KI Memories Lace cardstock

I have been working on my technique notes for the March Scrapaholix kits. I have been having fun with the lace cardstock by KI Memories If only there was enough time in the day to try everything that is running through my mind - and yikes I have to go back to my regular job next week after being on maternity leave for nearly a year!

I am pleased to announce that I have eventually managed a layout of Lucy! 14 more to go by the end of February if I am to meet my goal.

This layout uses KI Memories lace cardstock and chalk to create a subtle pattern on the background paper. I hand painted the photo mat as I didn't have the right shade of lavender Bazzill. I used a dry brush to paint the border and while it is straight I wasn't aiming for a perfect line so it is freehand. The chalk gives a very subtle colour and pattern to the background and is therefore hard to see in the photo, it is a little more obvious irl.

New Plans

It is with great excitement that we let you know of our plans for 2009: Scrapping Away will be heading into rural Australia and running workshops and day crops. We will of course continue with our very successful retreats but we are expanding to serve those of you who cannot get away from home for the weekend but love to scrap.

At this stage plans are a foot to hold workshops in Rutherglen, Wangaratta and Yackandandah and we are also planning 12 hour crops for Wagga Wagga, Holbrook and Griffith.

These locations are all within easy reach of home but we'd love to make it further afield too: If you would like us to come to your town please contact us. We would love to bring great Scrapbooking products and workshops to your community.

Our workshops in Albury and Balldale continue to expand with many people joining in the fun of learning about scrapbooking, creatiing stunning layouts, and meeting new friends.

Workshops are generally Scrapbooking techniques through Scrapaholics but other options are available such as: Card making, Making the most of your Cricut and Using Sure Cuts A Lot and Inkscape with your Cricut.

Email us if you'd like us to come to your town

Fiskars Finger Tip Knife

The January Scrapaholics technique is cutting by hand using the Fiskars Finger Tip Knife. This tool really helps you to cut well. I don't often use a craft knife because I'm really not that adept at cutting with one but this tool makes it much easier. The tool is included in the January kit along with some simply stunning Crate Paper from the Prudence Collection. The Temperance die cut paper is my favourite and so I stretched it across 3 layouts. I'm really happy with how these layouts turned out. I will be demonstrating this kit in Balldale on January 7th and Albury on January 30th. Email me for details.





These 3 layouts count as challenge 13.

Advent treats

I have eventually got myself organised and made my little Advent packages. Here are a few photos of them hanging on our tree.





My 3 year old finds them to be very tempting but so far is showing great restraint. I only made 12 as Emily is already finding the wait for Christmas to be long. This way the excitement will be heightened in the last 12 days!

I made another set of these with cardstock weight scrapbooking paper and they kept popping open, so I decided to use light weight paper. The paper is Sandy Lion, London Town and it was in the December Scrapaholics kit.

The tenth challenge is complete so 5 more to go. I am starting to find it a bit harder to get to these projects as there are so many other things to be done. However, I have already decided what my next challenge will be.

28 Days and another 2 projects done

I am on a roll! I still haven't got back to making the goodies to go with the Kaisercraft Days Til Christmas tree that I posted the other day, but I will.

Today I have the next 2 pages made with the Scrapaholics December kit. That's 3 pages made so far with the kit and there is easily enough paper left to make another page or a few Christmas cards. The cardstock is Bazzill Chiffon and Coredinations Burgundy. The patterned paper and diecuts are Sandylion. The journaling block was cut using SCAL and my Cricut. You can get a copy of one at the Frugal Crafter

Christmas layouts

I wish Christmas brought the best out in my photography skills but unfortunately it doesn't. I am usually busy with other things and thoroughly preoccupied so at the end of the day I have next to no photos and those I do have are average. There is also so much clutter around on Christmas Day, wrapping paper, presents, and other people that I find it hard to achieve great shots. As this is the case I have found it difficult to scrap Christmas photos. Tell you the truth I have actually avoided scrapping Christmas photos. Now I have 2 children I can no longer neglect preserving these memories. Plus, the Scrapaholics kit for December has a distinct Christmas theme! It took me along time to create these pages and although the colours aren't everyone's idea of Christmas I love the way they are not the traditional red and greens. The cardstock is Bazzill Chiffon and the trees and die cut are from the Sandy Lion Christmas Range.



As promised I have an svg file for the title I used on the Christmas morning layout. You can find it here It is in Inkscape and ready to cut with SCAL and your Cricut.

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas

I have eventually got my act together and made a start on Christmas cards. I know it is already November and so I really am going to need to get a move on and produce a lot of cards. I have been cheating a little and using SCAL and my Cricut to cut cards. It is certainly much quicker this way. I have used KJtagsXmas font to cut both gift tags and cards. I didn’t come up with this idea myself, check out Denise’s Blog for this and other great ideas. Denise has a heap of SVG files she shares so if you have a cutter and SCAL take a look.

Also went to the Albury Botanic Gardens yesterday for the Fairy and Dinosaur Stomp. I took the camera along, of course, and took some cute pics of the girls and couldn’t resist sharing a couple.



