Mel's Me Time

Well my Scrapbooking room is set.......not only have I cleaned it up from head to toe but I have also removed any scrapbooking materials from the linen cupboard (overflow) and I have sorted out all of my scraps (Brayden is going to have a ball!) I am in a bit of a clean up frame of mind (it always feels good once it is done:)) so today's tasks will be the study, linen cupboard and bathroom........then maybe I can do some creating once all done! The new poems, yes poems (x2) not poem, have started along at Scrap That Poetry . It is very exciting because not only are there two poems for inspiration but you have until the 14th of January to enter! Do you have great Christmas photos you need to scrap? Then hop on over to Scrap That Poetry as the poems are perfect inspira tion. Also check out what great projects the design team have created for you. The first poem is written by: Marinela Reka "A Shiny Little Star" My inspiration was based on several words in this poem the fir...

Hi Everyone......Just a quick post today....I hope you all had a safe, relaxing family Christmas. We had a lovely couple of days and it has been nice to have my hubby home for the two public holidays as well! I am only going to be quick because I am on a mission to have my scrap room sorted out and cleaned up today! After that Chrissy rush things just got put wherever! Anyway, I am here to let you know about the great giveaway over at Artful Delight Leanne is giving away an American Crafts Zap! Heat Gun. All you have to do is hop on over and check all of the beautiful creations and become a follower of her blog to go in the draw to win. Anyway....hop on over and enter the draw! Wish me luck with my scrapping room and I will be back with you tomorrow to share my recent Scrap That Poetry projects.....a long time coming...I know! Melxx

..... MERRY CHRISTMAS!

and boy don't I know that!!! The last few weeks have been really full on.....from school reports and general end of year stuff, to Christmas Concerts, Graduation Nights and trying to pack up and move my things on to my new school. From blog hops to poetry and general Christmas gifts.........there has been no time for Christmas shopping that's for sure:) Here are a few of the little gifts I made for the teachers at St Joseph's. I put a small Chrissy decoration and some chocolates in each of them.........except our male teacher.....he got fishing hooks instead of the decoration!! Can you guess which of the boxes I gave to him?? It was a great way to use up some scraps:) Below I did a similar gift for Brayden's teacher. The other gift for her was a post it note holder. When I saw these on Kimberley Crawford's Blog 'For the Love of Paper' I thought they were really cute! Click here to be linked to the tutorial. I have also done a few items for Scrap That Poetry...

Sadly, the Scrap That Poetry Ho Ho Ho Hop has been cancelled. I was so looking forward to it. Many thanks to Julianne from Jules Scrap Haven who helped me put together a RAK. I will use that RAK in another way this week so keep your eyes peeled. I have a really busy weekend and we are heading into the last week of school. Looking forward to heaps of creating over the holidays. Have a great weekend, Melxx

a poem by William Wordsworth This is the new poem for the Scrap That Poetry challenge. Click on the link here to get the poem. I found this poem quite a challenge. I would have to say that this possibly wasn't the poem or anyone else's problem. There is just so much happening at the moment.....reports, parent interviews, my hubby being away and our trip last weekend to Sydney for a wedding......not at all conducive to scrapping.....and boy am I missing it. Anyway, the thing that I took from this poem was that you can learn as much from nature and being outside than you can from books. So I decided to use these photos. Brayden was about 2 and a half when I took these photos. He was so intently focussed on the flowers (what us adults know as weeds).......he really loves nature and being outside. I have used Kraft cardstock, patterned papers, tissue paper to make the flowers and some acetate to make other clear flower buttons. I doodled around the flowers. Anyway, you have until...

