Scrap Your Stash - Tracey's Pages

A while back I wanted to try to de-clutter my life, so I set myself a challenge to scrap and craft more and to use more of my stash. We had a little sketch competition here on the blog to try to help you all out there to clear your stash too!

I wanted to show you a couple of the pages (and a card!) that I created based on the sketch from the comp - hopefully you will be inspired to get more done! Leave me a comment below to tell me what you have been up to lately or what you think of the pages.

Because I was limited in what I could use (I told myself to use open packs, off cuts and scraps) I found that my pages came together quicker. NO hours of agonising if this was the right tone, or wondering if I used a different pattern would the page seem less busy. And because I had my design already done, all I had to do was work out if I was using the sketch straight up, or flipping it in some way! Easy! This also meant that I played with things I haven't used in a while, like rub-ons, letter stickers, and stamps.

The first page was a bit of a tribute to my dog Wendal, who passed away earlier this year.

Next is a page for my American Holiday album. If you've scrapped with me any time over the past few years, you will know I've been working on this album for a LOOOOOONG time, so anything to help get the pages done quicker is awesome!  I wanted this page to be all black and white, but the photos had a creamy-yellow tone so I pulled in some other neutrals to make it work. Even thought the photos are blurry and not the best, they are the only ones I have so they are still making it to the album.  I try not to limit myself to only scrapping perfect photos - I'm not a perfect photographer so I would have nothing to scrap if I did! If it captures the moment and the emotion of the event I use it no matter what. 

I'm really not a card maker, probably because I'm not much of a card user. I'm pretty famous for forgetting cards at weddings and forgetting to send cards for birthdays. On the odd occasion that I do want to make a card, I find myself in a panic, 4 minutes before we leave the house, scrambling through some papers to try to put something together that fits the occasion.  So I'm trying to get a few cards made in advance that I can have in my card box, that simply need perhaps a stamp or sticker to make them suit the need. 

Happy Scrapping!

Tracey xox 

Goodie Box Fun!

Now its my turn to show you what I have been creating from the Retreat goodie box.

It was fun setting myself the challenge of highlighting what was in the box, and I was really pleased with what I was able to create and how much I was able to get out of it! With the addition of some cardstock, some mists and inks, and the use of tools like my sewing machine, stamps, cuttlebug and some templates, I was able to create 4 12x12 pages, a card and a mini album! AND I still have leftovers for more!

Check out my creations below, and be sure to leave me a comment with what you think! (Its a photo heavy post - sorry! But hopefully worth it!)

I used Amy Tangerine and Stamping Up stamps from my stash plus Die-Namics Dies in the cluster on the right.

I just love that rolled rose die!

Another page for my travel album - I covered some chipboard circles with washi tape for the flower centers. I'm really loving my sewing machine at the moment, you'll notice it on lots of my pages!

Another travel album page, this time from my first trip to the USA in 1995. Since I never scrap anything in order, I had never done anything with this photo, so I thought some paper strips and a chevron template might jazz it up. I've used those washi covered chipboard circles again!

This page turned out to be my favourite. I misted and dropped on the background with Heidi Swapp Primrose Color Shine, hand sewed the little heart and machine sewed the border. Done!

I did a quick card, ready to be pulled out of my card box and have a sentiment added when I need it, using one of the pre-cut dies we included in the goodie box and the same chevron template from the zoo page above - yes, I hand drew the chevrons and the the little pink dots!

Last but not least I have a little clear Kaiser mini album that's been sitting in my stash waiting for me to do something with it. Now I have a gift album thats just waiting for me to add photos and a few extra embellishments and its a perfect handmade gift for Christmas or a birthday and I am already halfway there!

 

Happy Scrapping!

Tracey xo

Goodie Box Inspiration!

So here's a little share of some of the creative things I made using the treats from our November goodie box. I love the "On Trend" papers by Crate Paper - I'm sure you can guess which ones were my absolute faves!

