Zva Creative November DT Blog Hop!

We have a NEW Zva Creative Design Team and we welcome you to join us this month for a blog hop that we feel is extra special!

There is now an added twist to our blog hops, YIPPEE! 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. We anticipate that our hops will become even more breathtaking with such stunning products to showcase by concentrating on color...

The Blog Hop begins at Kim Hughes' blog Paper Hugs. 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 ...WOOT! WOOT! 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, November 29th and runs through midnight US Eastern Standard Time on Tuesday, November 30th and the 5 winners will be announced on Wednesday, December 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.

My designated colour for this month was red. So I just couldn't go past the NEW DESIGN red rhinestone butterfly. I just had to include it on my page. Isn't it beautiful!!! I've finished off the page with some red silk and white felt flowers, with rhinestone brads in the centre. I've added some clear rhinestone strips and rhinestone aplhas for a little sparkle. Titled: Dressed To Thrill. Zva Creative products used: rhinestone butterfly (CRB-03CB-114); silk flowers (FL01CB105); felt flowers (FL01CB116); 1/4" gem brads (BRBK02CA101); rhinestone alphas (CRP01CB102); and rhinestone strips (CR01CB109). Other products used: Anna Griffin paper, Hambly transparency, Hambly rub-ons, Carolees Creations mini alphas, Girl's Paperie stamp.

The blog hop begins here: Kim Hughes

Your next stop is here: Lou Collins

Thank you SO MUCH for joining us. Don't forget to check back to find out if you are one of the lucky winners. And I hope to see all of you again next month, when we get to have a whole lot of fun, all over again!!!

Pencil Lines Sketch #215

Don't you just LOVE this week's sketch over at Pencil Lines! I mean, I seriously love, love, love this sketch, and will definitely use it again. This is sketch #215, and our guest designer this week is Jennifer Matott. I think the sketch must have really inspired the DT this week because there are some seriously gorgeous layouts up on the Pencil Lines blog. They really have out-done themselves this week. (-:

This is my take on the sketch. Titled: No Fear (it is about Keana's first day at school). When I first looked at this sketch I was really uncertain about what to do, but once I saw this Sassafrass paper, I knew exactly what I wanted to create. This layout came together so easy - which doesn't happen often. (-: I normally have to think and play a little harder before I figure out what I want to do. I can honestly say this layout is in my top 10 favourites for this year. Products used: Sassafrass papers, felt embellishments, chipboard alphas and stickers.

Here Comes Christmas...

The girls had their annual Christmas Carols event at school tonight. All the children were dressed in Christmas colours, and were so happy and excited. It was so lovely and sweet to hear all the children singing. It truly is a reminder that Christmas is now just around the corner. Here are my two showing off their new Christmas shirts. Keana's says "Dear Santa, I can explain everything..." and Malayla's says "Is It Too Late To Be Good?".

Can you tell that I picked them out???? LOL!!!

Color Combos Galore Challenge #168

This week we have Challenge #168 for you over at Color Combos Galore. The colours include brown, yellow, white and burnt orange. The Designer's Challenge is to use birds.

Here's my take on this week's challenge. I have gone with "cute" again. (-: And look - there are no children in the photo (gasp! shock! horror!). I enjoyed making this layout - it was pure fun. And I got to mess around with my glimmermists and make some flowers too. I have also used a NEW DESIGN rhinestone flourish from Zva Creative (CRS-03CB-107), along with their felt flowers (FL01Cb116, FL01CB115, and FL01CB117) and gemstone brads (BRBK02CA101). The papers are from October Afternoon, and the stickers are from Hambly.

Playing With Sketches...

I've been busy playing with sketches from different sites around the web. Here are two of my favourites for this month. Firstly, this layout was created using a sketch that I found on the Bo-Bunny blog. Titled: His Little Angel. I've used Bo-Bunny papers, rub-ons, stickers and gem stones. Other products used: Kaisercraft rhinestone flourishes and Hambly transparencies. Sorry about the not so great phtographs - the Christmas tree is in the spot where I usually position my layouts for photographing. I'm in the process of trying to find another good spot.
Bo-Bunny Sketch.

