Scrap 365 January Sketch

Had a go at this the other night... I found the sketch a little tricky at first, but once I decided to use butterflies, it all kind of fell into place.  :)

Thanks for looking. Warmest wishes, Catie xo

p.s.  While I'm here, Merry Christmas everyone!  Hope Santa brings you some lovely goodies and more importantly, stay safe and enjoy the day with your loved ones.  xoxo

Scrap 365 Sketch Challenge Layout

Here it is!  Loved this sketch!

Thanks for looking. Warmest wishes, Catie xo

Scrapping Bug and Christmas Blessings...

I am loving being bitten by the scrapping bug again.  Thanks ladies, for all the awesome suggestions for challenges to do; there are so many awesome ones to choose from!  In the end, I chose sketch #61 at Sketchabilities.  I love the way my LO turned out.  Will share soon.  *** Leah Cameron***, please email me your postal addy, and I will pop a lil something in the mail for you as a thank you for the suggestion!!
I've also done the sketch challenge at Scrap365!  Will share that soon too!

Onto a completely different track now.....

I'm really not feeling in the mood for Christmas this year... 2011 has not been particularly kind to my family and I of late, and none of us are feeling very festive.  Suffice to say, being a single mum of four kids, including infant twins, is a tricky gig.  I feel like for the most part I have things under control, though, thank goodness, and I have an amazing support network and friends and my family close by.

Last week, I was having a particularly bad week emotionally, for various reasons, and to top it off, I received a MASSIVE power bill for the quarter in the mail.  I was really feeling like there was no way I could do this last week, especially the impending weekend, which was quite emotional and draining.

Anyhoo, over the last couple of days, I have had a few Christmas blessings fall upon me, and I am SOOOOO INCREDIBLY GRATEFUL AND HUMBLED by them.  I received a hamper of food for Christmas from some lovely ladies I know through church, who volunteer at our local St Vinnies.  Then, two very AMAZING and BEAUTIFUL friends and their parents blessed me with an absolutely INCREDIBLE Christmas gift that will help to take care of that awful power bill, and then some!  AND, a man from my neighbourhood knocked on the door yesterday morning, to tell me that he had a little something from St Vinnies again, that they have been working on for my children and asked if he could drop it off soon.  He's bringing it around this week sometime, and said I will be just as excited as the children!

So, the lesson I have learnt this week, is that no matter how hard things are, or how hopeless you may feel at times, there are blessings to be found.  I have been SO blessed by all these people, and I don't think they know how much it all means to me.  There just aren't words to thank them enough!

Here's a little 'project' for you:  think over your lives at the moment, and count the blessings you have.  Have you received some special Christmas blessings this season?  Or blessings of any kind?  Feel free to share - I'd love to know the ways you've all been blessed.

Bless you all!!

Thanks for looking. Warmest wishes, Catie xo

I scrapped AGAIN!

Hooray!  Feels so good to scrap again.  And I was going to share it with you.... but I can't.  It's been picked up for publication!  Double hooray!

So, this is up instead ;)

Now that I am back in the scrappy groove, I am off to find some challenges to complete... though, I am steering clear of Christmas ones.  Not a huge fan of Christmas challenges, and not feeling incredibly Christmassy at the moment.

So, which challenge do you suggest I do?  Perhaps I'll send a little RAK to whomever's challenge I like the look of best!  ;)

Thanks for looking. Warmest wishes, Catie xo

I've SCRAPPED

For the first time  in AGES, I have FINALLY scrapped!  Here is my sample for this month's BTD inspiration:

I'd love to see you join in and share your projects based on this month's gorgeous sunroom:

Click on the BTD link at the start of this post to see the amazing work of the other CT members and find out who our brand new CT members are ;)

Thanks for looking. Warmest wishes, Catie xo

Gosh I Miss Scrapping

It has been sooooooo long since I have scrapped, and I am SERIOUSLY missing it right now.  Of course, there is nothing like Master's results to get the creative itch happening and to feel inspired.  I think tonight I WILL GET MY SAMPLE DONE for next month's BTD inspiration

BTW, HUGE CONGRATULATIONS to the new Masters!!  Such a fabulous line up, and I am dying to see their work and the Master's magazine!!                                                  

Thanks for looking. Warmest wishes, Catie xo

Need Christmas Cards?

Well, I have some for sale in the Catie's Craft Corner Shop, as well as some super cute fabric covered buttons perfect for Christmas layouts.  Head over and have a peek!  There will be more stock added to the album over the next few days, so keep an eye out.

