Summer holidays here I come!

Hi all,

Woo hoo! School is over for the year and I am now on summer holidays. So my plan is to do some scrapping and painting over this time, plus some dastardly organising and sorting of the whole house.

I did manage to scrapbook a layout as a present for one of my colleagues, it's of her first grandchild. I really enjoyed making it as I used a cut file from a Pink Paisley pack I bought at Spotlight and I backed all the cutouts in the heart with some patterned paper from my stash.

I used some embellishments from Simple Stories. The finished layout did have some sequins adhered to it in the bottom left corner and top right corner. My assistant at work and I gave it as a joint present and it is in a frame from Kaiser Craft so that hopefully Deb can put it on display somewhere.

Well that's it for now.

Take care and have fun crafting,

Helen xx

Stuck Sketches

Hi all,

I am having my first go at a sketch challenge.

The November 1st sketch on the Stuck?! Sketches blog is this one:

And this is my interpretation of it:

I used paper and embellishments from Pink Paisley's C'est La Vie range, Shimmerz Aqua Hues Crazy Daisy and Distress Ink Pumice Stone.

Well that's it for now, have fun crafting.

Take care,
Helen xx

Back again!

Hi all,

Is it hard to guess which won? Nope, didn't think so but I did get all the week's washing done.

I created a layout about my son's graduation from the iScience project he was part of last year. The photos are tiny as I only had my iPhone and I was far away. I started by making a messy background on some Shimelle Starshine paper but didn't like it. I used the packaging technique with some Shimmerz Vibez and Creameez but wasn't impressed with the outcome so decided to chop it up into stars. I also inked some stars onto the cardstock using an old Crafter's Workshop stencil and some Distress Inks, I think I was in a groove from this morning's layout. I found some chipboard stars that I painted with my Shimmerz products and some enamel dots to finish it off.

Well that's it for today. Now I have to go and fold that mountain of washing that the lovely spring day dried for me.

Until next time, take care.
Helen xx

Layout of a layout!

Hi all,

It's a lovely Spring day here in Perth and I am enjoying some alone time in my scrap room, none of this going out and enjoying the sunshine for me!

Earlier in the year I posted a layout on the Hip Kit Members Facebook page and received some lovely comments but the one that made me get all excited was left by Missy Whidden. I really enjoy her videos and admire her pages/talent thus loved having her comment on my work. So I took a screenshot so I could remember it and today I finally got around to scrapping it.

I copied some of the "Smitten" layout's composition in today's layout which I titled "Yay!". Plus I stencilled the hearts with Distress Inks and coloured the wood veneer with some Dazzlers from Shimmerz. Paper and embellishments are from Crate Paper's Hello Love range.

Well that's it for today, I'm just deciding more scrapping or housework? I think we all know which one will win!

take care,
love Helen xx

Weekend Fun!

Hello all,

I had a hard decision to make this weekend do I do some school work, do some housework or do some scrapbooking - well guess which one won? Yep you're right the house is a mess, school can wait but I made two layouts. I am on a quest to use up as much of my stash as I can, however, I did order some new Simple Stories Posh collection this week as I just couldn't resist!

For my first layout I rummaged through my draw of blue/green papers and found some older pieces from Pebbles and Scenic Route that matched really well plus some old stickers from Jillibean Soup and made a layout about the boys getting their learner's permit. I started with making a background with some Shimmerz Vibezs (Jeni B Blue and Deep Blue Sea) and some Aqua Hues (Crazy Daisy, Green with Envy and Blue Moon) but didn't like how the page buckled so I decided to punch hexagons out of it and use them as the new background. I quite like the way it turned out.

For my second layout I used some Maggie Holmes Bloom products that I have been hoarding. I stitched the cute bird paper to some cardstock and then watered down a Shimmerz Dazzler (Pucker Up Pink) and painted it onto the page where the photo was going. Then I stencilled with some more of the Dazzler for extra texture.

Then came the layering and playing with all the pretty embellishments. I'm really proud of my little garden and all the pretty blooms that are in it this year. It is such a splash of colour and it brightens my soul when I look at it.

Well that's it for now. The house is calling and I must go and do a bit of work.

Take care and happy crafting,

love Helen xx

Time Flies!

Hi all,

Oh my goodness it's been simply ages since I last posted! I wish I could say it was because life was so exciting I just didn't have time to stop and post but alas that is not the case. I have just been working hard and watching lots of tv!

I have actually managed to complete a few pages and am on a mission to use up my stash so my pages have got some old treasures on them. Here is one I completed last night:

These I completed over the last few months:

Well that's it for now as I have to race out the door to dinner at my mum's. My boys got their learner's permits today so the grey hairs may start flowing as I begin to teach them to drive!

Take care and happy crafting,

Helen xx

Published Work

Hi all,

Imagine my surprise when I got a message from a friend to let me know that she liked my page printed in the latest Scrapbooking Magazine.  The layout had been photographed months ago and I was waiting for them to publish it but wasn't sure when it was happening, apparently the time is now!

Well here is the layout. The photo was taken a few years ago when I was in Edinburgh but page was created in March.

Here is my latest art journal page that I taught in May. I must admit I quite like this one.