This is my second layout based on a sketch that I found on the Crate Paper blog. Titled: 2010. I have used Crate Paper papers and stickers from the Noel Mignon "Dear Diary" kit. All the other products used come from the kit, except the twine, paper flowers, and Zva Creative pearls. I absolutely LOVEd this sketch, and will definitely use it again.
Crate Paper sketch.

Something Unique...

Both my girls wanted to give their teacher's something for Christmas. So this is what I came up with - Christmas baubles made by my girls. Something unique and individual, and not store brought. Well, the chocolates that go with these baubles are from the store, because I couldn't be bothered making chocolates too!!!. This was messy enough without adding chocolate, lol!!! This blue one is for Malayla's teacher, Mr Lay.

This green and red one is for Keana's teacher, Mrs Peale. Making these was relatively easy. I cut up long thin strips of papers for the girls. They then curled those strips by rolling them up on a paintbrush. Then each curl was tightened, and pushed into the bauble. Once the bauble was full, we added some glitter. Silver to the blue bauble, and gold to the red/green bauble. I placed the tops back on the bauble, making sure they were tight and secure. Then the girls chose a rhinestone flower/flourish (Kaisercraft), which I then placed onto the front of the bauble. The end result were these gorgeous hand-made Chrsitmas baubles for the teachers. So every time they look at them, they will be reminded of their students. (-: Much better than another coffee mug or candle, don't you think? Mmm...I can see an annual tradition starting here, lol!!!!

Pencil Lines Sketch #214

This week, we have sketch #214 for you, over at Pencil Lines. Our guest designer is the amazingly talented, Laura Vegas. Did you know she has been scrapbooking for 15 years? I have another 11 years before I can say that about myself, lol!!! (-:

I went with "cute" this week. (-: I haven't done cute in quite a while. So, here's my take on the sketch - "Hunting For Wild Things". I broke out my Basic Grey papers, buttons, stickers and chipboard (which has been neglected recently). And added a couple of felt shapes that I think are from Sassafrass??? I didn't feel like sewing, so I faked the stitching and borders. I hand drew them. (-: I'm quite happy with the end result (especially since it had me worried at the start of the layout, lol!!!). Right. I'm off to clean the house...sigh! But then I can scrap!!! (-:

We Did This...

Last night I went out with my husband, daughters, and some friends, for my belated
40th birthday dinner. And I had the best time ever! It was absolutely wonderful to catch up so many friends, especially since I only get to see some of them once or twice a year. So, without further ado, I want to send a very big thank-you, and lots of hugs and kisses, to the following special people in my life:
My best friend forever, Megan, and her partner Andy
Vanessa and Andrew Waller
Annette (aka Millie)
Gloria and John
Shona, and her adorable daughters - Breanna and Alex
Janice, and her sweet daughter Kaiya
Deanne
Warren and his partner Maxine.
I cannot thank-you all enough for your friendship. Last night meant so much to me, and I am so grateful you were all a part of the celebrations. (-:

Then today, we had a quiet day at home and did this...

We dragged out the Christmas tree, dusted it off, assembled it, and finished with decorations. Well, I should say the girls did. DH and I just supervised (such a nice change!!!)

Yes, I know it is early, but hubby leaves on Tuesday to go back to work, and he will not return until about the 22nd December. So we put the tree up today, together, as a family...

And here's the end result. I am so proud of my girls - they did such a wonderful job on the tree. I won't even have to go and fix it up later when they are not looking (hee! hee! hee!).

Color Combos Galore Challenge #167

We have a stunning and elegant colour combination for you this week over at Color Combos Galore. Challenge #167 includes plum, pale green, black and turquoise. Aren't these colours just so divine together? And the Designer's Challenge is pleating.