Ok so may note that I'm using a number of pennants and flags on my work - well as I discovered they are great for hiding little mistakes :-)

I made my paper roses using the same technique as we used in the make n take at retreat for our washi tape roses. If you want a great demo of how to make these roses with the washi tape just follow this link. http://americancrafts.typepad.com/studio/2011/05/mixtape-flower-tutorial-by-pooi.html

I used a mask to get the spotty spray effect on the doiley. For my splatter technique I just unscrew the lid from the bottle and splatter using a flick of the wrist (note; make sure you do this part before adding the photo -lol).

Loving the new Amy Tangerine stamp (not in the box) - it takes the hard work out of thinking up a title and the date adds that journalling touch!

So in the chaos of packing I rediscovered my sewing machine - I think I still need to work on my straight stitching!

I used my cuttlebug to create this die-cut embellishment then just layered it up with some mounting tape. I had some odd bits of chipboard laying around and used them to give the page a confetti look. I sprayed the dots with some of the new Heidi Swapp mists and inked others using Prima Chalks. Then I used a bit of dimensional magic for some gloss accents.

Here's a perfect way to use up those scrappy bits. A couple of more cards to add to my stash!

Happy Scrapping

Fleur x

Whats in the box?

Here's a few little peeks of what was inside the goodie boxes at our November Retreat. Lots of handmade goodness and one of the latest paper lines from Crate Paper - aptly named "On Trend". Stay tuned as Tracey and I showcase some creative pieces that we made using items in the box in the coming days!

Fleur x

Drumroll please!

The winner of our Scrap Your Stash challenge is Carolyn Warren with this cute layout.

Look out for some new supplies to add too your stash Carolyn :-)

Scrap Your Stash Challenge Entries

I hope you have all been scrapping away, using up your stash to create lovely pages, and to make room for new and groovy things!

Here are the challenge entries, and just to remind yourself of the criteria, you should take a look at this blog post. 

Thanks to everyone who entered - we will announce the winner after our judges have time to look over the entries, so stay tuned!

Memories | Pam Casey

Liam | Carolyn Warran

Michael & Shelley | Gillian Hume

Good Luck Scrappers!

Tracey* xo

Scrap Your Stash Challenge

Lately I've been trying to organise my house and my life a bit better. I seem to be on a never ending quest for organisation. Chaos has descended on on my house - especially my scrap room. It's filled to the brim with crafty goodies and scrap papers - some of which I have held onto for 5 years or more!

I've cleared out some papers and embellishments that are no longer my style and plan on contributing them to the Swaps Table at the November Retreat. But I have so many pretty papers just waiting to be used!  

So I have set myself a challenge to scrap and craft more and to use more of my stash. I know this is a common scrapping problem, so maybe you all would like to take the challenge with me.

To help get you started we have a little sketch competition to launch. Like our other sketch comps, you can interpret the sketch any way you want - turn it, flip it, whatever. Your layout can be on any topic you would like to scrap.  But the main criteria for this challenge is to use your stash! That's right - all of your papers and embellishments must come from your scrapping supplies. Use your scraps, offcuts and half opened packs. NO MORE saving those papers for 'special'. Use them! Every layout is special!

The details - 

- entries must be in by 7pm 14 November 2012

- To enter, please email a photo of your layout to dizzyizzy@y7mail.com Please try to reduce the size of your photo to no more than 700 pixels. You can find details on how to reduce the size of your photos at www.shrinkpictures.com

- The winner will be announced here on the blog and on our facebook page after a brief judging period 

The Prize

Woohoo - nothing like cleaning out your stash to make way for something new and groovy! The winner will receive a pack of new Pink Paislee Artisan embellishment frames, just waiting for you to add your colours -  plus a roll of washi tape and some Prima Flowers!

Happy scrapping!

Tracey xo

Kit-tastic!

In the lead up to our November retreat Trace, Jodie and I have been busy designing and preparing new kits. Here's a few sneek peeks of some of our newbies!!! Kits are an awesome way to kickstart your scrapping mojo if you're experiencing a bit of scrappers block, to try different ideas and a speedy way to get through your photo stack!

