Razzle Dazzle Rachel

Chookscraps' Christmas Card Challenge

2012-01-03T21:14:00.002+08:00

Chookscraps has started a year long challenge to make a Christmas card every week to avoid the usual last minute rush in December. Each week a step by step is placed on their blog for you to follow. If you use one of the steps then you can upload your creation in the gallery. There will be a few random prizes throughout the year but the main reward is having 50 Christmas cards to give to your friends and family.

The first challenge was put up on Sunday and here is my take on it.

A Truckload of Shoes

2011-09-22T09:18:00.004+08:00

Well, even though I hate my skinny, size 11 feet with giant 'finger toes' I can still appreciate a fine pair of shoes. I also sure as heck would like to win $2000 worth of shoes! Well, all prayers have been answered by StyleTread! You can enter the competition here, although I would prefer you leave me with a better chance of winning! Hehe.

I would like to win a truckload of shoes as I need a kick up the butt in terms of my shoe collection. With my 'difficult' feet I tend to shy away from shoe shopping and, if I buy anything at all, it is always the same flat, lace up shoes! So much so, I even chose these as my wedding shoes for my wedding in 4 weeks' time! I am also recovering from torn ligaments in my ankle so I have been off heels for a while now and I need to get back into wearing them and some shiny new ones would be the perfect encouragement to get my ankle strength back up.

I have been browsing the StyleTread site for some time now and I have decided my favourite pair if shoes would have to be these beauties! Hopefully my feet would squeeze into the 10.5! Anything with stripes or polka dots has me sold!

Word of the Week

2011-09-16T10:36:00.007+08:00

NEW day.
NEW attitude.
NEW opportunities.
NEW start.

Today I start taking steps to become who I want to be, personally and professionally. I want to make a positive contribution to my own life and those around me. I am a great product and any company would be fortunate to have me. Today I start marketing myself as a product, monitoring the success, reviewing and improving as needed.

TO DO LIST:

Create design resume / portfolio
Learn illustrator
Create a personal website
Start using Twitter
Finishing touches on our Wedding!

Amazing Chook Race

2011-05-29T11:14:00.003+08:00

Update time! Challenge 4 and 5 for the Amazing Chook Race at Chookscraps.

Challenge 4, using masking with paint on textured c/s:

Challenge 5, had to include paper rolling, cream flowers, branches and metal:

SBT50 Cybercrop

2011-05-06T13:13:00.003+08:00

Gee the months are flying by! Time already for another CC at SBT50. I can't wait to see what challenges are in store for this lovely Fairy Tale theme.

Amazing Chook Race

2011-05-05T21:23:00.003+08:00

Quick update today. These are my latest two entries from the Amazing Chook Race at chookscraps.

Challenge 2: Challenge 3: I can't wait to see where we're off to next!

Competition Time!

2011-04-15T15:50:00.005+08:00

I have stumbled across a gorgeous new blog full of great ideas for kids. I found this blog just as I became an Aunty so it must be fate! The blog is Kid Idependent and they have lots of cute products, ideas and giveaways.

Their current giveaway is to win a $65 voucher from Lillie Bee. All you have to do is visit Lillie Bee's website adn then comment on this post what your favourite item is. There is so much lovely stuff on their website but my fave has to be this bubble dress.

I {heart} Cake Toppers!

2011-04-08T19:36:00.003+08:00

So I was browsing etsy the other day and I came across some adorable cake toppers so I just had to share!

From Bitter Sweetz. So many cute individual cupcakes there too.

The Air Castle has the cutest animals like the ones above.

Sweet Treats

2011-04-08T19:12:00.001+08:00

It's CC time again at SBT50. This theme sounds right up my alley. I can't wait to see what the challenges will be!

New Competition

2011-04-04T16:47:00.002+08:00

Ready for takeoff? Chookscraps is holding a new competition - The Amazing Chook Race. This consists of 12 rounds, each 2 weeks long. It kicked off on the 27th of March so you can still sign up and complete the first challenge (due 9th of April I believe). Even if you do miss the first flight, you can join up at any time. The first challenge involved packing lightly and you had to scrap about friendships or relationships. Here is my entry:

Good News and More Good News

2011-04-04T16:37:00.003+08:00

Well, the first good news I heard is that I was one of the 3 winners for the Chookscraps Guest Design Team comp! I will be the guest DT member for June so I can't wait for that. The first winner has already started her duties this month. I can't wait to get stuck into these monthly challenges.

