Scrappy Chic Room

It's been way too long ......

Life seems to get so chaotic that spare time seems to be something of the past.  Unfortunately one of the casualties over the last month has been my poor blog.  She has been neglected, and as a result there has been multiple projects that have gone live that I haven’t had a chance to share.  So for my sanity…. And yours (lol) I have sectioned everything off, just so you can get a glimpse of how crazy life has been.

Family Life

We all celebrated sweet Emma’s 9^th Birthday on April 12th, and she was spoiled rotten as you would expect from everybody that knows her.  Emma and her "BFF" Jess, attended a mini masterchef class held at Westfield Marion, and on the menu were Texas Chicken Fingers and Bananna with White Chocolate Fondue !!!!!  Even Madi attended, and helped cook up a storm.  I can't recommend this more to all you SA Mums who are looking for something different and cost effective to do for your kids birthday's.  Such a fantastic idea.

We also had Roxy (Emma's Godmother) down from Sydney for a week, and had a crazy week of shopping, exhibitions, movies and fun.  The kids just love her to bits, and it's sanity time for me as she loves looking after the kids 24/7 and catering to their every whim.  I even managed to get a sleep in over a couple of days, which is extremely rare event in this household.  Usually if its not walking I'm doing each morning, the noise from the kids will never fail to jolt me to reality, reminiscent of fever pitch screaming on grand final day.  Every house needs a Rox !!!!!

My weight loss journey continues.... and I have nearly reached a milestone. It's been a long time coming.  Just a couple more weeks and I will be able to share that.  Its been a hard slog, especially in the last month, but I have managed to get on top of it and start my walking again, 4km - 5 days a week.

Pink Paislee

I was scheduled for a blog post last week, the theme being mixing 2 or more of the gorgeous new lines Pink Paislee have released from last CHA. I used the London Market and Spring Jubilee lines, which surprisingly mixed together beautifully, although both ranges were opposites in chroma and design.

This Union Jack is one of my designs, in Collaboration with Imaginarium. I just love the shabby chic look that you can get with the English Flag.

Using the London Market stamps, and archival ink, this beautiful image was stamped onto transparency, cut out and adheared with glossy accents. This product is so versatile, I just love it.

Prima Marketing

Over at the Prima Blog, I had a couple of projects go up over the last month. This layout of Em, is one of my favourites, I adore how it turned out, and how subtle the colors look together.   Using some Cricut Cartridges I cut the beautiful wrought iron doiley on the top and bottom of the photo.  How divine is that??? That cartridge is just stunning - thanks Thea for letting me have access to it.  I'll be back - wink !!!!

 

Prima's resist canvas is so beautiful to work with, and I had fun using some Pan Pastels for the first time.  They really do live up to the hype, and I love how NON messy they are.  Bliss.

I chose the lovely Jodie Lee's FairyBelle for my BAP creation for March.  I can't get enough of this line.  Simply to die for.  I took ALOT of liberties with this sketch, but that's the beauty of pre-designed sketches, they give you that starting point, and something to build upon.  So from this ...

to this ......

 

and just an Easter share .... this darling little Easter Bunny I bought from Bed, Bath and Table and altered.

Melissa Frances

My first projects for Melissa Frances were published, and I really feel like I'm in heaven designing with these products. What is it about little projects that is just so enticing ?   This little spool was painted, covered in pattern paper, and decorated to make a shabby home decor piece. The actual spool was given to me by Jane Tregenza, and it dates back to the 1930's !!! Thanks so much Jane - I can make stuff like this forever. 

I have used Melissa's 5th Avenue Collection here, and Pink Paislee's gorgeous mask with white ink to get the diamond effect you see.  Lots of fun decorating the washing line, although those pearls drove me crazy trying to get them to stick and do what I wanted them to !!!

are you still here ?????  Wow, Im impressed if you are still reading this post ... and apologise for the length ......

Imaginarium Designs/Seriously Scrapbooking Classes

Lastly (I can you all hear a sigh of relief), a class using Rhonna's Follow your Heart Collection.  The gorgeous chipboard was designed by Nat May, and fit perfectly around the little hexagons on this stunning paper.

