More holiday layouts....

I was able to do 4 more layouts last night. There's not much to do in an imaculate house you are house sitting and the kids are in bed....so scrapping it was!

This first layout is of when Bree was born (nearly 7 years ago). It is for Ashlee's album. i'm definitely going to buy more MM note worthy papers.

These photos are of my brother-in-law competing in the Busselton half iron man in May. We were holidaying there for our 11th anniversary and they happened to be there at the same time.

This is Ashlee at 7 months old. It's been good to finally start to wade through all my old photos. I don't know what I'll do when i do catch up and have no photos to scrap though!

And this is a photo I took when we were living at the farm in 2005. It was a foggy morning. I just love this photo.

Holiday Layouts so far...

I was able to fit all my scrap stash in the car so I can scrap to my heart content on my holiday. Last night I had Karen and Lissa over and I was able to get one layout finished. The photos were taken 10 years ago back in 97 when Tayla was only 6 months old.

This one is also 10 years ago when Tayla was born....look how young I am (19). I have already scrapped these photos for our family album but I wanted one for Tayla's album too.

And here is Tayla this year with her Daddy. Love these photos.

And here is my layout about this Christmas. I was unable to edit my photos because the computer I am on doesn't have any editing programs so the photos are a bit dark...oh well.

Hopefully I can get some more layouts done in the next week. Hope you are all having a great holiday...

Gayle

Round 4 Scrap of Faith Circle Journal

This is my entry into Sarah's circle journal. The topic was "words of wisdom from the Proverbs" I chose to focus on discipline.

Scrappin' at Work

Today I had to take the girls to work with me so they scrapbooked while I worked. I had a couple of quiet hours in the arvo so I got a page done too. Here are our creations.

This first one is a layout I did of Ashlee.

This is Tayla's wafer stick tin she covered for her money box.

Here is Ashlee's paper mache CD box she covered to give to her teacher. Ash also made a canvas of herself for Murray and my Christmas pressie but it is already wrapped and I'm not allowed to read it.

And Bree's little paper mache book she covered for her teacher.

So proud of my kidlets...they did a great job.

Fabulously You

I finally finished this layout last night that I started at a crop night 2 weeks ago. I had the page completed right up until the title and journaling but had no idea what the layout was going to be about. The flowers are cut out individually from patterned paper and then I raised some up with magic mount.

Scraplifter

Lately I have been very uninspired by my own imagination so yesterday I decided to try and break out of my uncreativeness (is that even a word) and do some scraplifting. I made a 5 page word document of 100 of the layouts I have in my favourites folder (lots of little pictures of layouts). Last night I managed to do 2 scraplifts...which I am very pleased with.

This first one was inspired by Nikala O'brien by THIS layout.

And this one has been in my favourite folder for ages...it was inspired by Caroline McLachlan's Family layout. (that's actually a white background cardstock...but looks blue in the photo)

Another Girly One

Just had a morning with some customers scrapping at the shop....managed to do one layout although I struggled with it the whole time. I used the leftover paper (big flower cutout) from Bree's First birthday layout from the last post.

Weekend Layouts

I was able to do a few layouts this weekend. This first one is my treasures layout for Murray's album of his family collection.

These photos are from a friends 30th birthday last year. It was a 70's night. The blonde bombshell is my sister Suzie...she looked like Kath off Kath and Kim...hehehe. And in case youdon't know the red head is ME!! The heart idea is borrowed from Karen Smith's "Love" layout.

This next layout is about Ashlee's love for drawing. I am not happy with this layout, but its done now.

Last one...this is one of Bree's first birthday. I am still to catch up on old photos...up to 10 years old....hopefully one day I will be all up to date.

bye bye

My Favourite Products

These are some of my favourite products at the moment.....scollop paper, Autumn Leaves Journaling stamps, MM glitter alpha stickers. I was able to complete one layout again last night at the scrapshop...."Why I Love Being a Girl"

A Quick One

I went to the scrapshop last night with good intentions of getting lots done, but got a bit side tracked with doing a paper order with Kerri, so only managed to do this one very simple layout.

China Heart Fundraiser

I have volunteered to sell 50 Cloisonne Christmas decorations to help raise funds for the needy and orphaned children across China. I have created a website showing pictures of the available decorations as well as prices and other details. I would love it if you were in the position to purchase one or more of these beautiful decorations....the prices range from $7 to $13. Here is a small sample of the decorations....to see the full range I have please visit my blog www.chinaheartchristmas.blogspot.com

Thanks

Scrappin' Outback Blog Launch

My good friend Karen from Scrappin' Outback in Varley WA has just started a blog to keep her customers updated with the going ons of her shop. Karen services the WA wheatbelt with her on road AMAZING scrap shop. I have had the pleasure of teaching at two of her retreats and have been asked to join the team again for Scrappin' Outback's March 08 retreat being on the 28th to 30th.
So here is the link to her new blog...... Scrappin' Outback

Round 3 Scrap of Faith Circle Journal

This is my entry into Ali's Cirlce Journal. The topic is "What gets you through the rough stuff".
I have been tagged by Karen to share 7 random facts about myself...
1. I HATE gardening!
2. I try to avoid exercising...just ask Murray
3. I love any form of chocolate
4. I can't wait to get my puppy
5. I think I have the best family in the world.
6. I am trying to get over my internet addiction.
7. We are going to Brissie in Nov 08..YAY!