Well that's it for now, I'm on school holidays in a week's time so hopefully I will have lots more to share with you all then.

Take care and happy crafting,

Helen

Unity Blog Hop

Hello all,

Today I am participating in the Unity Blog Hop, yay my first blog hop!! If you have been following the hop you would have come to my page from Amy's blog, then following me is Doreen with her Unity creation.

I have used three different stamp sets today. The flower is from the SMAK kit Wildflowers & Wings from April 2014, the quote "Explore the beauty that surrounds you." is from the Kit of the Month:
 A Chance to Change March 2016 and the butterfly is from the Everything Resides in Hope set.

I heat embossed the flowers onto the mixed media cardstock and then coloured the background with Ken Oliver Crafts Color Bursts and Liquid Metallics

. 

The Unity blog hop roll is:

1. Patti La Bombard

2. Amy England

3. Helen Mazengarb (that's me!)

4. Doreen O'Brien

5. Brittany Morgan

6. Teresa Godines

Please make sure you check out everyone's page and hopefully get lots of inspiration to start creating with these wonderful  stamps.

Take care and happy crafting,

Helen

Winner of Unity Week

Hi all,

I had my trusty assistant (willing son Sam) help me draw the two winners from my wonderful week as the Growing in Unity Gal. Here they are . . . .

First Winner! (from Thursday's comments)

Second winner! (from Tuesday's comments)

So if this is you please email me at hjmazengarb@hotmail.com and I will send your details to Unity Stamps so that you can receive your goody bag of 25 random stamps in the mail.

Thanks so much to all the lovely people who left comments and followed my blog this week.

Take care,

Helen xx

Growing in Unity Day 5

Hi all,

Welcome to my last day as the Growing in Unity Gal. I've had a lot of fun this week sharing my creations but what I have really loved is receiving the lovely positive comments so thank you very much.

I thought I would finish with a bang so I have two projects for you. Well to tell you the truth I made my journal page and then realised I used the same stamp when I was last a GIU Gal (because I love it so much) so I thought I should make something with a different stamp. Plus I couldn't resist one last pun for the week! So here are my two projects - an art journal page using Beautiful Soul and Imperfection is Beauty and a card using Holy Shiitake.

Well that's it, I hope you've enjoyed my selection this week. Don't forget to leave your comments and I will draw the winner this weekend with some help from my sons.

Take care and have fun creating,

Helen xx

Growing in Unity Day 4

Hi all,

Today I'm stepping away from the pun stamps and I've made a stamp with an Itty Bitty that I  love, Triple Tree Line. The stamp has 3 trees on it and I just repeat stamped the two outer trees along my card stock. Then I coloured it with Copics and once again used up some scraps for the background papers. I did stamp the middle tree twice so that I could layer and add some dimension.

Thanks for looking and don't forget to leave a comment. I must admit I am really enjoying receiving the comments each day, they're a little ray of sunshine that brighten my day, so thank you.

take care,

Helen xx

Layout Share

Hi all,

I am having a great time making cards this week with Unity Stamps and posting about them but I thought I would spice it up with a few layouts. Two of these I made for the Hip Kit Design Team Call (which wasn't successful oh well!) and the third because I was dared to use the scissor stencil from Prima.

 

I did actually video this mixed media layout and when I start school holidays next week I will finally get around to editing it and posting it on YouTube. My YouTube page which is a bit scarce at the moment is here so pop by and have a look if you like.

Take care and have a great day.

Helen xx

Halfway There! Growing in Unity Day 3

Hello all,

I hope you're all having a great week just like me.

For today's piece I made another card using a pun stamp, I must admit the pun stamps from Unity really appeal to my sense of humour.  This time I am using the We're Toast stamp from the Itty Bitty range.

I stamped one image on the piece of cardstock for the base and then a second image on a scrap piece of card that I coloured with my Prismacolor pencils, colouring it just like my toaster at home. I cut out just the toaster and mounted it on the first image to give a bit of dimension.

For the background I used a stencil and ink from my stash and then sprayed some Lindy's sprays over it. I grabbed one of my stamps for some background texture and after, when I checked, I realised it had been discontinued, oops! Finally I found some old stickers from a few years ago and added them to the card for a little spot of colour.

Thanks for stopping by, remember to leave a comment!

Take care and have fun crafting,

Helen xx

Growing in Unity Day 2

Hello all,

I'm back again for my second Growing in Unity day. Thank you to all who have looked at my first piece.

Today I have another card for you. I'm continuing on with the coffee theme and using an Angie Girl that I like, Kimmie Girl. There is a little bit of inking with Spun Sugar Distress Ink in the background, I used the packaging technique.  The paper and heart stickers are from Crate Paper's Hello Love range. Hope you like it!

Well that's it for today. Don't forget to leave a comment so you can be included in the draw. Remember at the end of the week two lucky people will win 25 random Unity stamps each.

Have a great day full of love and laughter and hopefully some crafting with Unity Stamps!

Take care,
Helen xx

Growing in Unity Day One

Hello all,

Guess who is the Growing in Unity Gal all week? Yep you guessed it, it's me! I'm so excited to be a part of this once again.

