder.

This would make an easy and inexpensive project to keep the kids occupied at a tween party or sleepover (the votive holder cost me $0.99 at a cheapie shop).  The supplies would also make a great gift idea, and the possibilities of what you could create with Zings are endless !

Zingz come in five designs and loads of colours and will be available in Spotlight stores from October.

Scrapbooking Memories magazine

So I was published a couple of weeks ago in the Spotlight catalogue...this week I have TWO features in Scrapbooking Memories online magazine :

Firstly, an interview in 5 Minute Scrap Chat http://www.scrapbookingmemories.com.au/5minchat_archives/126_cindy.php

and then a layout featuring the new Fiskars 'Threading Water' and 'Leave It To Weaver' border punches in Technique Corner
http://www.scrapbookingmemories.com.au/tech_corner.php

Exciting news !

Exciting scrapbooky-type news...have a look HERE

Some pics

The weather was beautiful yesterday, so I took the opportunity to take a few pics. Here are a couple of Kade, and one of me {yes, an actual photo of ME, even if I did have to take it myself !}. In fact, I set the timer then ran and threw myself on the ground and tried to look casual LOL.

Oh, and while I think of it...I heard the other day that Milo has postponed the air-date of our commercial. At this stage we don't know when it will be on *sigh*. There is a 606 Product Networker ad for Zymil milk on at the moment (channel 7) that is the same sort of thing as ours will be.

HAPPY HAPPY DAY

I'm SO happy to have found this gorgeous girl again after so long...

For anyone who doesn't recognise her, this is Toby's sister (and my step-daughter), Shae. It's been more than 7 years since I've seen her - the sad result of the divorce of a blended family.

Her dad has chosen not to see her, but Toby and I didn't have a say. I called her for her birthday and a few other times in the first year or so, but several house moves meant that we eventually lost touch. It also didn't help that her mum was given an incorrect phone number and address for us...

I searched the online white pages many times over the years in an attempt to find her, but was always unsuccessful. I've done online searches for her name and even looked on Facebook about a month or so ago, but had no luck.

Then, thanks to the wonderful worldwide web, she found Toby on MySpace. She has no interest in seeing her dad yet (can't say I blame her there) but she does want to see us, so hopefully we can organise that very soon !!

She's 15 now, so I've missed as many birthdays as I celebrated with her, but we can catch up ! She's also no longer my blonde-haired, blue-eyed little girl...but she's still my daughter, and she always will be.

We love you Shae !!

Tagged again :)

I have been awarded this blog award by two wonderful friends. Firstly, my lovely friend and card-maker-extraordinaire Sandie. And secondly, fellow Fiskars Ambassador and oh-so-talented Kim !

Firstly, thanks girls for tagging me! I am very honoured to know that you girls think such nice things about me... *blush*

Kim is SUCH a talented scrapper and I had no idea she even thought about me, much less enough to say this about me "This is another lady who I am in awe of. She fits so much into her life and always has time to help others. She is an awesome scrapbooker and makes some of the cutest little projects... ". How sweet is that ?!

Anyway...the rules for the award are -

(1) The winner can put the logo on their blog.
(2) Link the person you received your award from.
(3) Nominate at least 7 other blogs.
(4) Put links of those on yours.
(5) Leave a message on the blogs of the girls or boys you’ve nominated


Now while I visit MANY blogs every day, not all of them are updated regularly. So in saying that, I have chosen to nominate a few friends who do update regularly and also some other inspirational blogs. I haven't intentionally NOT chosen anyone, so please don't be offended if your name is not listed below.

1. Firstly, the lady who claims to be my biggest 'fan' and also my blog's biggest commentor: Lawanda (love this girlie!)
2. A friend who creates the most beautiful layouts, cards and OTP projects: Wendy
3. Someone who always makes me laugh, and whose work I am always in awe of: Vesna
4. The person I'd nominate as someone who is the most herself, and also a fellow Fiskars Ambassador...the gorgeous: Ngaire
5. Yet another talented scrapper and crafter, and someone I just 'clicked' with: Rach
6. A sweet lady whose products I am loving more and more every day: Teresa Collins
7. Some GORGEOUS scrapping inspiration...trust me...go look at Bibbi's blog (I don't speak or read Danish so I have no idea what anything on her blog says...but I LOVE looking at the pictures)

In LOVE with Cloud 9 Epoxy Quotes

So...how do you present the wedding snaps you took at the wedding to the bride and groom ? Do you scrap an elaborate album for them, or just put the photos loose in a card ? Why not do a little of both ?

