January Major Case File

Hi Scrapbookers!

I am back from holiday and what an awesome break it was, filled with sunshine and friends and family. Wow I needed that change of pace and change of scenery. But now I'm back and full of energy and passion for this craft, let's do this! I have the children home for the next three weeks but will be taking time where I can, are you feeling super enthusiastic or a little blah? Either way you should take a look you just might want to get involved.

Today I wanted to share with you the Major Case File from CSI. 

I loved the grumpy cat inspiration! Did you see the grumpy cat Christmas movie that was on just before Christmas? hilarious! My husband thought it was awful, shows how much he knows. Small fluffy sarcastic things are hilarious.

The colours for this challenge were great, fortunately I found all of them (or close to) in this Teresa Collins collection. 

One of the testimony options this time was 'journal about a birthday mishap'... I had to jump right on that as this disaster was so fresh in my mind from Gabby's birthday in early December. First I mucked up the cake by leaving out the cake pops and I was so cross at myself but I had resigned to just using the cake anyway as it was going to be just too wasteful to make another for no good reason but my obvious failure. Gabby  could feel my pain and put it all right for me by walking past and taking a large handful of the cake, thus making it unusable, I simply had to make another. 

I flipped the sketch on it's side to make it more usable for my single photograph and it came together quickly. From the evidence I used the sprinkle something and the cupcake (stamp).

So how about it? Want to give it a go? You have until the 31st January to get it done, if you do feel free to hook me up with a link on here, you tube or on CSI. There are some great prizes too, who doesn't love prizes.

So happy to be back!

Hope you are having a fab day

Hayley

CSI Case File No. CC-3

Good Morning!

Today I want to share a page and video with you that I did for CSI (csicolorstoriesinspiration.ning.com)

The Case this week looked like this:

and my page looks like this:

My main colours are the white and the brown but I did manage to use them all quite a bit.
From the evidence I used the feathers and string and an overall nature theme.
I journaled about nature in my handwriting and I also used the inspirational word 'outside' in my title.

My journaling: The best toy ever is called outside. My girls are always outside, I don't know if they are just made that way or simply because they have always been encouraged to spend time out and about in the sunshine or the rain. I love that they are out climbing trees, digging holes, exploring and being marveled by nature. Nature is awesome.

If you would like to see my process video for this page you can find it below:

Thanks so much for coming by
Have a fab day!
Hayley

Happy Day!

Hi guys!

I'm so excited to announce today that I have been selected to join the CSI design team. WAHOOOOOO! I really love CSI and I am beyond thrilled. It is my favourite place to hangout and be challenged and I think Debbi does a truly wonderful job. It's quite different from a lot of challenge sites and it has a lot of things that make it special but of course it really is the people. It's always the people.

So you will be seeing some more challenges from me! If you haven't already come on over, you really should, it might just be a perfect fit for you too.

I hope you are having a wonderful day!
Hayley

A little family adventure...

Hi Scrapbookers! 

How is your crafting going? I am so loving the challenges at CSI this month, so fun and super inspiring! The colour scheme is just beautiful. This is my third week guest designing for CSI and my favourite challenge so far..

The topic is 'journal about an adventure' so I decided to journal about this train trip we went on which the girls enjoyed so much.

From the evidence I used: stripes (background), wood/woodgrain (used woodgrain paper and wood dots), hearts (I embossed a heart stamp) and I also used some twine.

My journaling: Today we had a little family adventure at Ferrymead. Over the summer on some weekends they run the steam trains. The girls had never been before and thought it was the most wonderful way to travel.

The girls were fascinated that there were no seat belts and they enjoyed the freedom of being able to climb up and look out the window or walk across the cabin and sit with Dad. They are already asking to go again this summer.

Close ups:

Process Video:

Thanks for coming by today!
Have a blessed day
Hayley

Reluctant BFFS

Hi my Scrapbookers!

Happy Saturday!

Today I am sharing my second page that I am making for my guest designer spot at CSI.