So that's it.... thanks so much for coming back after way too long, Ill be back soon with more shares.  

Have a gorgeous week.

Steph xo

 

Another month rolls by......

....  and its hard to keep up with everything that life entails lately in the Devlin Household. Both girls have started Calisthenics at Brighton Calisthenics Club, and both are giddy with excitement and so far adore participating.  Its funny in retrospect, how life turns 360 degrees.  To see both girls dancing where I started gives me a feeling of completion and a sense of pride in the girls.  I was so proud watching Emma dance last week, I really feel both of them have a gift for dance.

We had a quick photoshoot out the front of our house last week, some shots taken in front of our door, some around the side of our townhouse.  I am finding it increasingly hard to get good shots of Em, as she is really aware of her crooked teeth, and I seem to end up with this sweet closed smile, instead of her vibrant sunny smile that I am so used to.

 So first Miss Madison, getting a knack for looking straight down the lens of the camera.  Her hair tousled as usual, both my girls got my hair, fine and flyaway, so this is about as groomed as its going to get !!

My Emmy, looking beautiful and very "9", I can't believe she hits that number in April.  Everyday I see her change and mature, and I adore the young lady that she is growing into.

This was the first attempt of many "natural" shots ... as you can see, easily distracted when have photos taken together !!!

And finally, a very rare photo of both of them, that actually worked. 

You might have noticed that I have started to put a copyright watermark on my photos.  I have just had a few enquiries through FB, as to who took my photos, lol, so I thought it best just to slap my name on them !!!

So onto all things scrappy and some shares from blog posts that I have had up recently.  

"Serenity" from the Songbird Collection from Prima, created for CHAW2012.  

This project was shown ages ago at the Prima Blog, but I haven't shared it yet, the PPP for January using a gorgeous neutral palette of blacks, cool grays and browns.

Lastly, my first contribution to the Pink Paislee Blog, using the Vintage Vouge and Sweetness Lines.

Well, off to do some more creating, I hope you have a wonderful week.  

Thanks again for visiting me.

Steph xo

Joining Melissa Frances ...

2012 has been a year of opportunity for me, continuing with the invitation to my dream team.... Melissa Frances.  I have loved Melissa's shabby chic style ever since I started to scrapbook, her papers and textiles make my heart swoon.

Have you seen the new Melissa Frances 2012 catalouge ?  

There is a link on the right hand side of the MF blog.  Just click it and you will open up the catalouge.

Oh.My. A paper bag works really well to breathe into once your heart starts racing.  Especially on the trims page.  Have a close look at this....

and this ....

thankyou Melissa and Carolyn for thinking of me.  Dream come true.

So here is a little butterfly easel card that I created for my introduction post.  You can find it here ..... 

I have a couple of thankyou's that I want to share ... firstly to the incredibally talented Bronwyn Eastley.  She gave me the idea for this card and I just want to credit her with the inspiration.

Secondly I just want to mention, the fantastic butterfly die that I used for this project.  It is from the Stampin' Up Collection, and I knew when I first saw it I wanted to re-create it, and put my spin on it.  Thanks to Tina Gillespie, another wonderful crafter and Stampin' Up Distributor who lent me the die.  Thanks so much Tina {xo} you are a lifesaver !!!!!

If you haven't seen the Stampin' Up Catalouge you are missing out, some awesome awesome products available.

OK... so onto some Prima reveals... using the beautiful Meadow Lark Collection.  My fav soft colors, gentle hues of lilac and baby pink, how can you go wrong.  I have to say that Prima's ledger papers and THE most fantastic accompaniment since sliced bread, they are wonderful backgrounds I can't praise them more !!!!

The second CHA layout I created for Prima was created using the Fairy Belle line... designed by Jodie Lee.  Full of ballerina's, doilies and swirls, its right up my alley - can't wait to get the full line when it is release in late-march.