I thought I would start with a card using two of my current favourites I'm Hot.You're Not and Step Aside Coffee. I think this a dilemma many face each night when deciding what shall we have, coffee or wine! 

I used some scraps from my stash for the layers and then coloured in with my Copics. The title says: Nightly Dilemma

Well I hope you like it. 

Now don't forget that at the end of the week I need to pick two random winners from the people who comment on each day's post, so don't be shy comment away, and the best bit both lucky winners will receive 25 random Unity stamps each.

Well that's it for today, I'll be back with another project tomorrow.

Take care and I hope you have a great day,

Helen xx

Scrapping Fun

Hi all,

I've been busy in my scrap room - actually making layouts not just moving stuff around! I also have applied for a design team so fingers crossed!

Anyway here is a page I made using the January Hip Kit, it's about my little great nephew and I made the page for Mum (great granny!).

I couldn't help myself with the play on the title! (surname = Smit)

I also made a layout about lunch I had with my cousin Rocky and her two adorable kids. Too cute!

Well that's about it, I'm off to clean out the back yard. The dogs left to go and live with their dad last weekend and it is very quiet here without them. I know it's better for them as they have a much bigger yard now and are right near the beach but I have had them for the last 9 years Belle, 7 years Mary and so it's very different them not being here.

       

Happy crafting everyone,

take care,

Helen xx

2nd Shimelle Challenge

Back again!

This time with the second challenge for Shimelle's weekend crop. This challenge was to scrap something that has value to you, well that wasn't hard the biggest thing that has value to me is my twin boys. I've had these photos of the boys on a half finished layout for the last year so I ripped them off the old idea and set about actually scrapping them to completion. Truth be told the background paper was one I created yesterday for my previous selfie layout but I didn't like it with my photo. When I laid the photos of the boys and I on it I liked the contrast of the black and white stripes and decided to make it work. I added pieces from Shine and Wonder, both by Crate Paper, and a few puffy stickers from Heidi Swapp and of course some enamel dots (I don't think I could create a layout without include some!).

Now off to have a go at another challenge.

bye, 

Helen

Long Weekend in WA and crafting with Shimelle

Hi all,

It is a long weekend here in WA, Monday is Labour Day, so it's time to get some scrapbooking happening in this craft room! Shimelle has a virtual crop happening this weekend (well Saturday and Sunday UK time) which equates to late Saturday early Monday here, perfect for a long weekend! Thanks Shimelle.

The first challenge was to complete one of the previous weekly challenges and I chose the selfie challenge. I cracked open my new Shine collection by Maggie Holmes and Crate Paper and this is what happened.

 

Here is a close up of the bottom right hand cluster. 

I also took some photos of a layout I completed last weekend that has been sitting on my desk waiting to be photographed all week. One day whilst watering the garden I was visited by a wanderer butterfly and I managed to get a photo of it. Since moving into my new house I am finding a new interest in gardening, can't call it a love yet but you never know.

And a close up.

Well that's it for now, I'll be back soon with my next challenge.

Take care and happy crafting,

Helen xx

February Update

Hi All,

Hope you all are having a great time where ever you may be. Life is pretty hectic here with school starting for the new year, ex declaring bankruptcy and moving furniture between houses. I haven't had a huge amount of crafting time but yet I have still managed to upload a scrapbooking process video to my YouTube channel and create a few pages.

This is the layout that I created the video about, wasn't the greatest filming - accidentally cut off the top left hand corner but at least it wasn't blurry.

I found a photo of a layout or two that I haven't posted before, so here they are.

 Here are my newest creations, three scrapbook layouts and a journal page.

Lastly, here is a sneak peek of my up coming art journal class.

Well that's it for tonight. Happy crafting!

Take care, Helen 

Hello 2016

Hi all,

I'm hoping you've had a great start to 2016. I'm on school holidays and am having a relaxing time. I've managed to scrapbook a few times plus some colouring in with my Copics. I have even managed to do some cleaning and clearing out.

It's been quite warm here in Perth with some terrible fires started by lightning. Unfortunately many people south of me have lost their homes and belongings, it's definitely a hard time for many Western Australians right now. My local scrapbook store is running a "Happiness Project" where people can make donations of new goods to help out the families that have lost so much, which is so very thoughtful and caring.

Just after Christmas I went to help out one of my friends sort and rearrange her scraproom. We spent 3 days on the task clearing, sorting, painting, trip to Ikea and reordering the room. It was a big task, and wasn't finished when I left , but it was fun. Crazy person that I am I love sorting things for people.

Anyway here are some of my finished pages. The first one I completed after watching the return of Glitter Girl! I'm so glad she's back I always enjoyed her videos on Two Peas and was disappointed when the site closed well thankfully Shimelle has started them again. This page was inspired by her layout.

This page is for my album about my trip to England in 2013. I have already created a project life album about our trip for my mum and now I'm working on my own.

Here is a sneak peek of my January art journal page that I'm teaching on 24th Jan.

And finally here is some of the colouring that I did at my friend's house yesterday. 

         

That's it for now. Have fun crafting.

Take care,

Helen xx