Today!

Well hi! 

I am here and I am OK! I am just blown away by the amount of comments left in my last post. Where did you all come from? How did you accept me in your life as you did? The words you all spoke were just incredible and heart felt . Quitting everything was the hardest thing I ever had to do on this sort of level because ..I just DONT do that. I am not like that. I dont leave things like that. In many ways, I felt as though I was letting all of you down by 'going away' but then as your comments and emails started pouring through I really felt your understanding and all of you told me something so incredible.... " we are here and we will be waiting when you get back" . To be honest when I made the decision to walk away I had NO plans of ever coming back. And NO..I still have not scrapped in a month...but just today...I started hearing some of your words in my head. And I realised that I held on to what you all said '..we will wait for you' which kind of inclines me to come back here. Mind you I still have NO desire to scrap LOL! But at least I do not feel sick at the thought of paper. I have even just started to look at a couple of things on my dusty desk without feeling sick and anxious. .LOL!

I am not sure if it makes sense. I like to think I am a genuine person, thats why sometimes some of the things I say might not make too much sense, because nothing I say is premeditated. I speak straight from the heart. And this is what I am doing now. I just logged on and felt like posting here. 

I have hardly been near a computer for a long time. And you know..I didnt miss it at all. LOL! Other than Once Upon A..Sketch and a couple of visits here and there I have ignored the internet very very much. And it has been OK!. 

But I felt the need to tell you that I am in a VERY happy place at the moment. I am good..I wish..oh how I wish I could just tell you the BEST news I have received in a long time...but you know how these things go..you can't reveal anything even though you are dying to scream it to the world. Just know that I am VERY happy and I should be able to tell you all by the end of August...how painful to have to wait that long..LOL! But I hope it all works out . 

Anyway...thank you all so so very much. Again..I repeat my self...I do not know where you all came from but sometimes I think how wonderful life would be if I could live close to ALL of you. Imagine having you all as my friends in real life. You are just incredible and I am so lucky. 

OK OK..I am going. Am starting to feel a little anxious now so I am NOT just going to ignore that feeling like I used to but succumb to it.

Before I go, I wanted to show you a layout that I created AGES ago. Just before everything. It is for my friend Wendy's challenge blog Bird Is The Word and this was the last layout I created for Bird Is The Word as part of the DT. Wendy is yet another person I am going to call a friend for a long time. I only met her because I was subscribing to her kits at Tidbitz In Time and then she accepted me to be on the Design Team at Bird Is The Word and the rest is history. I had a strong attachment to BITW..and to Wendy and I dont think I am officially off that team because Wendy wouldnt really let me go and I couldnt leave..LOL!

So anyway..the challenge is still going so you have time to enter. You need to use the word Today in your title or journalling.  I just thought that the message on this layout is so fitting for how I feel right this moment, because indeed..TODAY is BETTER than YESTERDAY. And it always is. But sometimes its hard to see that. 

I have not created anything since then ...so I am not sure when I will be back. 

So until the next time we talk..its goodbye from (happy) me. 

Still here..

Hi everyone...

I am still here ...although I do have some news to share with you that I am not quite sure on how to say. 

If you have been a follower of my blog for a while now, you would know that I started this blog back in August of 2010 at which point I considered my self VERY VERY new to scrapping. I started this blog as a way to enter a competition and things just kind of blew out of proportion since then...

I landed my very first Design Team position in late 2010, and that was at Pretty Paper Petals and for the last 7 months, I went from 1 Design Team position to having about 9 positions simultaneously. For a long time I enjoyed the ride. It was truly amazing....but for a while now I have NOT enjoyed scrapping to deadlines, printing out the 'month's work' and creating in what felt like a factory production line. It kind of went from wanting to scrap each moment of the day to feeling anxious and sick at the thought of touching one more paper. 

To add to that, you all know that I started Once Upon A...Sketch in April and that takes a lot of work to run it the way I want to run it. I always say that I NEVER do half hearted things...and maybe I am a perfectionist ..I dont know, but I just don't do things half way. So I put a LOT of effort in everything I do. 

So, you all know just how busy my blog is. All you need to do is look at the past month and you will see just how many blog entries I have made. And again, because I committ 100% to all I do, each entry would take me a while to complete...

Added to this, the amount of Guest Designer spots I accepted and obligations here, there and everywhere were really taking up a lot of my time. 

I mean ...A LOT of my time. If you dont know this, I work 2 days a week as a primary school teacher, which is no walk in the park let me tell you...and also each Wednesday I manage our family business administration side of things. Plus...I have 2 little children who I love immensely and want to spend more time with. 

It has come to a point where my husband would say that all the scrapping and online stuff is like a second job! And yes..it is!

All this has been playing on my mind for a while....what to do ..oh what to do? 

Most people wouldn't do what I did. Most people would stick it out and see what happens. But..that's not me and I am not most people. 