Well have a fantastic week, I'm scrapping up a storm today for Pink Paislee ... I love this industry we are all involved with.  I will leave you with a quote that I love from Pinterest ..... a totally addictive site, that will consume your online time and fill you with HEAPS of inspiration ....

Steph xo

Pause ...

im yearning for this word.  I swear each day gets busier, each week more frantic and life somehow seems to drift from days to months in the blink of an eye.  Since we have moved, it has all been about getting settled, and the re-evaulation of time management (which is a challenge especially for me !!). Mornings are espeically challenging, I can't seem to get the kids to school on time, and why is it they fight like cat and dog on the stroke of 8am ?? Anyhow, I have promised myself to get organised the night before from now on, and try and be a better mum and create some headspace so I can create calmly on the days I have to myself.

So onto scrappy stuff, just more reveals of layouts I created for CHA.  Firstly Kaisercraft ..... gorgeous line called these days.  Again, not my favourite color scheme to work with, but something about the softness of the hues, and beautiful images just seems to make this project work. 

This next layout was created from Kaiser's Fine and Sunny Collection, which was so much fun to play with.... how gorgeous are those images ??  Something really different for me, just loved creating this layout.

 This last layout was a class I created for Seriously Scrapbooking which will be taught in March.  I have used October Afternoon's Farmyard, such a whimsical vintage line, which deserved the heaviness of the black bazzill to frame the sweet images.

I have to try and get some photos of Em and Madi this week, they are well over due for another photo shoot.

Have a fantastic Valentine's Day - just send a little love to somebody....

and I will blog soon.

Steph xo

CHA Rolls around once again ....

and once again Im still in Adelaide.  Every year for the past 3, I have said to myself that I am going to save and finally fly over to the US to attend CHA.  I would so love to meet all my girlfriends that I have gotten to know from all over the world through the industry and also finally stand next to a project of mine displayed in a manufactuer's booth.  But once again Life Happened.  Again.  It through a curve ball, and this time it was in the form of selling and moving houses.  What an oddessy. Im sure you can relate.

Its that horror of not knowing where anything is, not matter how clear you have marked your boxes, and the physicality required for packing, moving and cleaning. Add to the mix the fact that all my CHA Projects for Prima were due on the date of settlement (oh, yes, Im not kidding), and school holidays, kinda added up to one stressed mama.  lol.

Anyhow, I am kinda of living the whole CHA thing through Lou and Georgia, who already have had a wow of a time, and who I stalk relentlessly on Facebook for images of everything. (wink).

Late last year, Melissa from Kaisercraft asked me to design again for her this current release, and without hesitation I jumped at the opportunity. The releases again are just gorgeous.  The couple of projects below are using Tigerlily which will be shipping early March.

and a card....

Once again Prima have dazzled everybody with their new releases, and to date only a couple of my layouts have been shown at their blog, so I will share one of those with you.  This layout was one of my favs that eventuated during the pre-CHA frenzy of creating, the collection "Nature Garden" was a mixture of desaturated hues, and delicate motifs.  I have used this photo of Madi a couple of times on layouts recently, it just sparkles.

"A little Unsure" layout was a class created for Seriously Scrapbooking, and will be held on Monday 20 February at 7pm.  If you are interested in booking in please phone the shop on 82771298.

I have used Kaisercraft's beautiful vintage release "Sweet Nothings", and yes - I am on a circle tangent atm.  !!!!  They are so addictive.

Thanks for getting through this rather long blog post, and taking the time to come and visit.  If you have taken the time to leave a comment, MWAH, I read each and everyone of them.

I will post soon.

Steph xo

Twenty Twelve - is going to be a wonderful year .......

Twenty.12 is here and she is bringing with her lots of wonderful opportunities.

Imagine constantly living your life like this.

That amazing expectancy sparked by hope.  That's how I am thinking this year.

I am going to follow my heart.

I am going to trust and leap into things.

I am going to believe and trust in God.

Its amazing what opportunities arise.

