The Scrapbook Store | the ART of discipline...

Hello Friends.  If you have been following my blog for some time now, you will know that my daughter has been studying dance since she was six years old.  This year marks her seventh year and she continues to have the amazing passion of spinning and twirling as if she were still six.  But she hit a hard roadblock at the beginning of the year.

Her much loved teacher, also named Leanne, needed to focus on family and returned to the United States.  We miss her dreadfully because not only was she an incredibly talented teacher, she became and still is a beautiful family friend.

The dance studio has been bought by another lovely teacher and Tahlia continues to dance and study with her new friend.. formerly a dance student of Ms Leanne's.  *grin*  Which brings me to my layout and the hash tag of starting over_2013.

 

 

"the ART of discipline"

 

products used: cs - American Crafts; pp - Elle's Studio: Serendipity; alpha - Jillibean Soup; other - Elle's Studio: Lil' Snippets labels, Serendipity cutouts ; Manor House flowers; Green Tara miniblooms; Greatest View badges/flair: In Style, School Rocks!, triple pearl pin, sequins, twine, mist, vellum; tools - border punch, typewriter.

 

My girl has worked so hard in perfecting her barre work.  She is improving in strength and flexibility every day.  I got to sneak into class one day and managed to take some photos.  This layout has been created with my July DT kit from The Scrapbook Store.  It is full of gorgeous Elle's Studio Serendipity.  I've just added the Greatest View badges/flair which are now also available from The Scrapbook Store.

 

The larger flowers are from Manor House.  The dark pink one has been cut down to size from one of the beautiful flower vines.  Trust me.  That was a hard choice to actually make that cut!  *grin* .

 

On a side note:  Tahlia now goes to dance class three times a week.  Twice a week with the dance studio, two hours each session and now every Thursday afternoon for three hours with her school performance team.  Last year she auditioned for and was successful in making the High School Dance Extension team - a maximum of thirty students.  Within this team, she recently auditioned for and again was successful in making the Junior Dance Troup (Eisteddfod performance team - open audition).  Again a team of thirty girls from grade 8 through to grade 10.  She was one of five grade 8 students.  Over 200 girls applied for the team.  I am so very proud of her and her achievements.  The goals she is setting and then marking off her list goes to prove her discipline in a tough field. 

 

Thanks so much for visiting..x

 

 

 

The Scrapbook Store | Butterfly Kisses..

Hello Friends.  Happy Christmas Eve!  I hope you are all relaxing and finding the time to do something or be with someone you love over the next few day.  :)  I am going to be doing just that as soon as I tick some items off my very long to-do list!  LOL! But before I can finish off some of those last minute wrapping or baking items on that list, I want to quickly share this layout created for The Scrapbook Store.  *grin*

"Like Butterfly Kisses"

products used: cs - kaisercraft; pp - Echo Park For the Record 2; alpha - Echo Park For the Record 2 sticker sheet; other - Echo Park: For the Record 2 chipboard & decorative brads, kaisercraft paper blooms & mini blooms, Amy Tan clear stamps, Jenni Bowlin paint, Mister Huey's color mist.

This was one of my instagram photos from the crazy behind the scenes chaos at Tahlia's recent end of year concert.  I love this candid moment.  It will also find its way into our December Daily for 2012.  (Umm. Yes.  I am quietly working my way through this...)

"Butterfly Kisses" was the name of a song she danced to some years back, but I love the reference to the mascara being applied as well...

I've also added the "bunch" of roses to the LO as a reminder of the bouquets she gets after each yearly concert.  So, even though there is no journaling on this page the symbols and embellishments tell the story for me.

 

If you have been inspired to use some Echo Park For the Record 2 papers check out this link here.  Maybe you could get some as a last minute Christmas gift!!!  LOL!

 

Thanks for visiting..x

 

 

Greatest View | Ribbons...

Hello Friends.  We're having a busy weekend catching up with friends, celebrating Liam's birthday and generally having a relaxing good time!  I hope your weekend is just as fun!!

Today I am sharing with you a layout created for Greatest View.  I captured this photo on my iphone just before my daughter went into her ballet exam.  She was so nervous but she always is until the music starts! :)

 

"ribbons"

 

products used: cs - Kaisercraft; pp - Bella BLVD, Echo Park, Sassafras, Authentique; Greatest View - triangle & feather whisper (boy) badges, twine, glassine bag; alpha - ; other - brown paper bag, Manor House Creations: flowers + leaves, Jillibean Soup: soup label + diecut, doily, ink (versacolor), kaisercraft pearls, mist: Mister Huey's color mist + Glimmermist; tools - typewriter, Martha Stewart border punch, Fancy That Dies: hexagon wall paper.

 

This layout isn't actually about her exam process.  *grin*  But it documents the achievement of having ribbons attached to her ballet slippers!  I'm sure it is every little girls dream at some stage.  At her dancing school the exam students were finally given permission from their dance teacher to have ribbons.  A little reward for working so hard!  And one that was so joyously accepted!! LOL!