I have cut down some 6"x6" page protectors to fit standard 4"x6" photos; made a cardstock album cover to hold them; punched holes with my Fiskars eyelet setter and set eyelets to thread the ribbon through; and then decorated to suit.



In the tradition of "something old, something blue, something borrowed and something blue" these beautiful new epoxy quote stickers from Cloud 9 add an element of elegance and help personalise the album. I've also used some old products by way of the Cloud 9 sparkle wedding paper. I borrowed the photo from my mum's wedding album (wasn't she a beautiful bride ?), and I've coloured the chipboard shape in the middle of the flower with some blue Li'l Davis Designs Glitter Glaze (you can see that on the third pic above).



Products I've used are :

• Clear Epoxy Quote Stickers "Simple Thoughts ~ Our Wedding" by Cloud 9 Design (available in Spotlight Stores from September)
• "Sparkle Wedding Romance" paper by Cloud 9 Design
• Chipboard Shapes by Kimberley Poloson
• Glitter Glaze ~ Iris by Li'l Davis Designs (availability TBA)
• "Threading Water" border punch by Fiskars (available at LSS's now, and in Spotlight stores from September)
• Other : misc cardstock, satin ribbon, paper flowers

Fiskars event in Western Australia

Yes it is finally really happening!

We are going to be having our very own Fiskars event in Western Australia!

On Saturday 18th October
10am to 1pm

At: Just Scrapbooking
Shop 8B 233 Berrigan Drive, Jandakot

There are still details to be worked out but the fun is guaranteed!

Entry is free and you will get morning tea, make & takes, some freebies and giveaways, door prizes and more.

Places are limited so bookings are essential!

Please contact Kim on 0419 197 105 or by e-mail kgeling@iinet.net.au
or Evana on 0406 810 551 or by e-mail evana.willis@bigpond.com

** Are you a Fiskateer yet?**
It is free to join, is easy to do and you also get a really cool pressie just for joining ! If you bring along proof of your membership to our Perth Fiskars event you will get a bonus ticket for the door prize too. Click HERE to join.

Watch the ANZ Fiskars Blog for more details and some sneak peeks as the date gets closer!

Pie anyone ?

Okay, well you all missed out on these earlier this week :

So maybe you'd like a slice of one of these instead ?

Front one is apple, the other is apricot (coz Elliot doesn't like apple pie).

Mmmmmm

Happy Father's Day !!

Here's a card with a difference that I made my dad for Father's Day. I used the gorgeous Max's Backyard range by Cloud 9 (available in Lincraft stores mid to late August). It's a slider card - sometimes called a push-pull card.

While at first glance the card looks quite plain, the subtly patterned paper provides detail without having to add it yourself. The co-ordinating border sticker adds another element of detail without being too distracting. Instead of inking, I've sanded the edges of the paper, as well as the alphas and border sticker.

I cut the dragonfly that's next to the journaling area from the alpha sheet. The journaling area has been detailed by piercing the cardstock (from the back) around the edge, and then inking with distress ink.

Products I used :

• MAX'S BACKYARD Dimensional Sticker
• MAX'S BACKYARD 'Dragonfly Shadows' patterned paper
• MAX'S BACKYARD Large Alpha Stickers
• MAX'S BACKYARD Border & Word Stickers

Yay Toby !

Last week Toby was chosen to represent his school in the under 14's shot put at the local district athletics carnival (all the local schools were involved). Anyway, today was the carnival and he placed 2nd ! His throw was 14-something metres (he can't remember how far exactly), just a metre and a bit less than the guy who got first place.

YAY Toby :)

Teresa loves me !

Yes, I'm sure that's the reason why I've just won some more goodies from Teresa's blog {Teresa Collins, of course}.

Just for commenting, I've won a Halloween Perfect Closure, a set of 5x7 TC Black Bracket Covers, and a Zutter Pound-it-All Stone Block.






How exciting is that ?! WOO HOO

I hope you're all having a great week :)

Proud Mummy Moment

One of the girls at work asked me tonight if I knew that Toby received an award at school on Friday...

Me: "Ummm....no"

So I sent Toby a text message when I got home (he's at his dad's till Wednesday), and it turns out he received THREE awards !! All for academic achievement in Science, French & Active Health.

He probably wouldn't have told me because "it's no big deal" as far as he's concerned, but I'm SO proud !

Finding inspiration in a magazine

Everywhere I look lately I see something 'scrappy' - you know what I mean...flourishes on tv commercials, designs on crockery and bed linen, etc. I remember watching 'Dancing With The Stars' once and I swear that the coloured light pattern on the dancefloor was EXACTLY the same as a piece of patterned paper that I have in my stash !! So anyway...I was flicking through a scrapbook magazine the other day and came across this advertisement :

As soon as I saw it I wanted to replicate it...so I did :

The photo is of my Elliot's grandparents and I just love it. While I could have scrapped it with a heritage theme (and probably still will), I love that the quirkiness of this layout refects the carefree, fun atmosphere of the photo.