My second piece of good news is that I am now an Aunty! I could not be happier about the safe arrival of my new niece and I made this to celebrate. I have now given this to the proud parents. She was just half an hour old in this photo.

And, to catch up, here is my fave entry from the SBT50 March cybercrop:

Chooks' Guest DT Comp

2011-03-14T13:48:00.003+08:00

I think I am finally settling into a style I can be comfortable with. Here is my latest entry for the Chookscraps Guest DT comp.

SBT50 Cybercrop

2011-03-14T13:45:00.001+08:00

Well, the March CC is already here. Head over to SBT50 to check it out!

New Fave Layouts

2011-03-07T12:23:00.004+08:00

I have 2 new fave layouts. I am loving minimal at the moment and these are my latest two layouts. First one is for Chookscraps Guest DT Comp.

Second is for SBT50 CC challenge.

So many occassions. So many cards.

2011-02-12T10:57:00.004+08:00

Well, I just have 3 cards to share at the moment but February is a month full of engagement parties and 30th birthdays so there will be plenty more! I have one to make before tonight still!

It was my fiance and I's 4th anniversary of when we started going out this week so I made this:

Giving this to a friend tomorrow for her 30th:

An engagement party card from last weekend:

SBT50

2011-01-24T09:35:00.004+08:00

My first LO for Scrapbooking Top 50! This was for a challenge in their January Cybercrop. Using more engagement photoshoot photos.

Wanna win this awesome RAK?

2011-01-20T10:33:00.003+08:00

All you have to do is head over to Raquel's blog and become a follower before the 30th of Jan. You get an extra chance if you advertise the promotion on your own blog. There is some amazing inspiration on there, Raquel is one talented lady!

From the Depths

2011-01-20T09:45:00.004+08:00

Well i started scrapping before I started this blog so I thought today would be a good 'catch up' day. Here are some of my earlier blogging efforts that had not made it here yet.

Grey plus one other colour [pink]: Using 4 6x4 photos to make one big one: The spidey goblets we used in London: Random outing to the Perth Royal Show: Berlin pub crawl, before shots! You can see the midway photo here. Birthday present for 2 friends that are now married: Pink ribbon fundraising CC challenge from a couple of years ago: Rare double LO, friends from London: Think this was from a class, bit of a fun LO: Experimenting with my new mask:

Wedding Dress Lust!

2011-01-19T10:49:00.003+08:00

So I re-stumbled across Wedding Inspirasi last night and came across some way out there wedding gowns that are totally 'my kind of thing'! Here are a couple of my faves and you can find more at their Japanese site here.

There is another great Japanese site here. Wedding dresses with plaid fabric!!

So if anyone knows a super talented dressmaker in Perth who could make my dreams a reality please let me know!

New Forum, New Friends

2011-01-18T14:26:00.002+08:00

I am a brand new member of Scrapbboking Top 50 now after following Charm's (from 1,2,3 and Bon's) advice to join. Everyone there seems very friendly and I can't wait to join in some of thier challenges. I have joined half way through a cybercrop so am hoping to squeeze in a LO or two before the deadline.

I have also been visiting some of the other member's blogs in my free time. Sue's blog, Look into my life, is actually running a competition at the moment to celebrate her opening Lovelybug Bits n Bobs, a place to sell her handmade goodies.

To win these gorgeous buttons you just have to visit her blog and leave a comment on the relevant post. Extra entry for spreading the word!

1,2,3 Win!

2011-01-18T14:21:00.004+08:00

Wow, I was super excited and super shocked to hear that I had won a prize in the December 1,2,3 challenge! It was my canvas a couple of posts below that I won with and I get a voucher for Scrapbook Divas so will be checking them out shortly and it might be another forum for me to join!