Here's my layout for this week's challenge. Titled: Sweet About You. I wasn't sure where to start this week, so I started with my new Martha Stewart punch. (-: I'm slowly becoming a punch addict. Sigh! Like I need another addiction. (-: To create this layout I have used the following Zva Creative products: NEW rhinestone flourish (CR01CB138); silk flowers (FL01CB105); felt flowers (FL01CB116); rhinestones (CR-02CB-101); and pearl strips (PE-02CB-110).

Favourite Colour Combination...

Busy, busy, busy... this time of the year is always crazy. My girls only have another 3 weeks at school then we are on school holidays. So I am madly trying to get as many DT commitment layouts done as possible. But I managed to find time squeeze in a layout just for me. (-: And of course, I have used my current favourite colour combination (I warned you that I would use it again!) - white, red, and aqua blues. Titled: 1.2.3...Pose. I have used lots of Pink Paislee goodies - papers, stamps, glitter, artisan elements and alpha stickers. And I have finished it off with some Zva Creative rhinestone flourishes (CRW-02CA-105 and CRW02CA112), pearls, rhinestones, and bulk 3D flowers (red). Other products used: Jenni Bowlin pins, Glimmermist, Martha Stewart punches, Kaisercraft rhinestone border, and Carolees Creations mini alphas.

Out From Under The Sheets...

I've been dragged out from under my sheets (see post further down) by my husband, daughters and Jodi. (-: So since I'm out, I thought I would share a layout with you (I have a couple of others but I can't share them yet). This is my second November monthly project for Zva Creative. Titled: Glamour Diva. Zva Creative products used: pearl flourish (PEB-03CB-106); rhinestones (CR-02CB-101); pearls (PE-02CB-102); 1/4" gemstone brads (BRBK02CA101); silk flowers (FL01CB105 and FL01CB113); and bulk 3D flowers (yellow). Other products used: Noel Mignon Sonoma County kit (sold out); Crate Papers and Cosmo Cricket; The Girl's paperie and Pink Paislee/House of 3 stamps; Maya Road leaf pin; Jenni Bowlin Bingo Alphas; American Crafts Thickers and buttons; Shimmerz Vibez; and Stickles glitter.

Reminiscing...

It's my last day as a "30" something. )-: Tomorrow I join the 40 club. So I've been thinking about my favourite things. I thought I might share a few with you:

My Top 5 Male Actors (in no particular order):
1. Keanu Reeves
2. Taylor Lautner
3. Joshua Jackson
4. Johnny Depp
5. Michael Copon.

My Top 5 Female Actors:
1. Angelina Jolie
2. Drew Barrymore
3. Julia Stiles
4. Katherine Heigl
5. Lucy Lui

My Top 5 Favourite desserts:
1. Chocolate and Peanut Butter ice-cream
2. Baked New York Cheesecake
3. Applie Pie and cream
4. Chocolate Mud Cake
5. Sticky Date Pudding

My Top 5 Holiday Destinations:
1. New York City
2. Vancouver
3. Paris
4. Scotland
5. Mauritius

I wonder how these will change in 10 years time. At 50, will I still like the same things, or will my tastes be different? So, what are your favourites? Is anyone game to share? (-:

One Of THOSE Days!!!

I'm having one of THOSE days! It started with a car that wouldn't start this morning. Flat battery thanks to my darling girls who flicked a light switch in the car yesterday, and drained the battery. NOT HAPPY! So emergency phone call to a girl friend to pick up my two on the way to school. Thank-goddness she lives just down the road. But it gets better - oh, yes it does! My dad came over and recharged my battery for me. No sooner than he left, there is a knock on my door. My neighbour was mowing the lawn, and a rock flew up and smashed the front passenger window of my car. Seriously??? Are you kidding me!!! Aaarggghhhhhh!!!!!!!!! $418 later to get it fixed. Now, on top of all this, you add in the fact that I have just been diagnosed with Hypertension, and a possible kidney infection, and I'm about to turn 40 in less than a week, you can see that this is not a good week for me. So, if you don't hear from me for the week, that is because I am in bed, with the sheets pulled up over my head, in denial. And yes, I plan on staying there for a whole week. (-: I am not turning 40...I shall remain 39 forever!!!!