 

'Grandma's 80th'



'Instagram'



'Graduation'

 

'To new too be named!'

'On the Road'

'Siblings'

Fleur x





It's been a while between posts for me!

It has been a couple of months or so (well more the so) since I last put type on blogger. A chaotic couple of months (or so) it has been. I transferred with my other job ( the bill-paying one) to Canberra for a couple of months and with the thought that I would have at least a spare 3 hours a day avoiding my usual commute I created a very long list of good intentions. The 20 or so blog posts I was going to write was right up there…. but for some reason Canberra wasn’t quite the time-rich experience I thought it was going to be … all those free hours were filled up with the bill-paying job. Stumbling back to my hotel room after long work days bleary eyed and headachy from staring at a computer screen all I had on my mind was food and sleep.

I drove almost 2000km’s in those 8 weeks - back and forth along the Federal Highway, remembering everything I had forgotten to pack and everything I had forgotten to do. Each time my well-loved Astra would lug a boot-full of scrapping supplies, bags of food (mainly chocolate and tea), half my wardrobe (especially the warm bulky stuff for the -6 degree mornings) and countless bits and pieces of reading material. On each trip I would lug up and down the 21 stairs at our house with the things I was returning and picking up.  I returned at the end of those 8 weeks to realise that rather than returning my possessions to their rightful homes I had created a dump of sorts in my scrap room and hubby had followed my lead. My beloved scrap room had been transformed into a nightmare!

The nightmare

I’ve been back for three weeks or so now and in that time everything except the nightmare got a makeover….. you should see my pantry, clean as a whistle washing machine and re-organised wardrobe (J ahhhh sweet smiling face at the thought of my pantry) . Yes I cleaned and re-organised just about everything except for the nightmare!

Loving tupperware's modular containers

So with a determined attitude and hubby engrossed in his computer -I finally confronted the messy demons in my scrap space on Saturday night (my social schedule is blistering at the moment ) – I’ve  turned the nightmare back into my happy place (albeit a serious lack of storage solutions) and somehow I think I’ve stumbled back across my scrapping mojo…. Let the creativity begin!



A big improvement - considering our serious shortage of storage solutions and
mismatched furniture it is a work in progress. Now I can actually get to my desk
without tripping over, my scrap supplies are close by and that overwhelmed feeling is passing!



I’m back on the train too and actually relishing the opportunity and the headspace to put type into blogger! Let’s see how long I can keep up my enthusiasm about my daily commute – hopefully for at least another 19 posts!



My attempts after the big tidy to find my scrapping mojo!

Fleur x

November 2012 Retreat News

Are you coming to our November Retreat?

Did you know that this Retreat will be held in the BRAND NEW, recently opened Acacia facility at The Tops?

Acacia from the front - Scrap Room is on the left

Fleur and I did a site visit just after it opened - WOW!!  The main meeting are where we will be scrapping features a floor to ceiling wall of glass and another of large windows - perfect for natural light!

the back and the grounds - plenty of room to get outside and relax

There are 2 breakout meeting rooms - one perfect for classes and the other a comfy lounge area for you to relax and enjoy a coffee while on the terrace.

The bedrooms are large and the beds are brand new. Oh, and did I mention that the mattresses have inner springs - hello comfort!!!

Parking is conveniently located right across from the front door and it is only a 2 minute walk down to the dining hall. The grounds are beautiful and we have an inspiring view out into the surrounding bushland. I even saw a Wallaby while we were there!

The wallaby!

You can take advantage of the facilities by going for a swim or playing a game of tennis, jump online with the free wifi to find inspiration or simply get your craft on and scrap until you drop!

The view from the back on the building - lovely and peaceful!

If you are still thinking about whether to join us, give Fleur or myself a call or send us an email, we would love to have you along.

Happy scrapping

Tracey xo