Bon's Dec Cybercrop

2010-12-31T14:53:00.003+08:00

Well I managed to get one challenge done for Bon's cybercrop this month and I did it last minute at that! It was a scraplift challenge and we had to use up some old alphas in our stash to make this great background effect.

December 1,2,3

2010-12-29T10:27:00.005+08:00

So I have finally completed a 1,2,3 challenge. The December challenge was to use the word 'Oh', the colour pink and the technique of tissue paper. I used a 20x25 canvas to create on. This is the first time I've done something like this so I am pretty happy with the result. Even better I was at the shops yesterday and Riot had 50% off all canvases so I stocked up on some more!

Some close ups!

Final for 2010

2010-12-19T11:34:00.005+08:00

Well it's December and that brings the last cybercrop at Chookscraps for this year! I have completed 2 of the challenges so far and am participating in the chatting competition, pretty sure I won't be the outright winner but there is a random participation prize to be won!

I have much cooking to consider for all the Christmas festivities this coming week so scrapping is getting a little break, will see if I get time to do the other 2 challenges before midnight tomorrow.

I am still waiting on DM to dry on my scraplift but here is the first challenge I completed, using our engagement photoshoot photos at last!

Oh Baby!

2010-12-14T16:48:00.002+08:00

Well, I am thrilled to say I have been officially asked to throw my brother's girlfriend her baby shower. They don't know the gender so I was thinking of recycling some of the bunting from my Engagement Party and having a brightly themed baby shower as well. Red, yellow and orange aren't too girly yeah?

This is the inspiration board I have come up with so far. Got a bit excited and put this all together and haven't discussed with the mum to be yet! Any great baby shower ideas out there?

More Baking

2010-12-07T09:37:00.003+08:00

So, I have managed a bit of baking recently... I got the melting moment recipe from Taste. This was the second time I have made them and I believe the consistencey and everything was better this time. Although the recipe says it makes 25 and at the size I made them (not huge) it only made 9. Might be doubling it next time!

These, below, were made by my friend who was using up the leftover ganache from our engagement cakes. Just made some shortcrust pastry, blind baked and then put the ganache in. I contributed by making the little toothpick flags from leftover card from the engagement party!

Cybercrop!

2010-11-27T15:53:00.004+08:00

It's cybercrop time at Bon's again! I've just finished the blog train and there was some lovely work to see so I highly recommend frittering away an afternoon doing that! Not sure when I'll have a chance to do some scrapping this weekend. I have another engagement party to attend tonight and then I am baking all tomorrow for a Christmas Carols party! Mmm, Christmas cookies.

I will be making these sugar cookies again but in Christmas shapes and colours of course!

Engagement Party

2010-11-27T15:43:00.003+08:00

Well, the night came and went and everyone seems to think it was a success! I felt like it was impossible to chat to anyone for longer than 30 seconds before the next person came along but I got to do a bit of dancing in the end and had a good time. Here are just a couple of my dodgy pics from the night. We should be getting some better ones off friends at some stage.

The cakes that my very talented bridesmaid made.

The hall setup. You can kinda get the effect of the tissue paper balls I made. My mum also made some awesome bunting but I will wait and see if I get a better photo of that. They perfectly matched the balloons and colour scheme.

And... towards the end of the night my friends 'repurposing' the tissue paper balls!

Girls Night In!

2010-11-15T15:38:00.007+08:00

This weekend was the Girls Night In cybercrop fundraiser at Chookscraps. Everyone makes a donation to participate and there were also auctions to have your photos scrapped by some very talented people on the forum. I plan to bid on some next year when I have some wedding photos to scrap!

For the first time possibly ever I completed all the challenges from the cybercrop. Perhaps I should donate to charity every month to get me motivated!

Challenge One:

The wings were stamped with a light pink, then a red, then I used a stamp in white and clear embossing powder.

Challenge Two:

Challenge Three:

My new crackle paint detail:

Description cluster:

Challenge Four:

Challenge 4 was pretty hard we had to use 1,8,8, and 0 of the following: words, colours, patterned paper, and flowers. I went for 1 - colour (black OR white were freebies), 8 - patterned paper, 8 - words, and 0 - flowers! This card is for my friends that surprised a few people by going to Bali for a holiday and then announcing they were getting married there! I am yet to see photos of this but I am waiting patiently!

