Hi All,
It's been a while! Lately I've just been creating for Scrapbook News & Review and Lets Get Sketchy, so not a lot to share! But here's a couple I can now post. Think I might give Scrapbooking Memories Masters a go this year, never hurts to give things a try right?! Anyone else giving it a go?

Until next time,
Belle x

New Lets Get Sketchy Challenge

Hi Ladies,

We have a new challenge up over at Lets Get Sketchy, check it out here!

Before I show my layout for this week, just a quick note so say I'm sorry things have been a little slow on my blog lately, I have little to show as everything I've been creating has been for mags, etc!

And now onto the layout:

Until next time,
Belle x

Wizzy Dizz

So since I've taken to using Instagram when I don't want to lug my DSLR camera around I thought I'd better get to scrapping some! I've done a few layouts so far, one for Scrapbook News and Review mag, one for next weeks LGS challenge and another just for me! These photos are not the best quality but I just love the mood they capture. I bought this Basic Grey paper months ago and absolutely adored it but haven't found photos I wanted to use on it until now. I loved the paper so much I wanted to keep the rest quite simple, so without further ado:

Until next time,
Belinda xx

Lets Get Sketchy New Challenge

New challenge is up over at Lets Get Sketchy come and check it out, it's a fabulous sketch! Here's my DT inspiration (that's me as a child!):

Snowboarding Layout

Hi All,

We have my grandparents here this weekend but I still managed to sneak into my scrap corner and get one layout done! Love how this one turned out but I can't take the credit, the papers are just so pretty!!

Thanks for looking,

Until next time,
Belle xx

Busy Busy

Hi All,

Curse life for getting in the way of my scrapping! Busy with new things at work and was away for Easter, but we've got this weekend at home so hopefully I can catch up. I did manage to get quite alot of Instagram photos though while we were away, hooray for that!

I had my A Piece of Cake Designs kit waiting for me in the mailbox this week, and was so excited to have a play with it! It's gorgeous! I whipped up a fairly simple layout which I'm pretty happy with and can't wait to create a few more with it.

Without further ado, below is my layout and some pictures from Easter.

Daniel and I
My beautiful little sister. She hates photos so I was so happy to get one of her smiling, I LOVE it!My beautiful little cousins and I
Easter cupcakes! Made by my Aunt and cousins
Whizzy dizzes!

I have to say I am absolutely loving Instagram. I may not be getting amazing photos but it's nice to just capture the moments without worrying about getting a good photo, it's just about simple memory keeping.

Thanks for looking,
Belle xx

Been creating like mad

Hi All,

Well I have been creating like mad the last few days, lots of layouts, a card or two and a few off the page projects! BUT I can't show you yet! I can show you one layout, a 'just because' one.

'Siblings'

Thanks for looking,
~ Belinda x

'Cousins'

Hi Hi,

We had one of our best friends up for the weekend so I didn't have much time to scrap. I stole a few minutes and got one layout done at least!

'Cousins'

Thanks for looking.

Until next time,
Belinda xx

Another challenge at LGS!

Hi All,

Another weekly sketch challenge is up at Lets Get Sketchy, pop on over to check it out.

Here's my design team sample:

'Your Element'

Thanks for looking,
Belle xx

Basic Grey Sketch

Hi All,

I've been meaning to base a layout around the sketch over on the Basic Grey blog all week, and finally got around to it! I looove Basic Grey. I don't often do multi photo layouts, but I had some concert photos from Monday night that I wanted to do on one page so as soon as I saw this sketch I knew it was perfect!

I want to journal on this page, and I do intend to at some stage but I'm finding it so hard. This concert was my little sister's very first, my stepmum had bought the tickets for the two of them for Christmas. After she passed away in January Dad asked me to take Krista instead. She had a great time, but we were both thinking of Kathy that night and so journalling about her excitement doesn't seem right. Eventually I'll find the right words though and I will add them then. But onto the layout (the colours are better in reality, but it's dark and my lighting here isn't great!):

'First Concert'

Thanks for looking!

~ Belle xx

My news! And a couple of layouts

Hi All,

Well I'm here to share some exciting news: I've been accepted as a staff member over at Scrapbook News & Review magazine!! I can't wait to see my first article in online print, I've just finished writing it! So very exciting.

