what are you giving this year?

I just found out about Kiva. "Kiva is the world's first person-to-person micro-lending website, empowering individuals to lend to unique entrepreneurs around the globe." So basically you give money, any amount from $25 upwards, to someone from a less fortunate country who is trying to start their own small business. As their business grows, over the following 6 to 12 months, they repay what you gave them, then you lend it to someone else. Isn't that just the most fabulous idea? Tonight as a family, we are going to sit down and decide who will get our first donation.

No paper layouts this week, but I do have some of my latest digi layouts.

This one is for a challenge at Shabby Pickle Designs:

credits here

another SPD layout:

credits here

and two layouts using the December BYOC goodies from the lilypad (I am so stoked about working with stuff from the super talented Paislee Press this month at the lilypad!)


credits here

credits here

thanks for stopping by. have a great day.

bring it on!!

who's ready for December!! Such a hectic time of year, especially for those of us down under who are also wrapping up end of school year stuff.

Here is this weeks paper layout,


Oh and some digi news, I have seen some of the new BYOC stuff for Dec at the lilypad, and I am feeling giddy.... don't forget the lilypad now has open forums and gallery, it is such a fun and friendly place to hang out. come and visit us. Gina Miller is now at the pad as a designer!! woohoo, and today only she has 7 products for $1 each.
Also, don't forget about Tracy Ann's awesome sale, see post below.

have a great week.

a sale you don't want to miss

Firstly, Happy Thanksgiving to all those who are celebrating today. We are having a little get together with some good friends tonight, very low-key but a good way to remember and be thankful for our time in the US and all the great friends we made there.

Tracy Ann is having a sale, a big one, so go check it out. Her stuff is so awesome and she is such a lovely person.


have a great weekend, full of family and fun.

paper layout Monday

Now that hubby is home from being at sea, things are falling back into a normal routine again. So paper layout Monday is on Monday.

Here is a layout from our vacation to the Gold Coast last June.

have a great week!!

Paper Layout Tuesday..

I have taken some classes at jessicasprague.com before, her free Stories in Hand class last year and Candice Stringham's photography class ealier this year and they were both excellent! Good news, she has another free class all about the holidays:


I am going to combine this class with my December Daily, which is already made, not because I am super organised, but because I made one last year and never put anything in it. And speaking of Ali Edwards, the Yesterday Today class I am taking with Ali is so fantastic, I am a little behind, but this is one of those classes that really challenges you and gets you thinking about scrapbooking. I am getting a lot out of it.

And here is todays paper layout, I did this one a week ago at my last Scrapping with Soul day :( (I will miss you girls!)

Paper Layout Monday take 2

A while back I said I was going to share a paper layout of mine each Monday, but it never really happened. So this time, with a little more determination, I am trying again so here is the first:


I will be back tomorrow with my 'what I bought on DSD list'.

Happy DSD

My DSD shopping list is surprisingly small this year. I would love to hear what you have on your list or what you have already purchased.

So much is going on at the lilypad this weekend, not just sales but a new designer, a new guest, a new BYOC and now an open forum!! with tonnes of challenges. So drop in and say hi.

There is also, of course the blog-hop. I have this quick page to share:

If download has expired, try link 2, etc

** download here **
link 2
link 3

To continue on to the next blog, go visit the uber-talented Kristin Tilley, here.

If you need to start at the beginning (there are a total of 14 blogs, each with a little gift) or want to read about the prize for collecting and using all 14 gifts, visit Amy Martin's blog.

mwah! thanks for dropping by.

{21} challenge DAY 14

Hope you all had a great weekend. I did!

{21} challenge DAY 13

I think this might be my favorite page so far:


Well the Saints didn't win today, I think they deserved to. But it was still a great game.

Tracy Ann has a heap of gorgeous new stuff. Here are two recent TADA layouts of mine. Thanks to mumure and Kate Hadfield for the standouts mentions.

I won!

I am so excited I won a place in Ali's Yesterday & Today class at Big Picture Scrapbooking on her blog. What a great thing to wake up to this morning.

I can't wait to do this class, I love the idea of telling stories in my pages. So often I tend to get caught up in making my page look great or pretty or praise-worthy and I forget the stories, especially MY stories. And after loosing two of my grandparents recently I really want to sit down with the one I have left and document some of her stories.

Today is grand final day. I really love Aussie rules, even though I grew up with League and I love finals fever, but I also love that we are done with football for the year. It does take up a lot of our time as a family and has been a big commitment this year with Steve coaching. I am sad that Carlton are not in the grand final, but I do have a soft spot for St Kilda and it would be nice for them to win. So go the Saints!!

{21} challenge DAY 12

{21} challenge DAY 11

{21} challenge DAY 10

{21} challenge DAY 9

{21} challenge catch up

So the house work took longer than I thought, possibly because of all the dust we had yesterday.

This is what our car looked like yesterday morning:



this is my day 5, 6, 7 and 8 journal entries:

{21} challenge catch up

I have been going strong with the 21 challenge, aside from a small hiccup on the weekend. But I have kept with the art journal part every day ( I just haven't been good at taking the photos and getting them on my blog).