P.S. Less than a week until the Engagement Party! There always seems to be more shopping to do!

Sitting in a Tree

2010-11-11T16:19:00.002+08:00

K-I-S-S-I-N-G

Image via flixster.

Recent Scrapping

2010-11-10T11:33:00.003+08:00

These are a collection of challenges from chookscraps that I have completed over the last month or so.

The first is a baby shower card and the challenge was for it to have dimension. There are many layers and the 3 photos are popped up with foam dots. The shower theme was purple so I wanted to incorporate that and the stamps are meant to show - pregnancy, baby shower, then the baby is born!

This was a LO for the continuous challenge at chookscraps. I really like my photoshopped photo but I do think I will try scrapping it again one day. Although I might be getting a new engagement ring as this one was not that quality and the stone fell out so I might have an entirely different ring to scrap next time!

I do really like this last one. Little bit of photoshopping to make the bride stand out. Criteria for this challenge involved fairy tales, hence the 'happy ever after' in the title.

The Countdown Begins

2010-11-10T11:12:00.007+08:00

10 days until my Engagement Party!

Well, my winning cupcakes are now up on the Robert Gordon blog so you can see how they compare to the other winners! I think I will have to whip up some more cupcakes soon as I have been too focused on cookies lately! Although my current focus is on Engagement Party plans of course. I am getting there and handcrafting a few things but there still seems to be never ending shopping to be done!

Meanwhile here is a sneak at something I am preparing for the party, courtesy of Martha Stewart.

Another win!

2010-10-13T14:27:00.004+08:00

I seem to be having a bit of luck these days with my blog winning. I have just won a custom monogram from Poppiseed Designs through a competition on Polka Dot Bride. I chose this one as Phill and I will be married on his Dad's small vineyard.

Now we just need to settle on a date! Thinking early November 2011.

Robert Gordon Win

2010-09-20T13:25:00.004+08:00

So, I bought a couple of these delightful teacup and saucer sets from a local shop (as they went with my pink, white and black collection) and decided to look up the maker, Robert Gordon. Robert Gordon also has a blog and that happened to have a cupcake competition running when I looked on there. So I entered with my easter cupcakes and ended up being one of the winners! All the prizes shown here have been sent to me and it is all gorgeous! Have already used the cupcake tree and can't wait to use the rest of it!

Masterchook Final

2010-09-20T12:49:00.005+08:00

Well, Masterchook is over now at Chookscraps, and here are my last 2 entries. I didn't make it into the final but you can view the final layouts here.

Challenge 11

Close up of journalling:

Challenge 12:

Monthly Challenges

2010-08-05T16:59:00.003+08:00

A new month means new challenges on the blogs! I am going to see how many I can get done this month from Bons and Chookscraps. I have already completed the Write Now challenge over at Bon's.

My Write Now entry

This arrow was embossing gone wrong but I kind of like the effect, almost looks a bit like crackle paint. Think I had the gun too hot and / or too close!

Masterchook Update

2010-08-05T16:42:00.008+08:00

Have a bit of catching up to do with Masterchook. I was up to challenge 3 last time I posted an update and now we are up to challenge 11!

Challenge 4 Challenge 5 - I was overseas!

Challenge 6 Challenge 7 Challenge 8 Challenge 9 Challenge 10 I had my first win of the comp for challenge 10, was voted in 2nd by the other chooks! Challenge 11 is a scraplift and details are here.

A healthy lunch

2010-07-13T13:15:00.003+08:00

Well, I am long back from the overseas trip and already wishing it was holiday time again! These post holidays blues are lasting a little longer than I think they should! This winter weather here in Perth is probably not helping either so I am about to tuck into a nice warm soup with some nice bread. A Velish mushroom and cracked pepper soup, donated to me by my boss and a multigrain wholemeal roll from Brumby's. I wanted the mega grain roll but coudl not justify the price. It's amazing what difference a few grains make!

Jet setting

2010-04-27T20:43:00.003+08:00

Well, tomorrow at 6am we set off for our 4 week trek around Europe! I may be able to post a photo or 2 while away as we are taking the handy dandy laptop but I am making it an aim to limit my computer use so I therefore maximise my travel time! This is the tour we will be doing. Pretty sure I won't be able to sleep tonight knowing I have to get up at 3am!

