Paislee Press - DAILY JOYS

 

Hello and welcome to February.  Now as we all know February is the month of love and in particular Valentines Day.  Now, I don't really get into the whole Valentines thing and my husband definitely doesn't.  So I was so thrilled when Liz from Paislee Press released a new digital kit called "Daily Joys" that celebrates all the other things we love  -  Like coffee, ok, not everyone loves coffee but I do.  Anyway back to the point of this post.  

I live in Perth, Western Australia and recently we had a snap lockdown due to Covid-19 and my birthday happened to fall in that week of lockdown.  I was actually ok about it, seeing as I have celebrated many so missing one wouldn't be so bad.

But my daughter thought differently.  She came around and left some little treats including Hot Cross Buns (which is another love of my mine) on the door mat. This seriously made my day and I just loved it and I just had to document it.

Thanks for stopping by and Happy Valentines

xo Tracey

Room to Breathe - Paislee Press

Hello, hope you are all coping ok with life right now.  It's certainly giving us some challenges.

I have been crafting my brain out, well there is nothing else to do.  Ok, there is some spring cleaning I could be doing but lets be honest crafting is definitely way more appealing.

Paislee Press has a new digital kit, journal cards and templates available and I thought I would share how I used them.  I'm really enjoying going back to this style of memory keeping, it's like project life but planner style which I didn't think I would like but turns out I do.  I am not going to do a photo book now for documenting our year and it's for the same reasons that I am no longer doing my Thursday3 as a photobook.  I just simply miss the touch and feel of our memories.  Waiting till the end of the year is just too long for me.  I am trying out 6 x 8 size which I have to say I am really enjoying.  I am still getting the craft experience but it's not as big and not as involved.  I can still make scrapbook pages too, just on a smaller scale.

I also did a few extra pages that will be an insert in my album.  These won't be in a page protector.  I love having some things out of a page protector as well, it gives me the feel of a journal and plus it adds texture which I love.

 Digital products - Room to Breathe scrapbook kit
                              Room to Breathe journal cards
                              Room to Breathe templates

Keep safe everyone and thanks for stopping by.

Tracey xo

Cruise Photobook...

If you have been following my blog or my instagram you will know that I have been de-cluttering the heck out of my house.  I still have lots more to do but the progress so far as been wonderful.  While going through some stuff I came across two old photo albums of a cruise I did way back in 1985.  It was my first overseas holiday without my parents and my first big holiday on my own.  I have so many wonderful memories of this holiday, and, it's still by far my most favourite one.

I had so much fun going through the photos and thinking back to a time that was different from now.  As I looked at each photo the smiles on my face got bigger and bigger.  But, as with all things old they start to deteriorate especially when they were stored in those old sticky type albums.  My intention was always to scrapbook them but obviously I haven't, and, lets me real here, I'm probably not going to right.

But then I had this thought, thanks to The Minimalists, why don't I scan the photos and that way they will be with me forever.  So I did just that.  It only took about an hour which surprised me.  While I was scanning I got a notification that I had received an email.  It was from a company called Snapfish letting me know about a sale they were having on photobooks.  At that very moment I decided to make a photobook using the Snapshops No 3 12x12 album templates from Paislee Press.  These templates were perfect for old photos and in just under two hours I had created my pages (in photoshop) and uploaded them to Snapfish and ordered my photobook.  

Note:  when creating a photobook with snapfish you do not need to create the pages first in photoshop.  They have templates that are super easy.  But I just like to create my pages in photoshop first.  I just like the freedom of using what templates I like.  It's just a personal thing.

Here are just some of the pages from photobook -  

I even scanned in parts of the cruise newspaper outlining the tours that did.  I was so happy how they turned out.

I know what you are wondering...

What did I do with the albums and photos? Right?

I threw them out.  It felt a little weird at first but then I realised that the photos had been scanned so now I have them forever and I had them printed into a photobook which was way better than the album.  Plus the photobook takes up way less space.

This project was so much fun, so much fun.

xox Tracey

Paislee Press - January...

This month for Paislee Press I have created two projects in my 2019 travellers notebook (my new approach for memory keeping this year.  (You can read about my change from Project Life to a travellers notebook here) .  My first project is a hybrid layout and my second is a digital page which I printed out and added to my TN.

My first project "Let's Eat" is one of my favourite pages so far because I added a drawing (traced from a photo) that I did in Procreate.  This has been on something that I have wanted to do for ages, add my own drawings/designs to my memory keeping.  It worked so well for this story and the digital elements from Paislee Press just added that something special to my page.