Kraft It Up! November Challenge:

The November challenge over at Kraft It Up! is "decorative edges". So, I guess you could say I took this one to the extreme, lol! (-: I've used three shades of Glimmermist for my background, a Martha Stewart and a EK Success punch for my decorative strips, some Rouge De Garance paper, Prima alphas, and a Maya Road chipboard heart. Of course, the bling and flowers are from Zva Creative. (Flourish CR02CA102; gemstone brads BRBK02CA101; pearls PE-02CB-101/CR-02CA-127; rhinestones CRRC-02CA-102; silk flowers FL01CB104; felt flowers FL01CB-116 and FL01CB117).

Pencil Lines Sketch #212

This week, we have sketch #212 for you over at Pencil Lines. Our guest designer is Sasha Farina. And the design team have definitely been busy creating some amazing inspiration for you. Make sure you drop by and check out all their stunning work!

Here's my layout for this week. Titled: Love These Moments. I have used lots of Sassafrass goodies - Mix and Mend papers, stickers, chipboard alphas, and chipboard embellishments. I have finished the page off with some Zva Creative bling (of course!!!). I've used a flourish (PE-02CB-125), some rhinestones (CR01CB101), and some pearls (PE-02CB-101/CR-02CA-127).

Plan Put Into Action...

I put my plan into action today. (-: I took my girls back to the park and creek, for more tadpole hunting. But this time, I took food, drink, a rug, a pillow, a book to read, and my camera. And some containers for the girls to store their tadpoles in. Three hours later, we all left happy!!!

I got lots of photos, so I have heaps of new scrapping material. In fact, Malayla was so intent on catching her tadpoles she actually ignored me and the camera. Well, I guess there's a first time for everything, lol!

How many tadpoles is too many? Not to mention the tadpole eggs that they gathered as well. Some of the tadpoles already had there legs and were nearly fully formed frogs. So interesting to look and watch. But I did make the girls put them all back at the end of the day so that there will be more tadpoles in the future. (-:

This feathered friend (and his/her mate) came to check us out. They wanted bread of course! Luckily, I had a vegemite and cheese roll that I didn't mind sharing. Did you know that ducks like vegemite? No, I didn't either, until they ate my whole roll today!!!

And this little Aussie darling came for a visit this morning. I only managed to score two photos before he flew away. But this is probably 10 metres from our back door. I am SO GLAD our cat Pandora wasn't around when he arrived - she would have gone into a hunting frenzy. She's a Maine Coon and is a natural born hunter. Thank-goodness, it's mostly grasshoppers and skinks.

Glorious Afternoons and Vanishing Acts...

Yesterday, I found this beauty in my backyard. I was washing dishes inside, when I saw a flash of colour through my window. I grabbed my camera, bolted outside, and managed to score a couple of nice photos before it flew away.

My girls and I had a glorious afternoon today. I took them down to the local park at the village to play. There is a shallow creek that runs alongside the park. And guess what? It was filled with tadpoles. So I got to spend my afternoon watching my girls hunt up and down this creek, catching tadpoles, having the best time of their lives. It just made me so insanely happy to see them enjoying nature. They were purely happy and content. And they have asked me if I will take them back again tomorrow. (-: Yes, I think that is a good plan! And this time mummy will take her camera - an even better plan, lol!!!

And I've had a list of web sites vanish from my blog page. In the side bar to the left, below my blog list, I had another list of places that I liked to visit, not all of them scrapping related. But now it's gone and I don't have a clue what happened. I am presuming, but only presuming mind you, that I must have clicked a wrong button one night when I was tired. But I have no memory of this happening. Maybe I'm going senile? So now I get to start a new list. (-: Suggestions anyone??? LOL!