The first being a posi offered to me to be a creative member at Pink Paislee!!!  I am so thrilled at this news, the team is just awesome, and I am really looking forward to scrapping with lines, that are funky with a bit of a edge to push my creative boundaries.  I love Pink Paislee.  So here is the creative team for 2012, lots of awesome names ..... special shout to Kim, another talented aussie making the team ...

 

The other bit of awesome news that I have to share with you, is that I am now a in-house designer for Imaginarium Designs.  I will still be contributing projects, but my focus will be on designing wonderful chipboard for you all to play with.  I can't wait.  Check out this DT .... such an awesome line up of talent, and Im so excited to see what they do with our designs .....

 

So happy happy New Year everybody.  

Believe in yourself.

You ARE awesome.

Steph xo

Goodbye to Webster's Pages ....

It is with much sadness that I want to share that I am leaving the Webster's Pages Design Team.  I have been part of the Webster's Family now for 3 years, 1 year as an active member on InspireMe, and 2 years on Brandin's Design Team.  Webster's Pages will forever be in my heart, as they were my first International Design Team, and I was the first Australian to be invited on the team.  

Over the last year, I have got to know the girls so well, and I will miss their banter, and everyday going on's, and all the excitement that you experience being part of this team. I just feel at this stage of my creative journey, it is time to move on, and let somebody fresh fill my shoes.  

I would just love to share my Top 10 Projects with you from my time with Webster's Pages, and why I love them so much.

2009...... Postcards from Paris.  My favourite line.  Ever.  Madi was so tiny here, and this was one of my first layouts I created for Websters.

Again, Postcards from Paris Mini Canvas.  Honestly, how can you go wrong with such beautiful paper.  This was the reason I was so honored to be part of this team.

"Illuminate" again with this range.   I was just finding my feet with the hybrid world and really enjoying adding transparency touches to my work.

More Hybrid, this time on an easel project using Winter Wings.

Garden Gala was one of Brandin's gorgeous spring lines.... and I mixed it here with "Life's Portrait Range.  I love the way the colors just pop with the mix of black in the background.

I have always had a soft spot for polka dots, and red, black and white are such a stunnning color combo to work with.  The paper line was Lullaby Lane.

"Flower Girl" - 2010 - again using Lullaby Lane.  

If I had to pick "the" favourite layout from my time with Webster's it is this one using "Life's Portrait" - 2010.  This range just blew my mind.... it was such a leap away from Brandin's traditional color palette, and I adored the black and frame motifs that she used.   There was something about that photo too, so dreamy and innocent, i think the marriage of papers and photo was just perfect !!!!!

2010 - Wonderfall - look at those daisies !!!!! How divine.

2011 - "Dream Big" using Ladies and Gents.  Another gorgeous collection.

2011 also saw me embark on being the "Hybrid" member of the team, which was very challenging on a number of levels.  I love the high energy of this layout, and the theme was very personal as to where I was in my life.   I have used the highly adaptable "Winter Fairy Tales" to create this project.

 

2011 "I Love you for what you are" - Using Ladies and Gents - another Hybrid Layout.  Lots and Lots of hybrid elements, printed onto transparency.

OK, that was my top 12 !!!! Sorry about that - lol.

Thank you to all the lovely girls I have met though InspireMe, alot of them frequently comment on my blog - you know who you are !!!! and the wonderful and sweet friendships we share, through our love of Webster's Pages.

Most of all.... thankyou Brandin.  Not only are you a talented artist, but you are such a beautiful soul as well.  Im so proud to now be part of the Webster's Pages Alumni.

Steph xo

Life is doing my head in ..... lol

OK .... so not the most eloquent of blog post titles, but at the moment life is driving me to insanity.  After 9 months, we have finally sold our house (horay!!!!) and of course Murphy's Law has kicked in with the date of settlement - it couldn't have come at a worse time.  I have major designing to do for CHA, as from today two little rugrats to cater for, plus packing to move, plus trying to find a temporary home, and making decisions about whether to buy or build.  Nothing Major.  Agggggggghhhhhhhhh!!!!!!