Paislee Press products used  - Tour Guide, Around the Table

My second project used the new "Here We Go" digital kit which I just love.  This story about me, going swimming for the first time is a very personal and moving story for me.  I wanted my story to be the main focus of my page but I wanted to add elements that complimented my story while also making it look great and  allowing me to be creative.

That hand script element "just story" couldn't have been more prefect for this story.

Paislee Press products used - Here We Go Kit, Is it Friday, Messy Canvas

Embracing the grey...

It's been awhile since I have done any documenting in my "side trip" adventure with breast cancer album so I thought it was about time.  And, this story is one that I have wanted to tell for some time.

When you lose your hair from chemo it's devastating I can tell you.  You know it's going to happen but I don't thing you can ever really be truly prepared for it.  Right from the beginning though I was told that when it grows back it will probably come back grey and curly.  Well curly part is no where to be seen but the grey has certainly come in thick and fast.  Some days I don't mind the grey but other days not so much.  Everyone says that it really suits me, both the short hair and the grey.  As I said, still not sure how I feel about it although I love the simplicity of it.  Just wash and towel dry. Bam! hair done.  What's not to love about that.

It's probably not a hair style that I would choose for myself but sometimes life doesn't always give you what you would choose.  So I am making the most of it and embracing the grey.

When Paislee Press released the "messy beautiful" digital kit I couldn't believe it when I saw the "this hair" element.  It was perfect for my story and it reminded me it was time to tell the story.

What are you embracing lately?

Love me :-)

Card making - my process...

I am in card making frenzy today as we are celebrating three birthdays tonight, two first birthday's and one sixteenth.  I thought I would share with you my process when making cards using digital products.  Over the past year or so I have been using digital products more and more because I love  that there is no limit as to how I can use them.  By far my most used digital kit is the "Oh Happy Day" digital scrapbook from Paislee Press by Liz Tamanaha.  There are so many choices in this kit to allow for any type of birthday that  is being celebrated, especially for the men in your life.  But again that is the advantage with digital products, I can even change the colour on most things so I really am unlimited with choice.

When I first start to put a card together using digital products, I start out in photoshop and play around with design, colours and embellishments.  Once I am happy with the basic design I print out all of the elements  (as seen in above photo).  I also "save as" the card design so that I can use it again.

My next step is to cut all the elements out.  Sometimes when I am designing the card in photoshop I may be torn between a few elements, not sure how I want the card to look.  If this happens I print out the extra pieces even if I am not sure if I will use them.  It's easier to do it as this stage because there is usually some space left on your initial print and it saves having to go back and print again and waste a whole sheet of cardstock.

When I was making two of these cards I was unsure if I wanted to include a number "one" or not on the card.  These cards are for my great niece and nephew who are turning one and I didn't know if I liked the look of the number on the card or not so I printed them out anyway.  As it turned out I loved how it looked on the card.  Making things with digital products is no different than physical product.  Sometimes things look better when you can play around with them physically.

The other thing I love about this digital kit is that I was able to use it to make a first birthday card as well as a sixteen birthday card.  Plus, two of the cards are for boys and one for a girl.  So as I said, digital is so versatile.

I have also go into the habit lately of making an extra card.  I figure I already have all the stuff out so  I might as well make an extra one to add to my stash.  For the card below all I have to do is add some number stickers to the front once I know what birthday is being celebrated.

I hope that you found this helpful and I hope that it may inspire you to give products a go.  If you have any questions please don't hesitate to leave them in the comments below.

Happy card making!
Love me :-)

A new adventure...

Nothing is more exciting than planning a new adventure, booking a holiday.  Sometimes I think I get more enjoyment from the actual planning than I do the holiday.  

2017 was a shit year for us (sorry about the language but it was just that shit!) and although I am still going through treatment, there is an end in sight.  Many people said that we should book a holiday and get away as a little celebration for getting through the whole breast cancer thing.  So that's exactly what we have done.  We have booked to go to Dubai and Holland and I can't wait.

I was so excited that I wanted to create a layout about a new adventure.  Paislee Press has just released some new 2018 Calandar Cards and Overlays and I love how they have turned out on the layout.  I wanted to somehow show when our adventure was booked for and these calendar cards were perfect.  

Everything on this layout is a digital product (from Paislee Press) including the pattern paper.  The only things not digital are the gold stars and the paint splatters.  As usual, I first designed my layout in the photoshop elements and then when I was happy I printed all the pieces out, then created my layout.

So now the countdown begins...

Love me :-)

Eat cake - birthday cards...