Thanks for looking. Warmest wishes, Catie xo

New Beginnings

Once again, it has been eons since I have updated my blog.  Well, now I have given it a bit of an overhaul, and I will be overhauling the banner soon too.

I have been busy making items to sell in my shop, so please head over and check out all the goodies for sale.  More going up soon... so many ideas of things to make, and so little time to do all the things I want to get done in a day!  Make sure you keep checking back, as there is bound to be something to take your fancy from time to time.  In fact, there will be a new album going up tomorrow, with items perfect for the Christmas season ;)

On another note, have you seen the latest challenge over at Beyond the Door?  It's a gorgeous room this month, and there are only a couple of days left to share your project.  I'm looking forward to announcing the new and very talented CT members next month - and may I say, their projects for December are absolutely STUNNING!

That will do for now; I've been wrestling with Blogger for ages now, and am well and truly ready for bed... it has however been the perfect excuse to have "Offspring" on in the background ;)

Thanks for looking. Warmest wishes, Catie xo

First Sale Album is UP!!!

Helllooooo Everyone!!

Gosh how time flies! Can you believe it's November already! The last few months have just been chaos here, and in amongst it all, I have managed to FINALLY have some stock ready to sell.

If you like fabric covered buttons (perfect for scrapping and cardmaking) then check out what I have for sale HERE!! More sale albums coming soon, with many new and exciting different bits and bobs.

Thanks for looking. Warmest wishes, Catie xo

Beyond the Door August Challenge

Hi Everyone,

Long time, no blog, I know....
Just a quick one to let you know the BTD August Challenge is live
http://beyondthedoorscrapchallenge.blogspot.com/2011/08/august-challenge-no-4.html

I will be revamping this blog and that one in the near future... watch this space ;)
Thanks for looking. Warmest wishes, Catie xo

Canvas

Hello all,

It seems that canvases and mixed media are all the rage at the moment, so I thought I'd share something with you that I started to create a long time ago, and only recently got to finish. This is a canvas that I have made for the twins' bedroom door (photo on canvas courtesy of Sara Kate Designs).

Thanks for looking. Warmest wishes, Catie xo

New Challenge Blog

Hello Everyone,

Remember a little while ago I told you to watch this space? Well, I can now reveal my new challenge blog. You can check it out here:

http://beyondthedoorscrapchallenge.blogspot.com/

Head on over and check out our first challenge! Don't forget to become a follower and add our blinkie to your blog... and tell your friends!

Hope you all give it a go!

Thanks for looking. Warmest wishes, Catie xo

Lovely Lollipops!

Hi Everyone,

Look what the ultra-clever Charmane Koch has been up to! Making all these gorgeous lil lollipops! Are they divine? For your chance to win this lot, check out the ultra-cool giveaway happening HERE!! Good luck in the comp, and thanks for the chance to win, Charm!


Thanks for looking. Warmest wishes, Catie xo

Something New

Hello all!

Do you like drawing inspiration for a page, card or OTP project from a gorgeous, well designed room around the house? If so, watch this space.... more information coming soon!!!

Thanks for looking. Warmest wishes, Catie xo

Purple Pumpkin Giveaway

Wanna win this???

Head over HERE and follow the instructions!! Thanks for looking. Warmest wishes, Catie xo

Lil Red Rocket Giveaway!!

Look at this delicious collection of goodies on offer from Lil Red Rocket - check out the competition HERE!! Thanks for looking. Warmest wishes, Catie xo

Another Competition

Do you want to win one of 10 store vouchers worth $20 including free postage?? Well we have the easiest competition and with 10 prizes in total there are lots of chances to win! To enter: All you need to do is add Handmade By Suzanne’s badge to your blog and a link back to our store AND post the details of the competition on your blog. Let us know via Facebook that you have done it! We will draw 10 entrants at random for the prizes and the competition ends Midnight 20th April 2011. Too easy! Why not subscribe to our newsletter or become our friend on Facebook too – they you will know when the latest products arrive in store, all our latest competitions and most importantly when there are SALES! Below is the HTML code for our badge, copy and paste into your gadgets on your blog then copy and paste this whole post onto your blog. Our Facebook page is http://www.facebook.com/pages/Handmade-By-Suzanne/154640641234101 Happy blogging and good luck!

Thanks for looking. Warmest wishes, Catie xo

Want to win $100 worth of AWESOME chipboard???

Then head over HERE and start following!!