I also made have the SCUT file to share for the scallop I used on the November Scrapaholics layout. I usually make things in Inkscape but for some reason I did this in SCAL so sorry no SVG this time. You can go to the following link to download it http://www.mediafire.com/?sharekey=b38accfabc050c8bd2db6fb9a8902bda

Absolutely Awesome Acrylic

What a busy time it has been recently. I have barely had time to scrap and yet I have so many new papers to play with. I have been working with Acrylic pages this week and they result in beautiful pages but are quite a challenge too. I continually had to remind myself that the page is two sided.

The next workshop is on July 4th and I will be demonstrating the use of acrylic pages. We will complete two 12x12 acrylic layouts and 2 cardstock layouts as well as make some acrylic embellishments.

July is sure to be a creative month as we also have a Scrapaholics workshop on the 18th July and a Scrap Day on July 26. The Scrap Day is 12 hours of scrapping fun so be sure to register soon. Email me for further info info@scrappingaway.com.au What could be better than spending a cold wintery day scrapping away?

Here are a couple of acrylic tutorials


This one has some great tips to help you avoid errors! Always great to learn from other's mistakes.

Tim Holtz Grungeboard

This month's Scrapaholics kit uses the cutting edge Grungeboard by Tim Holtz. This stuff is fabulous, it's like chipboard underwent a revolution. You can cut it, paint it, ink it, sew it, emboss it, die cut it, grunge it up by sanding for a brilliant effects. This stuff is totally flexible, you can even screw it up and flatten it back out and it will retain its shape. Check out this video demonstration by Tim Holtz.

http://www.timholtz.com/vid_grungeboard.html

The Boxer Basic Grey papers in the kit have a grungy feel to them which really works well with the Grungeboard.


Join a Scrapaholics Club now to get great kits like this one.

Not one in your area? Start your own. Email me

Fabulous Felt

The March Scrapaholics class is already upon us and the techniques this month are using felt and a monochromatic style. What a challenge this turned out to be! Once upon a time I was a Bazzill scrapper and then something happened - I discovered that patterned paper is not only fun to own but great to use too! I have become so use to scrapping with patterned papers that to face a kit of only Bazzill, felt and ric rac was a bit scary. Mind you it was very yummy Bazzill in 6 different purples. So, if you are up for a challenge of scrapping in a monochromatic manner join us for the class. Email for details if you are in Albury/Wodonga region or if you would like to buy a kit

I had a lot of fun in the end with using my photos as the focus of the page and not letting patterned paper be the focus. I used passport sized photos on the expecting Em page and let them tell the story of my joy while pregnant. The look is really quite effective. I guess it isn't truly monochromatic as it has green paint on it, but it is close enough.

For my second layout I really wanted a double page and this proved a challenge as I have never done a LO with 2 pages that are different colours. In the end I decided not to have two different coloured pages and cut away at the Bazzill creating two 12x12 papers from strips of Bazzill. The effect was just want I was after and it suited these great photos of Emily at the Swan River perfectly. Man she was a chubby bubby!

In both cases the felt has added a bit of dimension to the layouts. It is an interesting fabric to work with. I found it works well in the Sizzix if your dies are thick but when you try to do fine cutting it easily loses shape. Also I tried stamping on it but wasn't thrilled with the result. In the end I found the best result came from using acrylic paint.

Next month we are using wet embossing and then the following month Scrapaholics UK has designed the most gorgeous, nested, star acrylic stamps. Get in quick to own this fantastic set as there was a limited run produced.

Retreat Bookings and more exciting Cricut news

It has been a busy week since I last wrote. Our Scrapaholics class on Friday night was a huge success with some stunning pages created. There were kindy and newborn photos scrapped as well as beach and picnic photos, showing how versatile these Scrapaholics kits are designed to be.

At the end of this week is the Rutherglen class working with the scrumptious Crafter's Workshop scallops and swirls template. If you'd like to join us just email me.

The Retreat Grand opening is in a couple of weeks at the Feb 29 class and the champagne will flow in celebration of having finished the renovations!

Retreat bookings are steadily arriving and we have also introduced a class option at the retreats. You can choose to have one or two Scrapaholics retreats included in your weekend for only $5 a class. On that note we are also seeing our inaugural Scrapaholics Retreat in June filling up. For more info on Scrapaholics Clubs click here.

About a month ago I shared with you all the trial version of the Design Studio program allowing you to weld letters from cartridges you already own. This time I have some even bigger news. I came across a program that allows you to use your Cricut to cut any true type font down loaded on your computer - HOW AMAZING IS THAT! I know! The link is Sure Cuts A lot Now I haven't downloaded it yet but I have heard it is pretty good. As this is an early version I think I may wait for them to iron out any flaws before I buy it!

Classes galore, kits and more

Wow, what a month it has been.

Scrapaholics Australia launched this month and the December kits have sold out already. I have bought in some extras for January and so we are set for the increasing number of clubs that are joining up.

In Albury we have 2 Acrylic Album classes this month before Christmas. If you are interested in joining one, I still have a couple of spaces left. Email me at info@scrappingaway.com.au

The Rubons Workshop was fantastic with some amazing layouts completed. It was also great to have some new faces join our going group of eager scrappers.

The January Scrapaholic workshop in Albury has sold out! If you would like to join us get your name down for February as soon as possible.

And, Scrapping Away Retreat House has had a lot of interest and weekends are starting to be booked.

What a great way to be ending the year.








One page done with the January Scrapaholics Kit