So here is day 4 and I will be back later with days 5 to 8, once I get a bit of house work done.

{21} challenge DAY 3 & some photos

Day 3 journal entry:

supplies used:
quote from Rhonna's blog, brushes from House of 3, thickers by American Crafts, transparency by Heidi Swapp, butterfly by Amy Butler, canvas paper, staple.
















Last weekend we went on a spur of the moment weekend away to Canberra, to see Floriade. Here are a few photos:

{21} challenge DAY 2

I really wanted to try something new for this to challenge my creativity. So I went with the 6x12 inch page. It is something I have wanted to try for a while, but had been too scared.

Here is page no 2:















supplies used:
word art from Rhonna's blog, brushes from House of 3,
butterfly by Amy Butler, Que Sera Sera Diecut by K &
Co, Rub-on Toppings by TLC, flower, canvas paper,
staple.





I also did a cover and title page today. I love the way they all look together.

{21} challenge DAY 1

Yesterday I started Rhonna's 21 challenge, a few days late, but that's OK. I think the extra few days thinking time helped me sort out what I wanted to do. I have always been a huge fan of Rhonna and her work, and have always been interested in this challenge, but there was always something in the way; other things going on, fear of not finishing something I started ... so this time I am doing it.
I have been thinking about the habit I want to start and came up with two. One is about trying to be a healthier me and the other is fostering a happy attitude in our home. I went with the second one.

So here is my first day:
















supplies used:
brush and blog banner from House of 3, quote from
Rhonna's blog, diecut paper by Creative Imaginations,
flower by Prima, heart by Heidi Swapp, diecut butterfly
by Amy Butler.

catching up...again

Oh dear I have fallen behind again.

Lots happening with the lilypad and lots of gorgeous new things at TADA, go have a look.

I have been doing some paper layouts lately too. I went to a crop day at a local church and did 7 layouts that day. I have decided to share a paper layout with you every Monday. So here is todays, it is a bit older and I think I may have shared it here already, but that is OK because I am starting afresh with my blogging (and some other things in my life)

It is a layout of some of our Hawaii photos. It seems so long ago now.

I am starting Rhonna's 21 day challenge today. I read about it at the end of last week, but had a lot going on. Then I was going to start in on Friday, but Friday morning we decided to go to Canberra for the weekend so I was busy getting things done. So today is the day, it is good though because I have had time to think about what I want to do. So I am off to create and start afresh...

new designers

The lilypad is the place to be this month! There is a new designer debuting each week, so exciting!

This week was the announcement that Karah Fredricks is joining the pad and last week was Angela Powers!

and here is my layout with some of Karah's goodies:


I wonder who it will be next week??...

and as promised, this is currently my family's favourite desert, beautiful scones.

Now these are not the same things that are called scones in the US. They are kind of like biscuits, but light and flufflier and sweet and are served with jam and cream. Though we like mango and passionfruit butter instead of jam in our house.

mmmm.....

new kit at TADA

Tracy Ann has the most gorgeous new kit out and it is 50% off just for TODAY ONLY.

It is the cutest birthday themed kit, but also perfect for non-birthday layouts, especially with the cute word art.

Here is a quick layout I did this morning,
xx Amanda

oh, has it really been a month?

Do you like my new blog banner and background? They have been made exclusively by Rhonna at House of 3 for DAM. I got to interview the House of 3 girls for the latest issue. What a thrill, I love their style, in fact it was Rhonna's work that first led me to digital. Anyway, the issue should be out now.

I am short on time, but I will be back tomorrow with my family's favourite dessert and some holiday snaps.

xx Amanda

news

Lots going on right now. Firstly to all my friends in the US, I hope you are having a great 4th July weekend! I wish I was there celebrating with you.

New issue of DAM was out last week and boy it's a good one. I am loving the new fresh look and the content in the articles and layouts is inspiring. Go get your copy... and keep an eye out for news from DAM soon.

Great things happening at the lilypad: new guest designer, new BYOC and a storewide sale.

and here is my layout using the July BYOC and some templates from Tracy Ann:

and speaking of Tracy Ann, there are still over 50 about to be retired products for just $1 each, but you will need to hurry!!!

here is a small sampling of the bargains you can pick up:

Exciting news to share.... I have a new blinkie!!

yyyyy I am so excited to have been chosen for the site CT at Shabby Pickle Designs! What a dream gig. I did try out when the site first opened and almost didn't this time. I love all the designers there!

Some other personal stuff: I have decided to try out for the Scrapbooking Memories Masters competition this year. I am sure I don't have a chance of winning, but an Honorable Mention would be nice. I just hope I get everything done, I have no clue what to do for the off the page project.

And in 4 days we are going on vacation!! We are driving up to the Gold Coast on Friday and will spend a week relaxing by the pool and hitting the theme parks. I am so excited for all of us, but especially for the kids. It should be fun, we are staying here.

Have a great week!