After All These Years

{Zva Creative May DT Blog Hop!}

Zva Creative and the Design Team welcomes you to join us this month for a blog hop that we feel is always extra special!

As you know, Zva offers so many beautiful color groupings for pearls, flowers and crystals.  We want to make sure that they shine bright for you, so each designer was asked to share a creation using a specific color or color combination on their blog hop project. 

The Blog Hop begins at Kim Hughes' blog. She will have the complete list of all blogs that are participating in case there is a glitch along the way. If you would like to play along, just follow along the blog path.  I am linking to one of the Zva designers and that designer is linking to the next and so on. Be prepared to be inspired along the way.

Hidden on FIVE of the blogs is a Zva Creative prize package ...YAY! Winners will be randomly chosen after the hop is over, so it's important to leave a comment on as many blogs as you can along the way.

The Blog Hop starts today, May 30th and runs through midnight US Eastern Standard Time on Tuesday, May 31st and the 5 winners will be announced on Wednesday, June 1st on each of the five winning blogs. The full list will be found on Kim Hughes‘s blog as well (linked above). We will do our best to notify each winner, but it's best if you can pop in to all of the blogs once again on Wednesday...plus, you never know what kind of inspirational creation that you may find there.

All you need to do is leave a comment on this Zva Blog Hop post...you do not need to leave a comment on each and every designer's blog post to qualify. The more times you leave a comment along the blog hop path though, the more chances you will have to be one of the lucky winners.

 
This month I haven't gone for my usual brights! Oh but I've still used pink LOL! I actually knew I wanted to use that particular Zva crystal flourish (CRB-04CA-115) so chose soft coloured papers to go with it! I also used one of their divine white flowers (FL-04CA-13) and I'm sad that I've only got one left!

 

And a little white rose (FLBK-03CB-101) with a touch of dusty pink ink adds the perfect finishing touch!

 

And have you spied a few goodies from my Etsy shop? Namely the pink heart doily and book paper flag and badge?

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The blog hop begins here: Kim Hughes

Your next stop is here: Benedicte Raphalen

Thank you SO MUCH for joining us!

{Now Listed!}

Without further adieu, here's what's now listed in my Etsy Store:

Pink heart paper doilies

 

Red and white spot paper doilies

 

Petite paper doilies - I've sourced them at a MUCH lower price than before!

Kraft Sampler Kit - the tags and pockets are also available separately! 

 

Triple Pearl Pins - Sampler pack and individual colour packs

 

Baker's Twine

 

Vintage Baker's Twine - for something different!

 

I'm so happy with the matching badges and flag embellies to my ever-popular mini banners!

Book Paper

 

Vintage Dictionary

 

Vintage Sheet Music

 

Map Paper - new and with a multitude of uses!

 

Felt Rosettes are fully stocked

 

Doily/Flower kits - some still available

 

POSTAGE

I have had to increase my flat rate postage to $6.95 within Australia due to the new stock additions - namely the large paper doilies and pins which I would hate to be damaged in the post, and need to be packed quite securely.

However, if you do order just a few small, flat items such as the petite doilies, twine, tags and banners, the postage will be MUCH cheaper so I will refund the difference.

ORDERING

Of course I am happy to accept orders via email if you prefer to use direct deposit (payment through Etsy is Paypal only). Email address is gaillindner(at)hotmail(dot)com.

For the locals, I'll also be attending the scrapbook expo on the June long weekend (the Sunday in fact) if you want me to bring them along to save on postage!

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Thanks for bearing with me with this mammoth post! I'm going to do a giveaway next week, after the Zva Creative blog hop on Monday! I hope you visit me then for some blingy-inspiration!

 

 

{Coming Soon}

A few more sneak peeks tonight - I'm working on getting everything into the shop on Friday!

  
  
  
  
 
I'm so excited! Lots of matching embellishments!

 
 

{Greatest View Sneak Peek}

I've got LOADS of new goodies that I'll be adding to my Etsy Store over the weekend. I'd love to give you a first look at some of them today.

  
  
  
  
   I've been searching for unique, different and versatile embellishments and I'm so happy with the selection that I've gathered!

I'll be back with more tomorrow!

 

{More Elle's Studio}

Hi! I'd love to share with you my other two projects that I created for the Elle's Studio inspiration gallery this month! Firstly, another layout:

 
You don't always get the best photos at concerts like these but I wanted to record the occasion for Amelia anyway.