Better late than never...

2010-04-23T12:38:00.005+08:00

Our wonderful friends Mala and Henri have had their engagement photos featured on one of my favourite blogs, Polka Dot Bride! They are so lovely and I can only hope one day I have some shots as beautiful! Here is an example and check the post on Polka Dot Bride for more:

The photos are taken by Ryan David Ahern

Some good news!

2010-04-23T12:26:00.004+08:00

Well, I got the M-cups for my birthday as shown a couple of posts ago. I actually got 2 sets so have decided one set will be for measuring and one set will be for display and to fill with yummy goodies! Among other things I also received these delightful cupcake moulds, also by Fred!

In other good news, our trip to Europe is only a few days away and flights to the area are pretty much back to usual so now is the time to start packing I believe!

More Masterchook

2010-04-16T09:11:00.004+08:00

Well challenge 3 was to interpret a sketch you can find in this thread. I decided to risk doing a big paint circle and then had fun shopping at Spotlight after work last night to buy some material and ribbon and came up with this:

Close up:

Today I {heart}...

2010-04-14T19:42:00.002+08:00

I was browsing Polka Dot Bride as I often do and came across Johanna Johnson. I absolutely LOVE her accessories and hope to purchase one some day. My pick of the day:

New Love!

2010-04-13T13:52:00.005+08:00

I saw these Babushka Doll measuring cups in House today and am massively regretting not buying them! I shall have to make a return trip I think and pick some up, unless someone takes my massive hinting and buys them for my birthday this weekend... Only $20.00 in House. I'm in love!

Chookscraps Masterchook

2010-04-11T11:35:00.007+08:00

A new competition is underway at Chookscraps. Masterchook involves a new challenge being issued every fortnight with a couple of timed "pressure tests" throughout. We are already up to Challenge 3 and all details can be found here.

Here are my entries so far... Challenge 1:

Challenge 2:

Now to get thinking for Challenge 3 which involves interpreting a sketch...

April Cybercrops

2010-04-11T10:13:00.005+08:00

OK, well there are a couple of cybercrops coming up in the next week or so. The first is at Chookscraps starting on the 16th of April. Pre chat and hints can be found here.

The theme has something to so with school but there is much speculation about still. Can't wait to see what it is!

The second is happening over at Bons Scraps from 20th of April and you can find the timetable and pre chat here.

I always love the photo challenge here and hope I will have time to upload a photo each day despite being in the last minute stages of getting ready to go to Europe for 4 weeks!!

Cybercrop and Chookscraps

2010-02-15T20:17:00.004+08:00

Well it's cybercrop time at Chookscraps til midnight tonight. Sorry I can't link but my blogger won't let me paste, grr. Here are the 2 challenges I did that I like the results of!

Ch 4: A shimmery card with a monogram and scallops.

Ch 1: using Alice in Wonderland themes as inspiration. Heart for Queen of Hearts, White background for White Rabbit, word 'smiling' for cheshire cat and 2 of something (butterflies, stars) for Tweedledum and Tweedledee.

The heart on this one was chipboard that I inked with dark blue then painted with silver then put sticker lace over.

2010-02-07T16:44:00.001+08:00

Another Game On LO from Bon's. My dear best friend at another friend's wedding. Using the colour accent function on my camera to just get the blue lights. Shame the pic was taken at night with the flash in the way but I can never get that good photos anyway so this is probably as good as it gets! Haha! Her future is looking very bright right now and I am very happy for her!

I {heart}...

2010-02-07T16:29:00.006+08:00

Felicity at Bon's challenged us to blog at least 3 things we love. I missed the deadline but thought it was a great post idea so I am doing it late anyway. Plus tomorrow is my bf's and I 3 year anniversary so the timing was right and the first thing I love is my bf, Phillip:

Happy Anniversary!!!

Other things I love are my friends (not all here but you all know I love you!):

And my best friend's little girl, Elissa. Too cute!