 

Please head on over to Greatest View for the details on which products I've used.  Thanks for visiting..x

 

The Pink Leg Warmers...

Hello Friends!  Stephanie from Bella BLVD has decided to set a little challenge over at the Bella BLVD blog today.  :) Her Friday chat is all about creating your own colour palette!  And it is really gorgeous.  Have a little look....

A few of the Bella girls have decided to play along with the challenge.  I had a little time to create yesterday and I am really happy with the result.

 "the Pink legwarmers"

 

products used: cs - Kaisercraft; pp - Bella BLVD (sophisticates, Birthday Girl); alpha - Bella BLVD; other - Bella BLVD: washi tape, crochet flowers & cardstock stckers, Greatest View sequins, versacolor ink; tools - typewriter.

 

 

The colour palette literally created this page.  That's my girl.. the one with the "pink" legwarmers! lol! ... ummm.. obviously.  I am so glad this photo was sitting on the top of my "to scrap" photo pile!



 

I've wrapped the edges of my typed journaling with a little bit of washi to help it stand out.  I am loving this soft pink colour against the grey!

Tahlia was practising for her ballet exam and I was allowed to sneak into the studio and take a few photos.  *grin*  Gotta love her ballet teacher for encouraging me to come in and do this at any opportunity..x

So head on over to the Bella Blog (if you haven't already), for some fun and more inspiration from the fabulous DT.

Thank you for visiting..x

Stuck?!...

Hello friends.  The new sketch has been released over at Stuck?! Sketches where I am delighted to say, I am the guest DT among so many VERY talented designers!

Sara has provided another fabulous sketch, one that I really didn't have to stare at for ages before I used it.  LOL!

Admittedly, I was going to use more photos but in the end, I settled for a single image. :)

{true bliss}



products used: cs - bazzill; pp - Echo Park, Bella!; alpha - sassafras; other - sizzix heart die, martha stewart punches, kaisercraft; ink, paper blooms & rhinestones; FTD sweet blooms die, MME rhinestone brad, versacolor ink, typewriter.

Miss T still loves her ballet.  Probably even more than when she started!  LOL!  But that is a hard call because I'm sure every little girl starting out in ballet probably thinks it is the best thing.  Ever!  However, she is working very hard and rarely misses a lesson - 3 times a week after school.  The cute thing now though, is she helps out her ballet teacher with the 5 & 6year olds.  :)  Her ultimate ambition today, is to be a ballerina/dance teacher.  :D

So, don't forget to join in the fun and visit the Stuck?! website for some more inspiration.  Thanks for dropping by..x

Create...

*sigh* Ballet has been a huge part of our household for a little while now, but even more so this year. As you know, Miss T, participated in her first ballet exam in October and received Honours!! Yay!

We've also just wrapped up for the year and I was also very involved in the behind-the-scenes side of her ballet recital. LOL! And this gave me plenty of opportunities to take photos! hee!

When I saw this Mini Album in my Kaisercraft DT pack, I didn't see "flip flops". I saw Ballet slippers. LOL!

Yep. I'm seeing ballet stuff everywhere!


If you'd like to see more, head on over here. Thanks for visiting...x

Let's Go Dancing...

Since I was at another full day of ballet and jazz rehearsals with Tahlia yesterday, I thought I might share a few photos detailing what she has been working towards...

This year, like last, she has become a "helper" to the little girls. But not only does she need to lead and direct the baby ballerinas on stage, she is performing both a ballet and jazz routine.

Can you guess what musical she is dancing to for Jazz?? hee... Doesn't she make a beautiful alley cat?

{Jellicle Cats - Cats the Musical}

The "Tahlias" have had a great time getting into their kitty cat personalities! Hhhhmmmm... Maybe a little too much fun! LOL!

For ballet, the girls (and one boy) are dancing to "Butterfly Kisses". Such a soft and beautiful song by Bob Carlisle.

{Butterfly Kisses}

Yes, this little girl (sorry bad photo!)....

(2008)

(2010)

...has come a long way!! And we can't wait to see her perform next Saturday.

And while we are on the subject of "dance"! LOL!! Tahlia also performed in her school Rock Eisteddfod last week. She was Sandy from the Musical "Grease". The kids did a great job and was a lot of fun to go and show our support.

{Grease - The Musical}

Thanks for visiting...x

When you let your guard down...

..for just ONE minute when you have a very active and adventurous child in the house.... this is what happens....

No help. Just achieved with a new climbing skill, a sense of adventure and a certain death wish if his Mummy finds him here again. LOL! I think I would have been happier to find him sitting on the dining room table munching on apples from the fruit bowl, than playing with my scrapping goodies!! (I'm sure that will come!)

In other news, Tahlia had her first ballet exam yesterday, and while she was very nervous, as far as we can tell, she did a great job. We won't know her results for another 3-4 weeks yet.

And........Woot Woo! I won the Scrapmaster competition that was held over at Scrapability Sketches!! Yay! The girls over there are just lovely! And I can't wait to play a little more in the future!