Thanks for looking. Warmest wishes, Catie xo

Exciting Giveaway...

Hello all, Check this out and enter for your chance to WIN!

Thanks for looking. Warmest wishes, Catie xo

Monday Musings - why do I scrap??

Afternoon all,

Gosh today is going quickly; not that I am doing anything particular that would make it seem to be going so fast...

I have however, been looking at previous layouts.... REALLY looking at them... my different styles, and techniques as they vary from page to page, and reading the journalling and studying the photos... and it all got me to thinking - "this is why I scrap". Reading back over the journalling and reminiscing on why I took the photo in the first place... it's really given me such a sense of achievement and reminded me of beautiful moments that would otherwise have faded into the oblivion of memory land.

I not only love the memory preservation side of scrapping, but also the craft side - trying out new techniques and challenges, being inspired by so many people and sources and attempting so many different things, whilst managing to put my own spin on them at the same time.

I am sooooo looking forward to photographing these babies when they're born and having so many gorgeous photos to scrap and begin recording their journies in life too!

Why do you scrap???

Thanks for looking. Warmest wishes, Catie xo

AMAZING GIVEAWAY!!

You want to see AMAZING! then quick sticks and head on over here for your chance to win!!!!

Congratulations Nic on your awesome blog and the phenomenal amount of hits! and thanks for the chance to enter!

Thanks for looking. Warmest wishes, Catie xo

9 rejections.... and 2 acceptances!!!

Good morning,

I just walked in to find 2 very happy emails awaiting me... Creating Keepsakes have accepted 2 of my LOs for publication (including a double!!) for publication in their Aussie Gallery! I am just a little bit STOKED!! These emails were followed in quick succession by rejections for the other 9 (LOL), BUT THAT'S OK! I am super excited that they've accepted these two!!! HOORAY! Made my day!

That's all....

Thanks for looking. Warmest wishes, Catie xo

Waiting, waiting

Morning all,

Something a bit different today... no LOs to share, or photos (though I have taken some, they just have to be edited a little)... I have zero energy today... want to scrap, but really can't see it happening... just too tired...the capsules are in the car ready to go...these babies are moving down, down, down, and now I guess I am just biding my time, not being able to do a great deal, waiting for the day they enter this big wide world... going a little stir crazy, sitting at home all day, and feeling incredibly isolated, but not having the energy or really the capability to get out and about and do anything, or see anyone... that's just a bit of what's on my mind today.

Thanks for looking. Warmest wishes, Catie xo

Pay It Forward - who's up for some fun?

Morning lovelies,

I was blog hopping this morning, and saw this at the lovely Miss Flis' blog:

Pay it forward (For creative people): I promise to send something handmade to the first five people who leave a comment on this post. They must in turn, promise to post this and send something they made to the first five people to reply. It must be sent sometime in 2011. It can be anything you have made, from jewellery, cards, sewing... it all counts...

So, I have thrown my hat in the ring... who will be the first five here, I wonder?

Thanks for looking. Warmest wishes, Catie xo

KIU March Challenge and one other

Hi Everyone,

Here is my take on the KIU March challenge, where we had to incorporate the quote 'There is no greater gift than today' on the LO... I've used it as my subtitle, and journalled about the special bond my kids share.

And this next one is one I did for the Flight of Fancy gallery in SBM's submission themes list this month.... something very different for me... but they've said no thanks.... so I thought I'd share it with you good people! What do you think??

Thanks for looking. Warmest wishes, Catie xo

March 123 challenge

Evening all,

Another quick post for the day! This one is my take on the March 123 Challenge... criteria were light/medium blue, the word 'To/Two/Too' and doilies. I just love blue!! I know I have used this photo for a few LOs now... but I just love it so much, I can't help it!!

Thanks for looking. Warmest wishes, Catie xo

WW1 March Challenge

Afternoon all,

Just a quick post to share with you my take on the WW1 March challenge... the criteria was bright pink, and artisan shapes and/or products. I used a couple of artisan shapes at the bottom of my photo, and have also used some black and white polka dot Pink Paislee Artisan Tape to frame the photo and in the top left corner of the page. I'm not a huge fan of pink, but actually quite liked this page once I'd finished. Thanks for another great challenge ladies!

Thanks for looking. Warmest wishes, Catie xo

KIU February Challenge

Evening all!

Here is my take on the Feb challenge over at Kraft It Up. The challenge was to create a LO on Kraft using orange, blue and black as the colour combo....