The new poem for Scrap That Poetry's challenge is up! Such a beautiful poem.....Prayer for the Great Family by Gary Snyder - Turtle Island. Here in Australia we are so blessed with a beautiful country. At the moment here in the North East of Victoria we are dealing with floods.....we had one in September, one in October and just this last weekend we have had another! Great for water storage areas and this photo is of Lake Hume at Wymah. The dam is at 100% (the first time in several years) and it just looks so beautiful. Something we are all really grateful for. This is the first time I have completed a 81/2 x 11in layout. I have to say that I really enjoyed it and the new challenges that it brings. Don't forget to pop over to Scrap That Poetry and have a go at this challenge - you have until November 30....Goodluck! Melxx

I can't believe that the weeks are flying by.....only 5 1/2 weeks left of school until the Christmas break (where has Brayden's Prep year gone:( ), which means 6 1/2 weeks until Christmas......not one Christmas present bought yet!!!!! The past week has been rather busy, however I was able to squish in a scrap evening at Liz's. It was nice to catch up with the girls. So much so that they are popping in on Saturday for the day!! I have been working on my next project for Scrap That Poetry but you will have to wait for the 15th to see it! The new online challenge came up and was run by Liz this time around. Liz, Cheryl and I have an absolute ball with the other ladies from The Scrapbooking Hut doing these layouts. Here is my take on Liz's challenge this month. I have used basically cardstock but my snowflakes are using the Marrakech Collection by Kaiser. Yes I did make the larger snowflakes....can you remember being taught how to do this at school? It is amazing what co...

Scrap That Poetry's new challenge poem is up. The poem is "A Red, Red Rose" by Robert Burns. Check out the poem here. I based my interpretation on the colour 'red' and the line....'So deep in luve am I.' This photo of Jas and I was taken earlier in the year using my iPhone. The quality of the photo is not fantastic but I just love this photo and the series of photos that are associated with it. I hope to use them all on a layout sometime. It was only a few weeks ago that I had the ultimate complaint from my hubby...."Why don't you scrap anything about us (I think he meant....why don't I scrap anything of him!!!)? You always scrap Brayden stuff." Well, of course, I got an attack of the guilts....thank goodness for the latest poem!!!! Saved!!! I hand drew the heart outline and used a technique I learnt whilst scrapping a few years ago at 'Whadda Load of Scrap'....my local store that is no more:( I just love scrapping in red, black...

I'm not sure what is happening but in the last week I have completed not 1, not 2 but 3 layouts. I think the due dates had something little to do with them!!! I am so proud of myself.....I have actually made "regular" ME time each week and I have scheduled it into the diary!!! Not only that, I have been attempting to do my work during work hours ONLY and not bring heaps home.......for those of you who know me this is a great achievement!! Saying that this doesn't mean I have been sleeping any more...still burning the candle at both ends, but hey at least I'm having fun doing it!!!! Anyway, the October Monthly Challenge for The Scrapbooking Hut is to create a single page layout using a song title or line as your inspiration. For a very long time I have wanted to scrap a layout using the song "Godspeed (Sweet Dreams)" by the Dixie Chicks as my inspiration. I just adore this song and used to regularly play it when Brayden was a baby. It reminds me of those...

Get Picky have their first challenge sketch on their blog and I have had a go. Using multiple photos on a layout has not been something I have done and I must say I really enjoyed the challenge. These photos were taken for the Rutherglen Street Parade in September this year. We were celebrating the anniversary of 150 years since gold discovery in the area. The children were asked to dress as people from that era. What a cute gold digger I say! Thanks to Tanya and Nikki for putting up this great challenge....I had heaps of fun! Melxx

Oh my goodness!! Samantha Hauzer has the most amazing giveaway happening at the moment. All you need to do is blog about it on your blog and become a follower of her blog and the Imaginisce blog. Hop on over to Samantha's blog to enter.

Happy Saturday Everyone! We are very glad here to see Friday gone....not just because of the end of the working week but yesterday the North East of Victoria was hit yet again by HEAPS of rain and flooding! This time we were amongst the stress and excitement having the SES out to the house to sand bag and the creek becoming the new section of the Murray River (yet again!) I am happy to say that all is OK here but the weather has returned to winter again and the clouds have started to roll in filled with rain......fingers crossed. Our thoughts go out to all of those affected by the floods. On a much more exciting note......my very first layout as Design Team Member has been revealed on the Scrap That Poetry blog. The poem for this challenge is 'There Is Another Sky.' It is a beautiful poem. As soon as I read this poem, especially from 'Here is a brighter garden,' I thought of my Pop's garden. Sadly, in March this year my Pop passed away. He lived in the Hunter Valle...