But I know all you really want to see is some layouts so here's today's efforts (minus my article project!). I've got a real thing for grey and yellow lately, both together and seperate!

'First bath'

I've been loving all the wood look paper that's around at the moment and just had to grab some when I saw it. Love this one by Echo Park. Wasn't sure how I'd go with it but I really like the finished product!

'Eildon'

Thanks for looking,

Until next time,
Belle xx

We love Santa

Hi All,

Just one quick layout to share tonight. But over the weekend I'll be back with some very exciting news (and hopefully a few more layouts!). Let's be honest here, I suck at Christmas layouts. Don't ask me why, maybe I try to be too themey or something, but I really wanted to scrap some Christmas photos anyway so I gave it a try. It's not too bad I guess!



Until the weekend,
Belle xx

Let's Get Sketchy First Official Challenge!

Hi all,

Well the time has finally arrived, our first official challenge at Let's Get Sketchy began this week! There are some amazing ladies on this team, I've been getting to know them all more over the past few weeks and am so excited to be working with them. The examples for our first challenge are just beautiful, and the sketch is fabulous! So what are you waiting for, come check it out: HERE

Each month one lucky challenge participant will win a fabulous prize donated by LGS' sponsor of the month. To be eligible to win you must complete at least TWO of the month's challenges, the winner will then be chosen via random draw.

We can't wait to see what you all come up with!

~ Belle x

New Fave Layout

Hi Ladies,

Well work was in the flood evacuation zone today so there was no work for me. I'll be honest and say I mostly just sat around constantly refreshing flood info pages and listening to the radio but I did do one productive thing: a layout!

Do you ever do a layout and for whatever reason just really like it? I had that moment today. It's not because I think it's great or uses any fancy technique, there's just something about it that I quite like! Another of our pre wedding photos from Alla Photography.

'Content'

Thanks for looking,
Until next time,
Belle x

This weekend's Layouts

Hi All,

Luckily we're on high ground at our place so we're avoiding the floods in town! Which left me time to scrap since leaving the house seemed a little pointless today. One layout is for a future challenge at Let's Get Sketchy, the other two I can share now. They're 'just because' layouts.

'B & D''Mother & Daughter'

Until next time,
Belle xx

This is where we said our vows

Hi ladies,

It's been the most awful gloomy weather here this week (so much for being the end of Summer!), flood warnings in parts of the state etc. So practically no natural light for a good photo of this layout! This photo will just have to do:

'This is where we said our vows'

This is the cute little chapel we got married in <3

Watch out for a number of layouts from me on the weekend. I'm putting the pressure on myself as I'll be home alone all day!

Until then,
Belle

Lets Get Sketchy Impromptu Challenge

Hi Ladies,

There's an impromptu challenge happening over a LGS, before the weekly challenges. So pop on over and have a go, there's some fabulous DT work on display too!

Here's my DT example:


We're heading home to Melbourne for the weekend so no scrapping for me for a few days. But I've got a few layouts planned for next week while Daniel's working late.

Have a fabulous weekend everyone!
Until next time,
Belinda x

Karate Grading

Hi all,
I had my two best friends up for the weekend (was so nice to have them here!) so I only had time to do one layout when they left this afternoon. My little sister had her karate grading in October, it was terrible lighting and I had to zoom in a lot in order to take any photos, so they're not the best quality. But it's a nice memory to preserve. I had a negative strip frame which I was going to use but couldn't find so then I thought, why not make my own! I actually prefer it with the patterned paper anyway so I'll be doing that again at some stage.

Without further ado:

'Karate Grading'

Until next time,
Belle xx

2 new pages

Hi hi,

Just a couple of new pages. The first just doesn't look as good in photos as it does in person, there's actually little bits of bling scattered over it, so it's sparkly and pretty in person! I wanted to try something different so decided to make a lace frame, which meant I needed to have the rest of the layout stay fairly plain or it was just too much.

'5 Princesses and a prince'

'Newlyweds'

Until next time,
Belle xx

Another Layout

Hi again!