 
I turned one journaling tag into a 'flag' by adhering it around a wooden skewer (thanks for that technique Kim).

 
And three more journaling tags from various sets layered and embellished and journalling added (typed straight on again) down the bottom of the page. And what's a layout about the Wiggles without a red rose???

My non-layout project this month is something else for the baby's room. I kept to the same colour scheme as this frame from a couple of months ago.

 
It's an embellished A5 accordian file to keep all those cards he/she will be given over the first few years. I've posted about these before here.

 
I've just layered a couple of journaling tags and also used some of my dictionary banner to keep the front nice and simple.

 
I've even labelled a couple of sections using circle journaling tags folded over like tabs.

Thanks for looking and for all the nice comments you leave me! It truly makes my day!

 

 

{Elle's Studio May Gallery}

I'm battling the sickies again :(

But I wanted to pop in to direct you to the May inspiration gallery over at Elle's Studio. As usual, there's loads of inspiration to be found! Here's one of my layouts:

 
More of the Handmade Layers line used on this one. It's just so versatile - I've used it with so many different colour schemes and it just 'works'!

 
How cute is that pin below? I cut the words 'life documented' from another tag to add it to the pin.

And I'm so happy that I'm sticking with one of my goals this year - documenting more stories in my scrapbooking. Here's what the journaling says:

"When you get up to mischief you say (in a singsong voice) "Mummy Nothing!" It's a sure fire giveaway that you're up to something!"

And by the way, have you seen all that's happening on the Elle's Studio blog? There's a weekly sketch and new project kits with exclusive tags coming soon!  Ah. If only there were more hours in the day to scrapbook!

 

 

{An Old Drawer}

I picked up an old drawer at a market a couple of weekends ago. I immediately saw its potential as it is a divided drawer. Today I gave it a couple of coats of aqua and it's ready for the scraproom!

 
It was originally beige and I will probably get a clear or pale pink knob for it but the brown one that came with it will do for now.

 
Perfect for housing my collection of mists, stickles and other mediums!

 
And into my shelves.

I have some scrappy deadlines that I'm taking care of this week, hence the lack of posts. So of course I choose to rearrange my shelves instead of scrapbooking today! Hehe!

Back soon!

 

{More Tarisota Layouts}

I have two more layouts to share using the Tarisota gallery using this amazing kit.

Every now and them I create a heritage layout and as soon as I saw the kit I knew the papers and embellishments would be perfect for one.

 
I especially loved the banner alphabet!

 
This next layout uses an IPhone photo - never the best quality!

 
 
I stamped on a manilla envelope included in the kit, added a twine closure and it actually houses concert tickets from that night (Bon Jovi!)

I can't wait until I can share the next lot of layouts!

 

{Photoshop Actions}

I promised I would give you more details about the photoshop actions I've been using. They are from Pioneer Woman here and here is an easy tutorial to install them with whatever version of Photoshop Elements you have (I have V.8).

Here are some examples of photos I've applied some of my favourite actions to, starting firstly with the photo straight out of the camera:

 
This one is using the colorized action and is the photo I used on the layout in the previous post:

 
I think the 70's action is a bit of fun:

 
Or you can turn it into a photo reminiscent of my grandparents' era with the vintage action:

 
You can also keep it simple and use the color boost action (which I do on nearly every single photo) and also give it an edge burn:

 
I have to say that if I can install them myself, I think anyone can as I'm HOPELESS at these sorts of things and usually just get my husband to do it for me. But I did it and they work! So I urge you to give them a go too!

But a word of warning - they're addictive!

 

{First Tarisota Layout}

Woohoo the Tarisota gallery is finally up (check it out here) so I can start sharing my layouts! Today I want to share with you all my new favourite layout of all time! That's quite a statement . . .

 
I just love it. All product except cardstock, leaves and letters are from this paper crafting kit, as will the layouts I'll share over the next couple of days.

 
And I'm totally in love with that calico flower (I added the button centre). You can actually purchase them separately here - you may be seeing them a lot in my projects in the future.

AND check out the blog here and read all about the latest collection AS WELL as a discount code for everyone.

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You want to know what I loved most about working with this kit? Although I loved the collection, it was far from my usual bright and girly style. My secret weapons were some new photoshop actions that I aquired that gave my bright photos a more muted and even vintage look that coordinated perfectly!  I'll share more about them tomorrow I think.