In order to survive this and keep breathing I had to do the only thing that felt right..and that is quit from ABSOLUTELY each and every one of my Design Team positions! Yep...look on my side bar...NO Design Team positions. All I have left is Once Upon A..Sketch!

Ahhhh....I can breathe again. I can actually breathe! You have no idea what a LIBERATING feeling it is not to HAVE to scrap because you..well..HAVE TO!

I am SOOOO grateful for all the opportunities I have had so far! All the people that trusted me with their product or their challenge blog or whatever it was. THANK YOU to everyone. But I simply could not do it any more. I just... couldn't do it. I had to stop now because I just could NOT bring my self to create anything at all. 

Above all THANK YOU to all of you...424 followers later leaves me to conclude that some of you liked my work. But what overwhelms me with gratefulness is the constant comments I have received from all of you. Encouraging me...urging me...treating me with unbelievable words and love. 

But my friends..I am taking a break for a while. I do not know for how long..I will not say forever. Just for a while. I hope to be back soon to share with you some really happy and exciting news for a future adventure but until then you will not see me on any Design Teams and I apologise to the wonderful people whose blogs i will not visit and posts I will not leave comments on. 

I need this so that I can be back one day soon. I hope you do understand. 

My last word of advice? You know all those Design Teams you are dying to be on, just like I was a few months ago? Well I hope you are accepted on them and you go on to be on multiple teams but ...like the saying goes "be careful of what you wish for"...because I guarantee you , you will find your self in the same position I am at right now....overwhelmed!

Wishing you all the very best...see you again soon!

Love always, Nadia.

My Scrapbook Nook *JULY* kit

Finally my July kit from My Scrapbook Nook arrived and it looks like this...

It includes:

October Afternoon Paper 5 & Dime

Binder Clip

American Crafts Picot Trim

Maya Road Canvas Tags

October Afternoon Rubber Charms

American Crafts Thickers

October Afternoon Mini Market Alphabet

October Afternoon 12×12 Vintage Sticker & Border Sheet

Just amazing right? And I couldn't wait to get into it. 

My fellow Design Team member Jessy Christopher has a sketch challenge up this month and the Guest Designer for the month of July for the sketch challenge is Natalie May, who won June's challenge. 

If you want the chance to win a prize and be next month's Guest Designer why dont you enter the sketch challenge? You can use ANY materials you like, not just a Nook kit. You will find all the information HERE.

So I based my first layout on Jessy's sketch..

Everything from this layout is from the Main Kit (except the mist which was from the July Add On kit) 

My second layout is based on the current challenge over at my sketch challenge blog Once Upon A..Sketch, where my fellow design team members from My Scrapbook Nook are Guests. 

JULY 1st CHALLENGE

Journalling Criteria: Who is in the photo? Name the person in the photo and at least 1 fact about them. This can be personality, character, talent , achievement etc. but it must be at least 2 sentences long. 

 Just above you can see the Maya Road canvas strips that I misted with the red/dark pink mist from the Add On kit. 

I have used again mainly the July Main Kit and added a few chipboard pieces from the Add On kits. I did LOTS of fussy cutting from the paper included in the kit. 

SO do you like the look of this kit? 

Would you like to win one? 

Well firstly let me introduce the "Nook" to those that do not know it. 

My Scrapbook Nook  is an American kit club which began in 2003. Today they have grown into an international community serving scrapbookers around the world! 

Kits usually contain 10-15 sheets of patterned paper, cardstock, an alphabet, small and large embellishments including items like: ribbons and lace, flowers, pearls, buttons, rub ons, journaling aids.

Does it sound like something you might be interested in? I have been on the Design Team for a few months now and before that I have been subscribing for a while. I have always  found the Nook kits to be AMAZING value. A subscription to the kit is just $US29.50! And POSTAGE is really awesome too! That is  a real bargain because they are ALWAYS so well coordinated and packed with amazing stuff to use with the latest releases!Plus you get a little parcel delivered to your door every month..what a thrill that is!

Not just that, no matter what your skill level you will SURELY find inspiration in all the step by step classes by the Design Team  that are FREE for everyone to see and use in the forum. The Nook forum is also JUST THE BEST place to get all the gossip in the scrapping world, plus a place to share everyday happening at and meet new people!

My Scrapbook Nook currently has an offer where if you subscribe to the kits for 12 months, you will get your 13 month ABSOLUTELY free. 

BUT to be in with a chance to win the July kit FROM ME, you need to send me an email at samnadia@hotmail.com by July 30th, telling me that you have taken up a new subscription to the Nook and I will put your name in a list and do a random draw!You will get the July kit for free, and then your subscription will start in August and you will also get your 13th month free. 

 If you have been thinking about joining up , now is your chance because ANY NEW subscriptions will go into a draw to win this AMAZING July Kit

Let me know how you go!

Take care..:o)

The Play Date Cafe #89

OK second post for today but still have this to show you..