Forgot I had one other layout to share. I generally do girly layouts (so many little girls in our life!) so it was time I did a boyish page. Plus I rarely scrap more than one photo per layout so this was even more of a challenge! Photos are of my husband playing soccer with his local team. I spend almost every Sunday during soccer season sitting on the sidelines, plus he trains twice a week so it's only fitting I dedicate a layout to something that is such a part of our lives!

'No. 11'

Until next time
<3 Belinda

Scrap the Girls Challenge

Hi ladies,

Happy Valentine's Day! Hope you're all having a wonderful, love-filled day.

I'm finally back with the layout for Scrap the Girls. This months challenge was to have love in the title, turquoise as the dominant colour and chipboard. I've had the cute little keyhole piece of chipboard for ages, and the little roses. Both were colours completely uncomplimentary to this layout so I just gave them a lick of paint (I lurrrrve paint/ink/mists!)! This is one of my favourite photos, of our beautiful little niece Caitlyn.

'You say I love you'

Thanks for looking,
Belle x

This weekend's layouts

Hi,
Hope everyone had a wonderful weekend. It was the first time in a long time we haven't had a zillion things to do so I had plenty of time to scrap today! Four layouts done, including my first as DT for Lets Get Sketchy! You'll have to wait a couple of weeks to see that one.

This is the first photo of our dog I've ever scrapped!'Siyah'

'First Dance'

This next layout took a while. I'm still coming to terms with the fact that my stepmum, Kathy, passed away suddenly last month. She left behind my little sister (her and my dad's ten year old daughter) so we are all just doing our best. This photo of my sister and Kathy was taken on her friend's iphone the night before she passed away so unfortunately it is bad quality. But it's a special photo to me so I desperately wanted to scrap it, and when I saw this idea over on the Studio Calico blog I knew it would be perfect. I didn't want to messy it up or overembelish it, since the photo is so tiny (was too pixellated to print much bigger!). Anywho, here it is (oh and a thousand years is the song we played at her funeral, hence the title and lyrics on the side):

I've also got another layout done for this months challenge at Scrap the Girls, I'll pop back later with that!
Until then,
Belinda x

White with One challenge

'It's my wedding & I'll pose if I want to'

And I'm back with another layout, this one for February's challenge over at White With One. White + Lemon + 3 photos.

I'm on the Design Team for Let's Get Sketchy!

Hi hi,
Whoot, excitement, I can now share that I am on the design team for new blog, Lets Get Sketchy! I've seen some of the upcoming sketches and they rock, so make sure you head on over in anticipation, challenges will start up on the 5th of March. Can't wait! There's some very talented ladies on the design team, it's going to be an amazing blog.
Now that layout I said I was completely happy with the other night. Ha, should have known that was silly! I was all ready for bed, showered, changed, teeth brushed and then decided I just had to go back and add to it. I'm not sure I ever feel completely finished with a layout, I always wonder if I should add something extra, but I've learnt to draw the line. Anywho, all you really want to see is the page anyways, right?? For the record, this photo was taken by our amazing wedding photographer, Alla Photography.

'I feel pretty'

Until next time,

Belle xx

Liebster Award

As I said yesterday, I had a lovely suprise when I logged on yesterday, Jenessa found me via Lets Get Sketchy and has awarded me a Liebster award. I only heard of this in the past week and am grateful to recieve the honour! Please check out Jenessa's blog here.

For those who haven't heard, here's a quick rundown:

The origins of the Liebster Blog Award are somewhat

unclear but general consensus is that they originated in

Germany. Liebster, meaning “favorite” or “dearest”, is here to

showcase bloggers with fewer than 200 followers. Upon

accepting this award the recipient must then pass it on to

five more blogs that have 200 or less followers.

Here are the Liebster rules:

**Choose 5 up and coming blogs of fewer than 200 followers to award the Liebster to.

**Show your thanks to the blogger who gave you the award by linking back to them.

**Post the award on your blog. Link back to the blogs you have given the Liebster to so everyone else can pay them a visit.

This is a hard one, there are so many amazing blogs out there and I've really only just started following them! So here are five of the ladies I've found recently that create absolutely beautiful layouts, please go check them out! In no particular order:

Sarah
Ebony
Leanne
Kyoko
Mal

Time to go scrap some more layouts before Daniel gets back from soccer training
I'll share that layout tomorrow xx

Kisses for the bride

Hi ladies,

I'll be back tomorrow to post about the Liebster award that the lovely Jenessa bestowed on my blog! Thanks Jenessa, I'm honoured! I will be sure to follow through with awarding five other lovely ladies tomorrow evening.