A great challenge, and I am glad I got to it before the end of the month! Thanks girls!




Thanks for looking. Warmest wishes, Catie xo

The Reveal

Hello all,

Well, now that I have received the 'thanks but no thanks' email for the LO I showed sneaks of, I can show it to you.... here it is!!

Plus, here's one I did yesterday, using the Feb Boy Kit over at Bon's.

Thanks for looking. Warmest wishes, Catie xo

A Lil Sneaky Sneak of Something...

Morning,

Here's a little tease of what I was working on yesterday and last night.... there's a lot involved in this layout, and I was loving it til I added the glimmermist, then I didn't love it so much, then I thought it was finished, and I really didn't like it... so I left it overnight, and this morning I added some white lace to it... and now I like it again.... anyway... let me know what you think of the sneaks.... will put the whole pic up a little bit later on...

Thanks for looking. Warmest wishes, Catie xo

The Latest Additions to the Scrap pile

Hello lovelies!

Finally the sun has come out and even though it's cold (only 21 degrees here today!!!) I am feeling better for seeing some sunshine!

Here is a bit of what I've been up to the last few days. I am quite restricted in what I can do physically at the moment, awaiting the arrival of these twins in roughly 5 weeks time, so I figured it's the perfect time to get some scrapping done!!

A double recording the lead up to my DS starting school at the beginning of February... I really wanted to document everything involved, so took photos of the whole process... getting his haircut the weekend before, organising the uniform and stationery and pics of his classroom too.
And then of course, we had to have piccies of his actual first day!!



Next one is DD at swimming. This LO is for the Feb monthly sketch challenge over at Bon's. We had to use patterned paper for borders and use a made up word - DD calls her goggles 'Gobbles', so I went with that.


And this last one is for the Feb CC sketch challenge at Bon's (sketch by the talented SBM Master Tara Scobie). We had to use a strip of photos, eyelets and opposite colours (i.e. if photos of a girl, then incorporate boy colours into the LO and vice versa). What a great challenge!

So there you have it.... the latest from my Craft Corner...

Thanks for looking. Warmest wishes, Catie xo

WW1 February Challenge

Evening All,

I LOVE LOVE LOVE this challenge, and this LO! I think this is my favourite LO, that I have done... here's a few sneaky peeks....

The criteria for the Feb challenge at WW1 was white, brown and vintage... I scrapped a photo of my Dad, dressed for his brother's wedding in 1984... I printed the photo in sepia to go with the vintage theme, and I just love the chocolate brown in the pearls and flowers, and the Tattered Leather and Creme de Chocolate Glimmer Mists.... and here it is!!!

Thanks for looking. Warmest wishes, Catie xo

Goody Giveaway!

Lookie lookie lookie! Lots of yummies up for grabs over HERE!! Go and check it out for your chance to win!

Thanks for looking. Warmest wishes, Catie xo

Photos to share

Evening All,

Yesterday we took my FIL out to Bool Lagoon, which is not far from where we live, to have a looksee at the lagoon when it has water in it. When we went out there in July, it was bone dry, but after all the rain we had during December and January, it is now all but full and teeming with bird life again. It truly is spectacular out there, and well worth the trip in the heat... here are a few of the 100-odd photos I took...

See the froggie??

This photo below is of the flower part of the dried thistles floating on top of the water. I thought it looked just beautiful... kind of like dozens of stars in the sky...

Thanks for looking. Warmest wishes, Catie xo

Stuck?!Sketches Jan 1 Challenge

Hello all,

Just a quick one tonight with a page to share for the Jan 1 sketch over at Stuck?! I turned the sketch around 90 degrees to the left, to suit this photo that I wanted to scrap. Love this pic of my lil girl!

Thanks for looking. Warmest wishes, Catie xo

Anyone know what this hideous beast is??

Morning all,

I was out in the garden this morning picking some lovely roses to put in the house, when I heard a dragonfly buzzing... I've been wanting to get a photo of a dragonfly so badly... so I had a looksie, and noticed it was trapped in a web... then I saw the hideous beast that owns the web... so I thought twice about trying to free the dragonfly (sorry dragonfly!) - I wasn't about to wrestle with the hideous beast!! I went and grabbed the camera instead.... I REALLY REALLY hate spiders, and was trembling the whole time, but wanted to get the pics to see if DH knew what kind of spider it is... do any of you know???

Isn't is just AWFUL LOOKING!!

Thanks for looking. Warmest wishes, Catie xo