Blog to LO

2010-01-31T09:10:00.004+08:00

From my 9 things i chose the following as inspiration to create a LO:

The boots (red & black), Elissa's dress (polka dots) and various hints of green throughout most of the photos.

Thanks Flis for a great challenge and helping me get my mojo back!

9 Things...

2010-01-30T10:35:00.014+08:00

As Flis from Bons Scraps suggested here I am posting my 9 favourite things from 2009.

THE boots!

One of my fave Chookscraps Idol LOs. Another fave Idol LO, the most journalling I've ever done! The day I went crazy and made about 70 cupcakes for Dee and Jodi's birthday. Crazy entree Phill and I had on our trip up north involving prunes, cheese, proscuito and I think there was something else too. I really like this photo from our friends' wedding (Meagan & Chris) of their wedding cake. The first bit of gardening I've ever really done: my 'cactus patch'. My best friend's little girl Elissa's 1st birthday. What a pretty birthday dress!

The dessert I made for my birthday - choc cups filled with creamy goodness topped with a cherry!

Now that part is done I can start working on the first bonus challenge at Game On 2!

Game On!

2010-01-27T13:37:00.003+08:00

Bon's Scraps is having 2 weeks of fun while Bon is visiting us here in Perth!
It starts tomorrow and here are some of the details:
there will be chances to gain points through numerous activities during the time bon is away....
* put up your post tally at the start of the comp - you will receive 5 points for every 100 posts you make
* every Bon's Challenge layout you create during Game On will receive 5 points
* you will receive 1 point for participation when joining games, challenges etc, winners will receive 5 points
we will be having scrap n chat nights, bingo, blog-hopping, photography & random challenges - all sorts!!! so make sure you REGISTER for it!!!
Prize is a $50 Bon's voucher. So what are you waiting for, pop over now: http://www.bonsscraps.com.au/forum/viewforum.php?f=140

2009-10-26T16:46:00.005+08:00

Has been a while between posts but here we are again. I have been visiting a lot of cookie blogs lately and getting all inspired to create pretty, yummy things. I got a cookie recipe from one of the scrapbooking forums I'm on: http://www.bonsscraps.com.au/ Thanks to Rach for her recipe and others for the inspiration of what to add to the cookies. Some possibilities include jersey caramels, choc chips, m&m's, white choc chip and macadamia - I borrowed that idea as well as my own turkish delight idea for my bf. Here is a pic of the macadamia ones that I packaged up for my bf's mum for her birthday on Friday. Kept a couple for myself as well and they sure were yummy!

Back to the Real World

2009-09-08T09:35:00.005+08:00

So, the holiday was wonderful and I can't believe I have been back at work for quite a while now. Here are some of my fave snaps.

Sunset at Green Head

Leaning Trees in Greenough Quad Biking in Denham Me in Nature's Window at Kalbarri National Park

I am yet to do any layouts of these photos yet and I think I would like to make a crazy mini [or maxi] album of this trip. Just have the daunting task of printing out all the photos now!

Gettin' Creative

2009-08-14T15:03:00.006+08:00

So I am back from my holiday which was fantastic! Perhaps if I get the time there will be a photo or 2.

Now to showcase some of my 'talents'.

The Ark canvas I made for my friend for her baby shower. She was having a boy called Noah. At the shower everyone wrote messages on the back of the different animals.

This is one of my favourite recent layouts. Lots of white space, hand-stitching, stamping from my travels in Berlin.

The Final Countdown!

2009-07-26T14:56:00.006+08:00

Well, only 2 days to go until we head off on a road trip up north! Stops include Green Head, Geraldton, Monkey Mia and Kalbarri. I am really looking forward to relaxing and taking lots of photos! Weather is looking pretty promising, wouldn't mind if it gets a bit hotter though! Low to mid 20's and sunny will keep me happy though!

Cherry goes Pop!

2009-07-22T12:48:00.000+08:00

Having been an addicted blog reader for a while now I thought I may as well take a stab at being an addicted blog writer! I usually have a bit of spare time during my work day so hopefully I find enough time to keep this going.

Let's start off with a pretty picture - a fashion corset I would like to purchase:

Available from: http://www.enterthepowderroom.com/default.html