January is a busy time for us with Birthdays, lots of Birthdays.  So, that means lots of cards and one thing I am trying to do this year is to make my cards ahead of time, to be organised.  Usually I am sticking down pieces onto a card as I am walking out the door.

One thing that has made "being organised" possible is my move to digital elements and papers to make my cards.  I don't mean making a digital card and sending it via email, I mean using digital products to make my card making easier.  Since being on the Creative Team for Paislee Press I have learned to use digital elements/papers etc more and more.  I think I have said it before, but using digital products means that I can plan my project in photoshop, make sure I am happy with everything then print out all the pieces and put it together.

When I design a card in photoshop, once I am happy with my final product I save it as a PSE file so that all the layers are retained.  I do this so that if I need another card I can simply print it out as is or change things around if I need to before printing it out.  It also means  I can use the same card for a male or female, I just need to change the pattern paper or an element.  It's the same if I want to add numbers/age to the front of the card, if I need to redo the card I can just simply change the numbers to fit the situation.

Below is each of the cards after I have printed all the elements out and then put it together to create the card.  The last photo is what the cards looks like digitally.

Here are the cards in digital format:-

It also means I never run out of my favourite paper or embellishment, because all I have to do it print it out.  And it also means that I can stop hoarding all my cards.  You know what I mean, you make a card and you just love it and you just can't bear to give it away.  Now I can give it away and simply print off another one.

If you have any questions please leave them in the comments.

Thanks for stopping by and happy card making.
Love me :-)

Please note:  Digital papers and elements used are from the "Oh Happy Day" collection from Paislee Press available at The Lily Pad.

It's beginning to look like christmas...

For the past several years Paislee Press has released a collection of Christmas papers, elements, templates and wordart called December you are My Fav.  This years collection is by far my favourite because there is so much to choose from.  This year there is a scrapbook collection, a 6x8 collection, a 4x8 collection for all you travellers notebook lovers out there, journal cards and some great number tags that would be perfect for an advent calendar.

For this layout I decided to combine papers and templates from the 4x8 collection as well as papers from the scrapbook collection.  Remember just because something might be designed for something specific i.e. 4x8 collection for travellers notebooks, doesn't mean that's how you have to use it.  I used one of the 4x8 templates and papers to create this layout.  I love how they have become a design element on their own on my page.  

December you are my Fav #6 is definitely my favourite.  But then I say that every year when Liz brings out a new one.

Happy crafting!

Love me :-)

Red cup season...

Hello and welcome, hope your week has been good to you.  It's release day over at Kellie Stamps and my first project that I would like to share with you is a layout all about getting a Starbucks Christmas cup from a dear friend who was on holiday recently.  I am obsessed with Starbucks (but we don't have one here in Western Australia... insert sad face) and I desperately wanted one of the holiday take away cups and when a friend did a post on Instagram of her cup I quickly asked if she could please get me one.  Silly I know but that's just how I roll.

This layout has been put together using mostly digital stamps from the "rate this" and "Grateful" sets.  My favourite part of the layout is probably the red pattern paper that I made using the "mood rating faces digital stamp".  It was easy to do and super quick to put together (my favourite type of crafting).  That's the best part about digital stamps, you can do so much with them.  I did do some old fashioned stamping with my title using two alphabet sets from Kellies stamps (I think these have since sold out).

If you haven't tried digital stamps, you should.  There are lots of great tutorials and classes on the internet to show you how to use photoshop elements, don't be scared.  Give it a go.  You can also download a free one months trial of photoshop elements.

This is a super quick post today as I am about to head off to hospital to have my Mastectomy.  I am sure all will go well but please say a quick prayer cause it can't hurt.  Thanks a bunch.

Love me :-)

December Tradition layout...

Doing all this Christmas scrapbooking has got me into the Christmas spirit... I officially started my Christmas shopping today.  I know, I can't believe it either.

Today on my blog I am sharing another hybrid layout using the new digital stamps "no peeking" and "dear santa" from Kellie Stamps by Kellie Winnell avail now.    I love everything about this layout, the simplicity, the white space and the story.  This layout is made entirely of digital elements and was super easy to put together.  I even made my own pattern paper (that red strip down the centre of the layout).  The "traditions" word was cut out using my Silhouette Cameo and the trace and cut feature.

I totally love the holly, its prob my favourite image from these stamps.  Oh wait, I love the lights too, and then there is... yep I love it all.  Don't worry if you are not into digital stamps because they are avail in clear too.

Please remember, if you have any questions just let me know.

Thanks for stopping by
Love me :-)