I inked the edges of the cardstock (a bit hard to see in this pic, sorry) and then dry embossed the dots to reflect the dots on the paper in the advertisement. Because the cardstock I used has a different coloured core I was able to sand it to reveal the lighter colour where it had been embossed.

All of the papers are scraps leftover from other projects. The flowers along the bottom of the photo and scattered around the page were also made from scraps, which I either punched or cut by hand. The round pins and heart pin are by Heidi Grace.

It's My Party

Well, it isn't really...but that IS the name of this GORGEOUS new range by Heidi Grace !

When this page kit arrived on my doorstep I was immediately keen to get creating with it. The colours are so bright and cheerful ! Anyway...these are the results; I've made an invitation, table decoration and thank-you gift.

I used the Threading Water punch for the white detail on the front of the card, as well as one of the chipboard titles from the kit (it's a bit hard to read in the pic but it says 'party'), a button and a handmade paper string flower (made by my lovely and talented friend Sandy and available for purchase HERE). On the inside I have printed the invitation details on white cardstock, matted it with pink cardstock, and then attached to the card.

The table decoration is a polystyrene foam cup wrapped in patterned paper. I've used one of the word stickers and a chipboard bookplate from the kit on the front too. Die cut flowers adorned with buttons, Zings, Rain Dot Eyelets and doodling have been attached to bamboo skewers and set into sand. Strips of curled paper, a metal butterfly and a layer of shredded cellophane finish it off.

And finally, there is the thank-you gift. A handmade sour cream container filled with sweets. I've decorated it with a diecut flower, a word sticker and ribbon (both from the kit) to carry over the theme of the paper.

Products used :

Heidi Grace 'It's My Party' page kit - available in KMart stores in September 2008
Cloud 9 Rain Dot Eyelets - available in Australia & New Zealand Spotlight stores from September 2008
Fiskars Zings {splat} - available in Australia & New Zealand Spotlight stores from October 2008
Threading Water border punch

Fake cupcakes

* pics by Emily Reiman

Oh, oh...I think I need to make some of these (the instructions under the photos is a bit mixed-up so click on one of the pics and it will open as a slide show with the instructions below).

Some 'Toby' pics

I don't often post photos of Toby here, and that's for no other reason than he's not usually around to take many photos of ! But a week or so ago I took my camera in to work when I went to pick him up...so here they are :

This was my attempt at being 'arty'. I actually sprinkled the salt on the bench deliberately for effect LOL

And here's our boy...working away...

Excuse the feral hair...he's trying to grow it...

WOO HOO...two wins in a week ! I just received an email saying I've won a copy of Bella on DVD from Autochic.



Bella is a heart-warming story about friendship, family and our capacity for love in the face of the unexpected.

An international soccer star Jose (Eduardo Verástegui) is on his way to sign a multi-million dollar contract when a series of events turn his life upside-down and brings his career to an abrupt end.

The famous athlete retreats from the world to work as a cook at his brother's Mexican restaurant in Manhattan. Nina (Tammy Blanchard: The Good Shepherd ), a beautiful waitress at the restaurant, is struggling to make it in New York City when she finds herself without work after coming in late because of morning sickness. Taken by Nina's plight, Jose reaches out to her and, with a simple gesture of kindness, they fall into an easy confidentiality. In the course of this single day, Jose not only confronts his own haunting past, but shows Nina how the healing power of love can help her embrace the future.

Winner of the People's Choice Award, at the 2006 Toronto Film Festival, Bella, a small indie film, took critics by surprise and became a US hit with its heart-warming and moving story about 2 people facing difficult life-changing decisions.



I also received my Teresa Collins stamp today...I got this one :



It's going to be PERFECT for a project I am yet to do with some new Cloud 9 products...so stay tuned for that !

OMG...PUBLISHED !!

WOO HOO, I've been published !

The card with the red flower on it on the bottom right of this new SPOTLIGHT catalogue is mine !! I haven't received my catalogue yet , and Spotlight don't have their catalogue online yet, but Lyn has and posted this pic on the Fiskars blog. How exciting is that !?



See...this is the card...



Oh...and I also won tickets to see 'Tropic Thunder' today. I entered because the main prize was a zippy little scooter ~ spewing I didn't win that.

My 'August Inspiration'

Today it's my turn to be the author of the 'August Inspiration' on the ANZ Fiskars blog...

Check out the post HERE for the details about my project :