Here is the case:

Such a great case and with the bonus of it being a sketch week. I really enjoy Emma's sketches, I love that I can make them as simple or complex as I like by adding or taking away.

Here is my page... featuring the lovely Olivia and the handsome Scholes:

When I saw the black/white and yellow/lime green combination I knew right away that I was going to reach for my Amy Tangerine Plus One collection as it included all of those colours. Then I used the light blue as a minor accent colour.

The topic is 'document something special about pets/animals' and I knew these photos that I had printing a few weeks ago, would be great to tell the story of this relationship.

From the evidence I used: clouds (I used these in my top right cluster and underneath the blue everyday arrow and I also used an animal accent (the black cat face)

My journaling: 

Scholes isn't always the most trustworthy of cats. He swipes, sometimes bites and is at times bad tempered.  Rightly so the girls don't trust him. He still wants them to love him though and play with him but he doesn't make the connection. Olivia gives him the most chances but she is still cautious. 

Liv was outside on the picnic table writing in her notebook and Scholes just wouldn't leave her alone. Liv isn't even aware that they are best friends but I'm sure that's what Scholes thinks.

If you would like to see how the page came together and my thought process behind it please watch my process video:

Thanks for coming by... now go and find a pet photo and come join us!
Have a wonderful weekend
Hayley

Bookweek

Hi Scrapbookers!

Guess what? Fabulous news this month I am a Special Investigator (Guest Designer) for
CSI - colorstoriesinspiration.ning.com

This website and community is truly one of the best scrapbooking places on the internet. The challenges really do suit me, with their three way approach but it wasn't just the challenges that kept coming me back. The community is so positive and supportive it really is quite a unique place. If you haven't tried CSI out I urge you to go on over and see what you think. You can follow me along this month with my four challenges, I am hoping to have a process video for each so you can see a little look into how my CSI challenges come together.

Here is the Challenge:

and here is my page:

A few closeups and a link to my process video:

Process Video:

Have a wonderful day!
Hayley

Lovely Day

Good Morning Scrapbookers!

How is your crafting going? I must say I have been a little bit flat in August, just haven't felt my normal self, I have still made quite a few pages but my normal focus hasn't been there. So Goodbye August, September and I are going to be much better friends. It already sounds better because here in NZ, September = spring and we all know after a long winter how much you look forward to spring.

I saw this wonderful sketch over at Creative Scrappers and I really wanted to squeeze it into August and finish on a good note.

Here is the sketch:

 and here is my page:

And some closeups:

Thanks for coming by...
I hope what ever you are up to today is wonderful.
Take care
Hayley

Everyday Phia

Hi Guys...

How is your week going? Mine has been really good but busy so far. Today and tomorrow are far more relaxed so I am hoping to get some more crafting done. My level of crafting during the day is directly related to this:

whether this small person has a sleep or not. Some days I win, some days she wins. Today is looking good though because she didn't have a nap yesterday! Fingers crossed.

I do have a page to share today, it is one I  made using my Scrap Stash Kit Club Kit. This is a kit you pull together with your own supplies. I also used a sketch for this page from Let's get Sketchy. I love to join in on their challenges where I can.

Here is the page:

and you can find the process video here:

Thanks so much for coming by today! I hope you have a wonderful crafty day.

Hayley

Cherish the bubbles

Hi Crafty people!

Do you have a stack of pages that need to be journaled on? Oh my gosh I sure do. I can rarely journal at the same time that I create the page because my brain doesn't work that way. The funny thing is I know the story I want to tell but I just can't get it out at the same time.

Sometimes I get concerned when I see the pile growing and growing but I do know that in one afternoon I can get them all done. I love to write but I have to be in the right frame of mind. This page had been doing the rounds on my desk for a while.... today I got the story in and I am hoping it will start a roll and I can get through my pile.

It's finally starting to warm up a little here in NZ which is such a relief... a little over the winter and this afternoon the girl's are all outside playing... they haven't been able to do that for months. We are all so happy about it, I forgot how much easier it is in the warmer months. 