Color Combos Galore Challenge #165

Challenge #165 is now live over at Color Combos Galore. This week's colours include pale yellow, sage green, white linen, and maroon red. The designer's challenge is to include distressing.

Anybody who knows me, knows that I am not really a big "distressing" type of gal. I use this technique occasionally on my layouts, but not often. So, I cheated!!! (-: I tore one end of the cardstock (and then covered half of it up again with flowers, lol!), and I used Bella! distressed chipboard alphas. And that was my limit this week for distressing. But I did use lots of Zva Creative bling instead (Ha! Ha! Ha!). Or should I say "Ho! Ho! Ho!". Sorry, but the pun was intended since I did a Christmas layout. Titled: Christmas Fairy. Zva Creative products used: pearl vine leaves NEW (PES-03CB-103); silk flowers (FL01CB105); felt flowers (FL01CB114); rhinestone alphas (CRP01CB102); pearl brads (BRBK02CA103); and gemstone brads 1/4" (BRBK02CA101). Papers used: Kaisercraft and Making Memories.

Zva Creative November Project No. 1

I'm off to an early start this month! Here's my first November monthly project for Zva Creative. Titled: Somewhere Over The Rainbow. Actually, I think this is my all-time favourite layout for the year. The idea for this came to me while I was trying to sleep (typical!!!). And once I had thought of it, all I could think of, was why hadn't I thought of this earlier??? Zva Creative products used: rhinestone flourish (CRB-03CA-112); rhinestones (CR01CB101); pearls (PE-02CB-102); silk flowers (FL01CB106); felt flowers (FL01CB117 and FL-01CB-114); rhinestone strips (CR01CB113); rhinestone alphas (CRP01CB102); and bulk 3D flowers (in nearly every colour!). For my background, I used glimmermist, in the colours of the rainbow. Other products used: Rouge De Garance and Fancy Pants papers; Jillibean Soup journalling dot; and Carolees Creations mini alphas. And in case you were wondering, these photos were self-portraits taken by my daughter. She just LOVES playing with my camera. But this is a good thing, because it gives me even more photos to scrap, lol!!!

The Big Announcement!!!

Please welcome the new Zva Creative Design Team:
Lisa Johnson - US
Teri Anderson - US
Windy Robinson - US
Debbie Olsen - US
Jillian Cassity - US
Angelica Franssen - US
Nancy Doren - US
Guiseppa Gubler - US
Tara Orr - Canada
Benedicte Raphalen - France
Carole Maurin - France
Ingrid Danvers - Netherlands
Jolanda Meurs - Netherlands
Julianne McKenna - Australia
Gail Lindner - Australia
Tanya Tahir - Australia
Tokomo Takahashi - Japan
Camilla Ekman - Sweden
Susan Lui - Singapore
Louise Collins - UK

I am honoured to be joining Zva Creative for another 6 months. Anyone who knows me, knows that I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE their rhinestone and pearl products!!! And this time, I am joined by two other Aussie girls - Gail and Tanya! Yay!!! (-: It will be wonderful working with all this amazing talent. A big welcome to everyone.

Pencil Lines Sketch #211

This week, Pencil Lines is bringing you sketch #211. (I LOVE this sketch!!!). And this week's guest designer is the fabulous Rhonda Palazzari. Make sure you drop by and check out all the fabulous creations from the Pencil Lines team.

Here's my take on the sketch. Titled: Hello Crazy. I've used Hambly transparencies and glimmermist to create my background. I've added some masking tape and machine stitching. Then I've finsihed off with some Zva Creative goodies: pearl flourish (PEB-02CB-112), rhinestone strips (CR-01CB-111 and CRo1CB113), pearl brads (BRBK02CA103), rhinestones (CR01CB101) and silk flowers (FL01CB106, FL01CB112 and FL01CB113). The journalling spots are from Jillibean soup, and the photo corner stickers are from October Afternoon. Alphas are from American Crafts (Thickers) and Carolees Creations. The stamps are from Pink Paislee - House of 3 - Anthologie.