Thursday, April 29, 2010

Finally, my French inspired layout....




For the Postcards of the world comp over at Scrapboutique
(see post below).  I think the amount of time I spent on this, would have to be a record for me - and I admit that I am a slow scrapper - but this one I just kept fiddling & procrastinating...and changing my mind *rolls eyes*....trying to get things "just right".  I originally had probably close to double the amount of product pulled out of my stash....wanting to use all these yummy bits & pieces - but I finally realised there was just wayyy too much! and had to put some back....LOL
I am quite happy with the finished LO - although I'm wondering if it's looking more like an Italian gilato shop than the postcard in the South of France???....LOL (just kidding!)


I've had a wonderful scrappy week, so I have a few more LO's to share....

Using Bon's April girl kit


And another using Bon's April boy kit.
I used my new Tim Holtz Gadget Gears die in my cuttlebug to make the  cogs at the bottom right....man, I am loving that die!!!  The black cog is actually cut out of felt & it cut through it so easily - just like it was paper!  I can see that I will be getting a lot of use out of this die :)


Well, it's almost the end of another month *sigh*.....but that means a whole new month of fun new challenges are just around the corner .....can't wait!!!

Thanks for dropping by & happy scrapping :)

Tuesday, April 27, 2010

Provence....





In the south of France is our next destination for the Scrapboutique postcards of the world competition...and this is our postcard - isn't it just devine?!?!?   
There is so much inspiration in this postcard, that it has my head in a spin....LOL....I think I have too many ideas going on in my head!  I've pulled out all the bits in my stash that I think will suit, but there's no way I can fit it all on one page - so I'm sure I'll be swapping & changing my mind over and over on which "bits" to use.  I have something pieced together at the moment, but I think I need to sleep on it & have a fresh approach on it tomorrow....so, stay tuned - hopefully I will have my LO finished soon.........ish!


But I do have a few other LO's that I can share with you.....

This one I did for the CC colour challenge over at Bons - to use kraft, blue, green & a touch of yellow - a large photo & the words "Sprinkled with lots of love", which I used for my title.


This one is for the sketch challenge for the CC at Bons - plus some extra criteria to use something round, spottie & a transparency.


Using Bons April girl kit...plus a few bits from my stash


Another using the April girl kit - again with a few bits added from my stash.


And this one using the April boy kit from Bons.


And I'll leave you with a few little sneaks for May's Scrap the Girls & also Kraft it Up challenges :)





Thanks for popping by :)

Sunday, April 25, 2010

Lest we forget....




To those who served & who sacrificed their lives for our Freedom...."thank you" just doesn't seem enough.

They shall grow not old,
as we that are left grow old.
Age shall not weary them,
nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun,
and in the morning,
we will remember them.


I thought I would share an Anzac poem, that I really love.
It was written by Rupert McCall for the 90th anniversary of the landing at Gallipoli, back in 2005.
So I have adjusted the words, to fit in with todays Anzac anniversay - 95 years

If you heard Rupert McCall read this poem at the Gallipoli dawn service back in 2005, I think you would agree that it was very moving....


NINETY-FIVE YEARS AGO

There on the ship - on that whispering ship
The abyss of uncertainties rest
There on the ship - in the night's eerie grip
His heart leaping forth from his chest
He senses adventure but riding the tide
Is the ripple of chaos to come
His lips hold a prayer that inspires his mind
To be sparing a thought for his Mum
Khaki surrounds him in similar veins
Character ready to flow
Now the landscape is forming - the moment is nigh
Ninety five years ago


There on the beach - on that terrible beach
Dawn filters through as they land
There on the beach some would not even reach
Nothing unfolded as planned
Running and falling! Confusion defined
He scrambles and clambers and claws!
The ridges rain venom - he somehow survives...
But his innocence dies on those shores
From the dearth of a trench - through the fly-ridden stench
Shines the grin with a knockabout glow
Where the slouch hat is worn, a new species is born
Ninety five years ago


There on the hill - that un-winnable hill
He is scared but by God, he's committed
There on the hill, so much young blood would spill
The word 'sacrifice' tragically fitted
In protecting their homeland, the Turks never budge
The high ground is theirs to defend
Death blows a breeze that puts ice in his knees
He prepares now to meet with his end
For a moment, the sky turns a calm shade of blue...
And with that, the commander yells "GO!"
He is hit and it burns - then to peace he returns
Ninety five years ago


There on his grave - on that lost lonely grave
With the others that grimly abound
There on his grave - wooden crosses stand brave
An ANZAC lies under the ground!
Australians - New Zealanders - brothers in arms
Mates on the same team today
"Goodbye and God bless cobber" so say the words
In a strength we could never betray
And this, on the face of a small humble stone
That in winter, is lashed by the snow
"Please cry no tears" he was seventeen years
Ninety five years ago


Here in my heart - with the beat of my heart
I can't help but tremble and shiver
Here in my heart - it's so hard to depart
From the pride that these spirits deliver
For the courage - the kinship - the duty - the dove
The flame of our freedom ascends
Enemies once, now we stand with respect
And continue this journey as friends
Gallipoli - home to a ghost in us all
From a page, pray our children will know
As the legend of ANZAC and lest we forget
It was ninety five years ago


The legend of Anzac...lest we forget
Ninety five years ago
Rupert McCall

Today I am also thinking of the mothers' of these men & boys - how hard must it have been for them, knowing they were going off to war?  Not knowing if they would ever return?
I really cannot imagine what that would have been like - seriously.