My beautiful friend Nikki is giving away a set of Cuttlebug Daisy Quilling Plates over at her blog..... Scraps of Me . Check them out..... They are valued at $38.00 and donated by Philippa at Lime Tart. If you would like a chance to win this great set (just like me) pop over to Nikki's blog by clicking here and find out how to enter!

How organised am I? I must have my mojo back.....usually for the Online Challenges I don't stick down my LO until the weekend!!! This time round I needed to have this finished before the night was over! And I did! What is going on? I just love doing the Online Challenges with The Scrapbooking Hut . This time around it was Cheryl's turn to organise it. It is always a lot of fun and great to catch up (online) with the girls. Here is my take on Cheryl's LO..... I am rather happy with the result.....I really didn't put much thought just followed Cheryl's very precise instructions. Here are a few close ups: I have also been working on my first project for Scrap That Poetry but can't show you just yet...pop back in next week for a sneak peak!!! Enjoy your weekend, Melxx

A few days ago I received an extremely exciting email! After applying to be part of the Scrap That Poetry Design Team, the lovely Jennifer Campbell emailed me to say that I had been accepted!! I am just so thrilled to be a member of such a wonderful blog and with a group of such talented ladies. For those of you who don't know Scrap That Poetry I recommend that you pop on over and have a look. STP provide two challenges each month that require you to use the poem to inspire your scrapbooking.....it is lots of fun! Currently, the poem is The Rock Cries out to Us by Maya Angelou and works are to be submitted by October 14th at 10am. I am currently working on my first project as a design team member and this will be found on the STP site on October 15! Have a good rest of the week, Melxx

Well, routine begins again tomorrow morning......holidays are over and it is back to work and school. The weather has been gorgeous and the time we have spent doing not much at all has been extremely enjoyable. We are now on the countdown to Christmas holidays!! Hehehe.....I know "Teachers!" always after holidays. I just want to spend time with my gorgeous little man! Anyway something that I have finished off this week is this recipe box. I had it as one of my unfinished projects. Finally I have got around to it. Now I just need to go through the recipes and transfer them to index cards to put in the box! Ahhhh.....that sounds bigger than Ben Hur!!!!!! Have a great week everyone! Melxx

I decided to have a go at this month's A2ZScraplets Challenge Sketch. Such a nice little sketch and I am very pleased with my take on it. Have a great day, Melxx

I can't believe how quickly the first week of the school holidays have gone! The weather has been beautiful and we have had lots of fun doing not much at all. I have, however, completed a few projects. My nephew, Harrison, was born in August 2009 and his dad took a photo of him as a new bub. As soon as I saw this photo I knew that I wanted to scrap it. I knew exactly what paper range I wanted to use. It has taken me far too long to get to the final result but this week I pulled this layout together quite quickly. I work so much quicker when the plan has been in my head for a while! I have used the Kaisercraft Peek A Boo collection . I love this baby range! The other project I have had in my mind for a while is this one of my Aunty and my Pop (her Dad). Aunty Liz if you are reading this.........close your eyes now or move away from the computer!!!! In March my Pop passed away. Afterwards my Uncle sent a disc filled with lots of photos from his life. This photo was one of them. I hav...

The newest, most adorable blog site run by my gorgeous friend Nikki Antonello and the lovely Tanya Tahir is up and running. For a fantastic kick start to the blog the girls are giving away a great RAK. Hop on over to Get Picky become a follower, add the blinkie to your blog and add a post on your blog with a link back to Get Picky and leave a comment for your chance to win!!!!! Then, count down the days until October 15 when the girls will release their first challenge. Very exciting and Well Done Nikki and Tanya!

Scrap That Poetry is a great site for inspiration. Use the poem posted to give you inspiration for a project.....how easy is that! This challenge is based on the poem 'First Day of School' by Eddie Garcia. In memory of my little man's first day of Prep I had created this layout. So I am submitting it to the challenge.How cute is he.......too easy to scrap really!!!! Pop on over to the Scrap that Poetry blog to check out the design team entries and the other layouts some of the ladies have entered....they are gorgeous! How about you link your own entry and join in the fun!! That is all for now but pop back in later this week to check out some of the things I have been working on recently.' Have a great week, Melxx