So as you can imagine, I don't know whether I'm Arthur or Martha, what day it is and on top of that there is a rumour that Christmas is fast approaching.  At our house.  Again.  Don't get me wrong, I am totally thankful for the selling of the house, it is a major worry eliminated, but unfortunately it has just been replaced by other stresses...... hmmmmmm and Im trying to maintain dietary discipline as well.  OK somethings gotta give.  And because it can't be my eating habits, I decided my insanity was up for grabs.  So please forgive me if I am ranting and raving ...... I should return to normal sometime next year ...... lol .......

Amoung that craziness, I did manage to take some photos of my sweet friend Molly's new little baby, Taylor Grace.  She is just beautiful.  It was so lovely to hold a newborn again, only 4 weeks old, so fresh and new.  I only had about an hour to get these shots in between sleeping, crying and other distractions (yes, you Miss Madi) but .... I really loved how these turned out.

How cute is this ... I was lucky to get this shot, because she woke up about 5 mins later demanding Mum !!!!

 

Beautiful Miss Georgia with her new baby sister.....

A personal fav. of mine, I just love the joy in this photo, it makes my heart sing...

and the darling little Taylor .... isn't she just divine ?

So .... scrappy stuff.

This was the layout I created for December BAP over at Prima.  I love these papers that were released quite a while ago, and seized the opportunity to use them again.... as well as Ingvild's beautiful resin. (I just can't get enough !!!!!).

I was also thrilled to have this layout featured over at 2 peas last week.  Icing on the cake .... lol.

This second layout is in the January Edition of Creating Keepsakes, a commission on how to use stickers !!! There are three examples, bling on stickers (round floral sticker, embossing on stickers (border underneath photo) and using stickers in a banner. I used alot of beautiful Melissa Frances (another sigh!!!) which i adore, her white resin is to die for. Anyhow this layout is how despite everything, the highs, lows, tantrums and laughter, somehow we still love each other after 15 years of marriage. Mark really is such a beautiful blessing in my life. 

Thanks so much for coming and visiting and listening to my crazy life atm.

Steph xo

 

Funtoolas - Guest Designer for December .....

 

Hey sweet readers, just want to share some creations that have been working on for the December Kit at Funtoolas !!!  The lovely Cindy asked me to guest ages ago, and we finally teed up a date ..... luckily for me the kit contained the beautiful Pion Design - Waiting for Santa II papers.  It was such a beautful kit to work with.

So firstly a layout, using Pion Papers.  The colors on these papers are heavily reduced and they give your Christmas projects such a gorgeous vintage feel.  In shabby blue, red and brown, these colors work together so well with the vintage images you can see on the papers.  Isn't the Vintage Santa so gorgeous ?

The next project I created was a card, again focusing on the sweet Christmas Vintage Images.  

 

Lastly a tag, (which I seem to be making so many of lately) - how lush are those antique wrought iron embellishments ?  Their beauty matches the cute little birdies you will find on the Pion Papers.

 Well its getting mighty close to Christmas, and the close of 2011.  This year has just flown for me, and already 2012 is shaping up to be an exciting year both creatively and in the home front.  I have so much to share soon .... I will keep you posted.

Have a beautiful, blessed week.

 

Freebie - Websters Christmas Tags !!!

How would you like some gorgeous Christmas tags for Free ......

Aren't they just gorgeous ... and this is just the first three !!!!!

Designer Julie Walton worked her magic and came up with these...all for YOU! (And me!) And there are MORE. Eight total. Some are tags you could easily use in your scrapbooking...others are To/From Tags for your holiday gift-giving. All are beautiful. 

Because the tags are made with Webster's pages digital collections, they coordinate perfectly with Websters' embellishments. So you can print them out and use your stash to create mini works of art for Christmas this year

You can go to the Webster's Pages Website and find our Freebies under the Digi Designs section or click on THIS LINK and download your very own free tags for Christmas. 

Here is what I did with these gorgeous tags ....

My favourite tag using Brandin's Winter Wings.  **Sigh** that little owl just melts my heart.

So enjoy these and your week.

I think its starting to look alot like Christmas ....

Steph xo