I know what it's like to have to send my 17 year old son off to another town for just 3 days every month -  I find it really quite hard, and worry about him a lot. 

So I have a new admiration & appreciation for those women who's son's, husbands, brothers, etc went off to serve in the many different wars over the decades - can you  imagine having to say goodbye to them?
It would have been heartwrenching!
God Bless them all.


I am also thinking of all those diggers from WW1 who were marked as missing in action at Fromelles on the Western Front in France. 
In recent years they have been discovered to be buried in mass graves at Pheasant Wood, near Fromelles, thanks to a man named Lambis Englezos.  Those diggers have now been reinterred into individual graves at a newly built cemetary to commemorate these diggers.  A large percentage of them have also been positively identified using modern DNA technology.
I think this is a wonderful thing for these "forgotten" diggers and their families.
You can read more on this HERE


I learnt all about these diggers at Fromelles from reading this book

I would recommend this to anyone who is interested in this kind of thing - it is a really eye-opening & gut wrenching book that tells the story of the worst battle in Australian History.
5533 casualties & almost 2000 killed.....in one night.



Fitting in with the Anzac theme of my post, I thought I would re-share a  layout....

My Grandfather, who served in WW1 on the Western Front.



Happy Anzac Day
& Lest We Forget....




Saturday, April 24, 2010

Just 6 days to go....

To get your entries in for the April Kraft it Up challenge....which is to create a monochromatic LO (using any colour except brown).   Check out the Kraft it Up blog for lots of fantastic inspiration!!!  Email your entries to kraftitup@hotmail.com by 8pm on 30th April



Same applies for this months Scrap the Girls challenge....only 6 days to get your entries in.
This months challenge was a 54321 challenge - 5 buttons, 4 patterned papers, 3 flowers, 2 photos & 1 alpha.  Email your entries to scrapthegirls@bigpond.com by midnight on 30th April.


Lucky it's a long weekend - it might give everyone a little bit more time to get creative & get these challenges done....looking forward to seeing lots of entries from my blog readers :)

Wednesday, April 21, 2010

Postcards from around the world....




Over at Scrapboutique, they are having a postcards from around the world competition.  There are some fabulous prizes up for grabs.....and it's not too late to enter! 

The first postcard has been revealed & you have until this Sunday (midnight) to get your entry in.....So head on over HERE to check out all the details & register :)

Our first destination is Venice, Italy!!! 
And here is our postcard...




I am sooo lucky that I have been to Venice (although it was many moons ago.....lol), so I was able to use some of my photos for this challenge :)
Here is my LO.....


Why not head on over to the Boutique & check it all out - it's going to be a great competition full of so much fantastic inspiration!


And here are a few more scrappy shares....


Just a quicky using the April boy kit from Bons.




One of my scrapbooking indulgences.....fabric, lace, ribbon, buttons & flowers :)
This is for the April monthly challenge at Scrapboutique - to scrap about one of your indulgences.


This one is a Felicity Wilson special!
Flis taught this class last night at the April cyber crop at Bons - just love it Flis... thank you! :)))

Well, that's all from me.
Thanks for visiting & I hope everyone is having a nice scrappy week :)


Wednesday, April 14, 2010

A few scrappy shares......

I can't believe that I haven't blogged for 2 weeks - no idea where those 2 weeks have gone!
I also can't believe we are half way thru April....eeeek!  So much to do & not enough time :(  ...there's so many challenges I still want to get done this month - here's hoping that I can find enough time to get them all done :)

Just a quick update today with a few LO's...

On Any Sunday....using Bon's March boy kit.


Late afternoon glow - April sketch challenge at Bon's - also had to cut your photo in 3 pieces, use paint, stitching, buttons, circles & stars.


Dragging yourself blindfolded thru the dirt - April write now challenge at Bon's.
Criteria was to use a mixture of alphas to create a long title or sentence, use embellishments with words on them, and to journal.


Easter delight - Room of the month challenge at Bon's


Down but not out - my March year in review entry at WIOIN


Oooops, that's a bit more than a few....LOL

I have been working on some CT stuff as well...but can't share that just yet - but will be back in a week or so with some little sneaky peaks :)


Want to win some gorgeous flowers???

Then head on over HERE & check it out - aren't they just devine?!?!?!
& while you're there, check out her gorgeous work!







Thursday, April 1, 2010

April Kraft it Up challenge....

I LOVED doing this challenge....I'm sure you will love it too! :)

To use a KRAFT base and a MONOCHROMATIC colour scheme, there is a catch though - you CAN NOT use Brown.


You can use very small amounts of other colours for things like journal spots or doodling but we want your layout to be 95% or more of your chosen colour.

We look forward to seeing some amazing colours on your layout, dont be shy why not try something you wouldnt normally do!!!

Entries are due by 8pm 30th April, email your layout to, kraft.it.up@hotmail.com

Here is my samplo LO - I think it's gotta be up there to be one my fav's :)



Go check out the rest of the CT's gorgeous creations using this months criteria on the Kraft it Up blog!


April challenge for Scrap the Girls....

 The start of a new month, means new challenges!

Scrap the Girls April challenge is a 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 challenge...

Use 5 x buttons, 4 x patterned papers, 3 x flowers, 2 x photos, 1 x alpha

Other products are allowed to be included, but the numbers of the listed products must remain the same.

it's as easy as that!

Email your entries to scrapthegirls@bigpond.com


Entries close midnight (Australian eastern standard time) 30th April 2010

Here is my sample...


Head on over to the Scrap the Girls blog & check out the gorgeous CT samples for this month's challenge!

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