I was lucky enough a couple of months ago to win the 'Online Monthly Challenge' for The Scrapbooking Hut . This then meant that I needed to design and provide directions for this month's online challenge. Last Wednesday night all of the lovely ladies and I met on the online forum with materials ready to make the layout I had created. I thought it was hard to interpret someone else's instructions......try giving the instructions, remembering that the ladies are not to see my layout........I suppose a blind crop! Well, this is my layout of my gorgeous nephew, Harrison. Pop over to The Scrapbooking Hut , become a member and check out the other ladies layouts......they are gorgeous! Once you are a member you are entitled to place a vote......voting closes tomorrow (Wednesday) so be quick! Until next time, Melxx

Happy Father's Day to all of the Dad's in the world......especially my beautiful Dad (love you Dad!), step dad and father in law. We have had the most exciting weekend with Jason's birthday and Father's Day. Brayden made this tie for Jason. It was stated that it must be worn all day....and it was!!!! How cute. Thanks for being a super Dad Ja! It has been a very busy few weeks....... this weekend we have survived all of the rain. Our thoughts go to those in the flooded regions here in Victoria. We've had a heap of rain and our creek that hasn't had very much water in 5 years is looking a little like "The Murray River." Needless to say all of our dams and tanks are full.....that is nothing to complain about!! Anyway, I have done quite a bit of scrapbooking over the last little bit. My beautiful friends Liz and Cheryl and I have had a night together....I made some last minute cards......already been given so sorry no photos! Probably the most exciting w...

Last Wednesday night I participated in an 'Online Challenge' with the ladies from 'The Scrapbooking Hut' Shelley presented the list of materials and then the instructions for the challenge and we all followed along online. We had an absolute ball. If you have neverparticipated in an online challenge I highly recommend you do. Not only do you complete a layout but meet some great people.....all from the comfort of your own home (at this time of year, in this part of the world this is highly important!) I created this layout of Charlotte my niece "Just You Wait" I was very surprised tonight to find out that I was the winner of the challenge! How exciting!

Well, I have finally added my entry to the Scrap the Boys - "Just the Facts" Challenge. I am not quite sure how I found this blog but boy I am glad I did! It is funny you know...the photo I have used I have had sitting with the papers for a few months. Not only due to the busy life I lead but also the fact that this photo didn't really have a story meant that I was a little stumped as to how to use it. As soon as I saw this challenge I knew that I had found a use for the photo and the papers and I think they go just so perfectly together. This layout has been removed for publishing. You @ 5 - Kaiser Paper Range - K-Bots; Bazzill Cardstock; Kaiser Mini Alpha Stickers - Chocolate & White; Kaiser Rhinestones; Dimensional Magic; Kaiser Chipboard Letters; Basic Grey Chipboard Elements; ribbon It is funny how quickly some things come together for me sometimes and other times I spend forever flipping and changing. This layout came together quite quickly, the hardest part w...

I don't know whether the thought of Christmas in July got me inspired to complete this project, that really should have been done before last Christmas, but hey it is better late than never! I just love the Kaiser wooden off the page projects.....this is the Advent Calendar. I used the beautiful Kaiser Countdown range of papers....some paint, Mod Podge, Kaiser Christmas Rub ons, some Dimensional Magic and what Chrissy project is complete without some Kindy Glitz. Check it out...I'm really happy with the results! The Christmas Tree ~ I used the technique that my beautiful friend Nikki has used once before. I used strips of paper, some crinkle cut scissors and layered them up the tree. It gives the tree a little bit of dimension to it!!! Until next time, Melxx

I have been having an absolute ball......I don't know whether you would call it a 'Stay At Home Mum'......after Jason commented on one of my days recently. "Hmmmm!" he said. "Coffee in town with your girlfriend until noon, a quick sweep of the floor, collect the firewood and scrapbooking......not sure that equates to a SAHM!!!" Full of cheek I think..... Anyway, I have been scrapping to my hearts content. I have even finished off some of those unfinished projects!! The first layout is one that I did towards the end of last year for a challenge at Whadda Load of Scrap. When Jaine packed up she took my layout with her without knowing...she has recently found it and sent it down! The challenge was to use the paper provided, the journalling tag etc. To make the challenge, more of a challenge we were given a letter of the alphabet, in this case D. We needed to have our title starting with that letter (hence 'delectable'), use a product starting with t...