Hope you are having a wonderful day

Hayley

P.S. The biggest one just came in and asked me for a pickle jar to play with in the garden (they are making a bug hotel? I didn't ask for elaboration) I was like YES you can totally have a pickle jar.

New Pyjamas

Hi Scrapbookers....

Well August is totally getting away from me... I have been so busy with general life and also crafting away.
I have done quite a few layouts with my homemade kit and I hope to share them over the next few days.

Today's share is a page I did for a sketch challenge over at Let's get Sketchy. It's for August week 2.

Here is the sketch...
As you can see I didn't wander very far from the original at all... such a great sketch

I also made a process video of this page being put together....

Thanks so much for coming by...
I hope you are having some crafty time today!
Hayley

Rabbit Island

Hi my crafty friends!

I'm sharing a page today... this is one of my  pages using up any last pieces of the Amy Tangerine Yes Please Collection. 

Sometimes my scraps actually lead the design of the page, for example I could make six squares (getting low on the papers here people)  to go across the page. I had the wood veneer piece and these two photos and I shuffled them around until it looked right to me. To bring it all together I used my sewing machine to create a rough circle. Adding some small embellishments, stickers and veneers along this sewn line gives it a little movement.

This picture of my daughter makes me laugh she is very protective of her pickles and her hummus, her favourite snack.

Thanks for stopping by, go and pull those scraps out and get busy.
Take care
Hayley

Surf's Up ... not in Christchurch though... it's too cold

Hi Scrapbookers!

I hope you are having a relaxed weekend. It has been pretty cold here the last few days and we also got a little earthquake last night, just to check we were paying attention. We have them often but that one felt stronger for some reason.

It's ten days into August and I am off to a much slower start to my homemade kit. I am trying to figure out a rhythm of creating and sharing those pages whether it be a photo or a video. I am so new to the video still but I am sure it will work itself out.

I thought this month I would make a video of my kit I pulled. Margareta called this kit 'Surf's Up'. I got a little carried away and I think I will try to lighten it up next month. I just have so many ideas and not quite as much time!

Here is the video of the kit I have pulled:

If you would like to join in and create your own homemade kit please pop over to http://www.useyourstash.com/scrap-stash-kit-club/ and check it out.

Hope your day is sunny and bright
Hayley

The July Kit results

Hi Scrapbookers!

Today I want to share with you a short, actually super short, two minute video of what I achieved in July with my Scrap Stash Kit Club homemade kit.

I show the kit at the beginning and then the TEN (I know so excited) pages that I made.

I am now working on the August Kit, I have made a video to show what I pulled and I hope to share it soon, perhaps tomorrow.

Have a wonderful day
Hayley

Chic Tags Challenge

Hi Scrapbookers

How is your day going? Mine is pretty quiet but I thought I would pop in and share a page...

This page was for a challenge on the Chic Tags blog, the challenge called 4C3S.... confused .. me too.

Basically it was to use Cardstock and 3 Chic Tags product and then the 3 S's you could choose...
I chose sewing, the Silhouette and sequins.

I do have a video coming of this page soon, I needed to put it up before the challenge was done though.
I will add the video hopefully later today.

Edited to add the You Tube link:

Hope you get to sneak some crafting into your day.
Take care
Hayley

#5 Happy

Good Morning Scrapbookers...

I have a page to share today done with  a sketch from the Elle's studio blog. I really enjoy Elle's studio products and they make putting a page together so easy no matter which collection. Their stamps and wood veneers are wonderful and I also really like the colours they use.

I have a process video of this page, you can see it here:

Also some still pictures:

\I hope you are having a fun crafty weekend!
Take care
Hayley

October Afternoon

Hello Scrapbookers!

I have a page to share today that is made with the October Afternoon - Girl Talk.
I saw a great sketch on their blog and here is the result....

I have a corresponding you tube video if you would like to see the process:

Have a blessed day
Hayley

#lovethis

Morning Scrapbookers...

Wow it's a frosty start to the day... I just looked at the weather report and it says it's 3.1C but it feels like 1.C yes indeed it does. The sun is coming out though and even if it doesn't warm things up a heap it does make you feel a bit better.