But just quickly on my way to bed I thought I'd better blog a layout. Don't ask me why but I was bored last night and decided to challenge myself. I could have just done any layout I wanted but NO I decide it's time I try a colour scheme that has NEVER worked for me: aqua and red! Did it work for me this time? I think so. I like it but I think I may have stared it a bit too long when fiddling in order to now objectively decide whether it's really any good or not! But I'm glad I stepped completely out of my comfort zone and gave something different a go (not sure I'll be doing those colours again though). On the other hand I did a layout tonight which I am completely happy with, too dark to photograph so I will post it up in the next couple of days.

But for now, here's my aqua and red layout (another photobooth shot, of my stepsisters and I):
See you all tomorrow,
Belle xx

New Challenge Site: Lets Get Sketchy

Hi hi,

A few days ago I came across a new challenge site purely for sketches, 'Lets Get Sketchy'. I adore sketches, whenever I am having scrappers block I check out magazines or browse online for sketches as they always seem to get my creativity flowing. Lets Get Sketchy is currently having a giveaway, and there's also a mini challenge up before the official challenges start in March! So pop on over and check out this wonderful new site, I think I'll be visiting often myself: Lets Get Sketchy

As Let's Get Sketchy is a new site they're also currently looking for a Design Team. Those wanting to apply for the design team need to create a layout based on the fabulous sketch I've copied in below. I just loved the sketch and was inspired immediately, so I decided to apply. There's already links to some absolutely gorgeous layouts on the blog, I think they're going to have a tough decision on their hands!

Without further ado, here's the awesome sketch and my layout:


Until next time,
Belinda xx

Little Posers

Well....last week I scrapped liked I promised, and actually quite loved the layout I did so I thought I'd have a go at submitting to Scrapbooking Memories magazine. And they've accepted it for possible publication!! So I can't show it after all. I'm crossing my fingers it makes the final cut, it will be my first ever publication, something I've been hoping for!! So I figured I'd better keep my word and have something to show on my blog so I did another page. This is one of the photos from the photobooth we had at our wedding. The booth was a last minute addition and I'm so glad we did it, it was so much fun. All the kids absolutely loved it, I swear they took about 100 photos! I love this one of my cousin Maddie, our niece Caity and my sister Krista (three of my five, yes five, flowergirls), posing their little hearts out.

Wordfind Canvas

So, I thought I'd get the ball rolling and post right away (Secretly, I just looked back and realised I haven't posted since 2010 so I have a lot of catching up to do!). I love pinterest, honestly who doesn't these days, and I think I saw the idea for this on there long ago, before I knew how to pin! When I decided I hated the lime green accents in our loungeroom and chose to change them to blue, the first thing that had to go was the lime green canvas that I'd decorated with photos years ago.

I decided arty was the way to go, no more photos on the canvas, we have plenty of frames we were given for the wedding. So, I remembered seeing this cute word find style canvas a while ago, and decided to give it a go. I did mine fairly messily intentionally, I like homemade things that look homemade! Could have been better (I think I might have done it too messy but oh well, I can redo it eventually) but I quite like it. So, without further ado:

Thanks for looking
<3 Belle xx

2012

Firstly, a big hello to anyone who still happens to be subscribing to this from when I actually used this blog! I swore eventually I would get back here, and finally I intend to put a little effort in. I don't scrapbook anywhere near as much as I used to, but I have been trying to get back into it. I still have goals and am now aiming for the first: get published in a scrapbook magazine! Might as well aim fairly high hey?

Along with scrapping and photography I've been doing a little re-decorating at home. It's a little difficult living in a rental. I hate the flooring, paint colour and a lot of other things I can't change! But I have been doing what I can, finding a few bits from the op-shop to revamp (though I stupidly forgot to take before photos, clearly I'm not in the blogging frame of mind yet!) & made some cushion covers (because I was to fussy to like any that actually already existed).

So, I promise that in 2012 I will actually post here: both my scrapbook creations and my home ones. And my wedding photos when I get them (did I mention I got married in December??)