I am going to tag these 7 ladies...
Billie, Amy, Katie F, Sharon, Errin, Tara, Toni

Narrogin Show

Last week I entered the scrapbooking section at the Narrogin Ag Show. It's the first time I have entered something like that (aside from magazines and net comps). There were 9 catagories and we were allowed to enter up to 3 layouts in each catagory. I entered 20 layouts and there were about 130 entries all together. I ended taking away $20 cash and a $30 voucher to our LSS for Paper Craft Most Points....spent my voucher already on some Maya Road stamps....lol
Here's what I won....
Off the Page - 1st.
Heritage - 1st
Miscellaneous - 1st and 2nd
Christmas - 2nd and highly commended
Father's/Mother's Day - 1st and 2nd
Pets - 1st and 2nd
School - 2nd
Baby - 1st and 3rd
Celebration - 1st and 2nd

I am very happy to have won, but a little embarrassed at the same time as my name was everywhere...not sure whether I will enter next year.

Another exciting thing is that I have some photography in the Katanning show this weekend. I am more excited to see if I get any placings in this show because it's the first time I have shown my photography. Will let you know how I go.

Edited to add..... I got:
First for Enlargements - Portraits
Second for Enlargements - Monochromatic (black and white or sepia)
Second for Enlargements - Sunsets
Second for Snapshots - Fauna
If you want to see my pics that got places click HERE

Holden Graveyard Photo Tin

I had nothing to do at work one day so I made this tin to store my photos in that I need to scrapbook....thats a plus for working in a scrapshop hey.

Wave Rock Retreat Layouts

I have just returned from a wonderful weekend in Hyden at the Wave Rock Scrapbooking Retreat. I managed to get 8 single layouts and 5 doubles done over the weekend which I am very happy with.

Our lovely tutors this year were Lis Cassey, Sharon Manning and Alli Paterson. They were great. Each tutor taught two classes each....but I didn't do all of them as I didn't really have the right photos.

Here are my layouts and link to the tutors examples.

This first one was a class by Sharron called '4 things I Love"..I changed it to "I Love Chocolate" Under each photo is journaling. It was a great technique on how to create hidden journaling.

This layout was a class taught by Alli called "Christmas Traditions"...I had no christmas photos or the right sized photos so I adapted it quite a bit and used over 20 little photos of Murray and girls together for my "Daddy We Luv U" layout.


Next is a layout taught by Lis. She had three examples, here is her Animal farm example.
And here is mine.... it was my first time using alcohol dyes on Heidi Swapp ghost lettes and they didn't turn out too good..lol
ok..next layout was taught by Alli, named "Muddy Puddles" (can't find a link). I didn't have enough pics for it so just used 3.



The rest of the layouts I did in 'casual scrapping time'
This layout is about my 'birth town..Katanning'. Mum, Aunty Gloria and I travelled back there this year to have a look at all our old houses...I had no recollection at all of anything in the town which was a bit sad. I was there until i was 4.
This is Murray at 18 on his way to the beach for a surf.
Tayla thinks she is a bit of a tomboy...and I usually create not so girly layouts for her, but this time I wanted to show her that to me she is still a little princess.
Bree at 3.5 painting....very cute.....very simple layout.
A layout using our latest family photo.
This one is about the meaning of my name.

And one about my love for photography...

Love this page. It is of Murray's childhood...the first picture was taken when he was 2 and the last one was when he was 12....very cute.

Last one....is about Ashlee's 8th birthday party.

So there you go...all my layouts from the weekend. xxoo

Two more to share

I went to the scrap shop on Saturday night determined to get some scrapping done.

I love the quote on this 'sisters' layout. I found it on Karen Days "Count" layout. Hope you don't mind Karen...

This next one if for my Book of Me. Not too impressed with how it turned out, but you get that sometimes hey.

One Week to Go!!!!!

Only one week til I head off to the Wave Rock Scrapbooking Retreat so expect this blog to be flooded with layouts soon!!!!! YIPPEE YAHOOO

My Photography Gallery

I have just created my photography gallery. A photographer came into the scrapshop yesterday and she gave me her website for her photography...I went on then thought "ohhh...I could make one of these for my photos". I am in NO way a 'photographer', but I thought it would be fun.
So here is the website Gayle Smith Photography

Jewellery Set

The first two kids classes for the school holidays have gone well. I have 16 kids tomorrow for the Princess Diary. Next week I have Jewellery making and a Pirates Treasure Trove. Here is my example for the jewellery set. Tried to keep it simple for the kids.

Feels so great to be back working again and to be part of a 'business vision'. There are so many changes happening at the shop...so very excited to be a part of it all. As you can see by the blinkie in the sidebar..we are going online soon...YAY!

6 Layouts in a night

There is a bit of a story that goes with these layouts. If you want to read it go to SoF under 'I have a Scrapbooking Testimony'.

Gotta be quick cause I have to go to work....

Gotta love Felt!

I have just used felt on my layout for the very first time! I told the girls on SoF a while back that I can't buy felt in Narrogin so the lovely Tam and Karen sent me a heap! Thanks so much girls. I was inspired by Ngaire's blog to do a felt rainbow on my layout...and then it kept going...raindrops, flowers, grass, stars....I am sooooo happy with how it has turned out.

Murray is heading off for the week so I intend to keep all my scrap supplies on the kitchen table all week and to see how many layouts I can get done while he is away. I'll be teaching kids worshops most days, but at night it will keep me occupied.

Just a reminder.....if anyone has any masculine layouts they would like to submit to my masculine scrapbooking blog please email them to me on mgsmith1@bigpond.com