The Craft's Meow is sponsoring The Play Date Cafe challenge blog this week and the Design Team members were invited along to design with this weeks colours which are 

Mint...Buttercream...Taupe

At The Play Date Cafe, you are able to create cards, layouts, altered projects...so I created a layout about my best friends and I..

Ohhh it has been a while since I created such a heavily layered busy...messy layout. AND IT FELT good to cut papers free hand..to just not think too long about where everything should go...to not care about uneven ends...I really enjoyed making this. 

So these are my 2 best friends who I have know for many years now. We recently have all been dealing with an issue together which has brought us closer and I just really wanted to create this because our friendship is REAL and I hope it stays this way for MANY more years. 

Everything on here is again from the June Tidbitz In Time kit and if you wanted to know details of products please click on the link HERE

Below I have used this  SCRAPMATTS chipboard clock  on the background, which I inked slightly. 

And just above, I used this stamp set from The Crafts Meow..

Its a Banner Day 

together with 

Spellbinders Banner Basics Three Dies (both designed by Nina Brackett) 

Thanks so much for letting me share! Have a good day. 

Some Cards To Share...

Hi! I hope this post finds you well. I am just doing awesome. :o)

I wanted to share with you that I was asked to be Guest Designer at City Crafter Challenge blog for challenge #64 some weeks back! This was really exciting as I do know of this blog and if you havent visited yet you should because you are bound to find something to inspire you there. 

Challenge #64 included this photo prompt, which is for inspiration only. You can interpret it any way you like...

and here is my take on it...

I have used something here that I JUST bought after wanting it for so long..

together with BasicGrey Sweet Threads papers and a Prima Flower. I inked the edges with this..

So, why don't you go on over to City Crafter challenge blog and see what the Design Team came up with. You can create ANYTHING you like...card, layout, altered project. 

Moving on to one more challenge that I have designed a card for. As you know I recently joined the team at The Craft's Meow. Well..I will not be focusing on cards so much , but while my new role there is finalised, let me show you this card that I created for the FIRST EVER card sketch challenge at The Craft's Meow designed by ..ME!

This is the sketch you need to follow and unfortunately you DO need to use The Craft's Meow stamps to enter this challenge. But it goes till the very END of July so there is still time to purchase some and join in because the PRIZE is a STAMP SET of your choice from The Craft's Meow...

I have used my June Tidbitz In Time kit here, which included papers from Pink Paislee Butterly Garden. I also used this stamp set from The Crafts Meow

Fly Free

which would you believe is ONLY $US10.00 and postage is only a few dollars more! How economical is that?

I stamped the image with these stamps

and 

I also used this for the circle in the centre

Spellbinders Lacey Circles Dies 

and created this card in just under 10 minutes! 

Hope you find some time to play along..

Hope you are well..Have a GREAT day!

Bird is The Word *HOPE*

Hi everyone. I hope you are all well. 

I had a VERY exciting meeting with my friend Tanya Tahir last night! She came over to Sydney from Perth and we just HAD TO MEET. Oh it was amazing to meet someone I like and admire in real life....I think i must have stared at her for a while just to see if she is real. LOL! Well anyway..we tried to take some photos, but it was very dark and FREEZING so I will see if we got any good ones and will post them here!

Now a new challenge is up at Bird Is The Word. The challenge is to use the word HOPE in your title or journalling. 

The design team have created up a storm and here is my example..

So these are the lyrics from one of my absolute favourite songs "I hope you dance"  by Lee Ann Womack. You seriously need to listen to this song if you have children! Just click on the link to see the video clip. 

Its the song that plays in my car...its the song that makes me stop and think when I am having bad days..its the song that inspires me to be a better mum..to encourage my children to be their very best....its the song that describes exactly what I want for my children ..I want them to not be arrogant, but to STOP at nothing to achieve what they want..I want them to know that they have so many people that love them and support them and that they NEVER be shy and sit it out...I just hope they always GO for it..I hope they dance..

Now that the speech of the day is over lets move on to some close ups LOL!

I have used Bo Bunny Gabrielle yet again..

...but I wanted to show you some close ups of the flowers I have used here....

...they are from Petaloo and are called Color me Crazy Flower layers

Have you worked with these before? I have. But I had no idea of what exactly I could do until Petaloo started a challenge in mid June where we had to show them creative ways of using these flowers. When i went over to have a look, I saw that Petaloo have their own YouTube channels that show videos f so many different ways you can colour these flowers!

Here is the LINK to the technique I used to colour these flowers. They are so unbelievably easy to colour...and I would have never thought to use my inks this way. 

I coloured them with 

which I watered down and then went over the edges with..

and the other colour is this

I didnt have to go out and buy anything special to colour my flowers..I just used what I had and anyone can give this a go! Just try it out and look at the video in the link above to see just how you can colour them in too!

I also went over the edges with Jones Tones White Puff Paint

which you apply and then heat with a heating gun to make it puffy! Cool! 

Really loved colouring these. 

Have a great day and dont forget to check out what the rest of the Design Team did HERE!