I have been working some more on my Scrap Stash Kit Club pages and I have a quick one to share today.
I used a Let's get Sketchy Sketch so it came together easily.

So here is the page....

I also made a process video for this....still learning.... you can see it here:

And a few close ups:

I hope you are having a crafty day!
Hayley

Stocking ..... yes a Christmas page in July

Hi Scrapbookers!

How are you? I hope you are doing well and finding some crafty time today.
I have another page and process video to share.
So... I know there must be a way to upload a video and not have it go live right away, but I have no idea how. I uploaded this one yesterday with my first one. planning on figuring out how to schedule it and then I just published it.  I will google later for instructions.

I saw this sketch over at the Chic Tags blog and I thought that is a great sketch, let's do it.

Here is the sketch and my page...

I will add the journaling (I have no clue why I didn't do it at the time, maybe I was interrupted) around the white cardstock border.

You can see my process video here:

Thanks for stopping by today
Hayley

Something New!

Hi Guys...

Something new...well it's new to me, I made a video.
Yes it's true I have entered The youtube.
You know what was weirdest about it, yes hearing my voice recorded that was weird, but you know the real weirdest part was the learning how to do it.
It's not rocket science, clearly, you have seen youtube, it's full of intellectuals. It has been a while since I had to learn something like this. With the children, which is what I do day in day out, it's all about adaption, you just roll with it. You grow with them.
Thank goodness to help with youtube there is google, oh how I need google.

But I figured it out for the most part. I still have to figure out some lighting issues and speed issues but I actually finished a complete video and uploaded it. It was fun.
I had a few people ask me/tell me I should make them and I really didn't have a valid reason not to, I am sure I will receive some merciless teasing from my husband but that is pretty standard around here.


So here it is...

I'm pretty looking forward to doing another one, I think it could be addictive.
Hope the sun is shining where you are...
We are hoping for snow tonight!

Hayley

Hope

Hi Guys....

How is your weekend going? Mine is almost over but the silver lining is the children go back to school tomorrow. Oh how I love these big girls but I am happy for them to head back so we can all have a little balance. I still have the smallest one at home so I won't be completely without companionship.

I have a layout to share today... I actually did the layout two weeks ago but have been in two minds about sharing it. It's been a bit of a hard one, an emotional one but really a necessary one. It's part of our story as a family.

I did it for the challenge over at Creative Scrappers, to do a page without any photos.

Here is the sketch....

And here is my page......

The journaling reads: 

Tonight as I drove the children back to our broken home and broken lives, I talked to them about the earthquakes. About how this time it wasn't just things, it was our people, our families, our community that were hurt. It broke my heart but I had to explain to them that some Mum's and Dad's had died.

I asked them what do you think we need to do to get through this together. Olivia piped up from the backseat and said 'We need courage Mama'. I asked her 'What is courage Olivia?' She responded with - 'It's being afraid but doing it anyway.' Amen. Courage is exactly what we would need.

I'm in tears just typing up the journaling, so you can imagine it was a bit of a process actually getting through the making of a page.

The journaling that is inside the file folder:

I didn't know at this point how hard this would all be, that the shakes wouldn't stop for years, that we would be without a toilet for 6 months. Power and water would be intermittent for a long time.  That everything that was once our everyday, our routine was no longer possible, no longer there. No kindergarten, no library, no swimming pool, no parks, no footpaths even. I'm pleased I didn't know how exhausted we would all be, how heartbroken and sad we would all be, how brave and strong we would have to be. How I would have to rely on every little bit of strength I had to be a positive example to these children, when in fact I was in despair and doing my crying in the shower. I'm pleased because knowing now I don't know if I would have come back.

At the time I never thought of leaving. I thought everyone can't leave, we need to stay and help. What would happen to our city and who would be here to build it back up. I didn't know the struggles then, the worrying, I was still in shock. The grief and the loss didn't come until much later. We will never be the same again. Still now 3 years later, we are holding onto hope.

Thank you 

Hayley