Sympathy Cards for Heidi Swapp

Hello crafters 

Many of you would know that Heidi Swapp lost her second eldest to depression a couple months ago. I was devastated to hear the news as I suffer from depression my self. 

I like many all over the world made a couple cards and send this through to Heidi Swapp's family and her eldest son.

I decided to be a little different and rather than doing the standard sympathy card, I chose to make something with an uplifting feel. I went with a steampunk theme with gears, clocks and hot air balloons.

I did get a message from Heidi a few weeks later thanking me for my letter and the cards. 

My New Blues

Hi there scrappers

Got a personal layout for you this time, I don't usually do layouts of myself. This was something to commemorate though, so I snapped a selfie and did a 12x12 layout.

Few years back I was diagnosed with Meares-Irlen Syndrome and have been wearing coloured glasses ever since. For the first 12 months I was going with the Irlen Spectral filters which while costly were doing the trick of helping me with my dyslexia, visual processing and reading, along with general anxiety due to photosensitivity. After a bit of research I changed to a much more cost effective alternative done through a local optometrist, Cerium Colorimitory. And wow did I get a much better result although a few months back I noticed some old symptoms crop up. I went and had my color retested and collected my new filters a week later. They were awesome!

I did the layout to remind myself how beneficial these filters are.

The background is a basic weave Kaisercraft cardstock that I used a Prima stencil and some "tinsel" Colour Shine from Heidi Swapp. I added a bit of stamping over the top of that in a few places with some kaisercraft texture stamps. 

The papers for the photo stack are some scraps from my Cafe au Lait collection available on my webstore. 

The cogs were cut out with my Silhouette Cameo and then stacked and glued to make them a bit more dimensional. They were then painted and stained and covered in Tim Holtz's rock candy crackle medium, which is so awesome. 

I then added vintage photo stain over the top to give that rusted aged look. 

To title the pages I pulled out some kaisercraft letters and embossing powders. 

I hope you like this layout, and thank you for reading.

Heidi Swapp Spotlight Craft Month

Last November saw a return of Heidi Swapp who did a national tour for Make Pretty Stuff Down Under. I had the opportunity to see Heidi again yesterday as she does her very brief appearance here in Australia again for the release of her Hello Today collection in Spotlight stores.

We did a small make and take that she signed for us. I was rather surprised she actually remembered me, and was happy to see I wasn't using a walking stick either. I threw this little layout together after I got home to make sure I didn't loose that make and take as well as to archive the two photos I got, one with Kim Jeffress and the other with Heidi.  I still had a few bits and pieces left over from the kit I got in November so I added them too. 

I even won a prize in the name draw! More Colour shine!!!!! At least it wasn't Teal, I have 2 of those.

Heidi Swapp Make pretty Stuff Down Under After Class Challenge

In early November I joined many Australian crafters in Heidi Swapp's Aussie tour "Making Pretty Stuff down Under"

After Heidi arrived safely back home she announced an after class challenge to those interested.  "Create a project( layout, memory file, card or OTP) using at least 5 items from any of the 3 kits"

I entered with these two layouts. 

Astonishingly enough I actually won a prize for my entries too! Epiphany Crafts round tools.

Heidi Swapp: Make pretty stuff down under

On the 11 November 2013, Adelaide was graced with the presence of the inspirational scrapbooker Heidi Swapp and her Aussie Media Team member Kim Jeffress. Prior to her arrival we were given a photo_a_day challenge, which at first was a little daunting to begin with but I managed to get in to it in the end. The challenge was posted and followed on Instagram the photos of which I actually used in one of the projects from the workshops event.

I had, unfortunately, hurt my self 4 days before Heidi's workshops and the night before was rather concerned whether I should be going at all. After some encouragement from my house mate and some of the other attendees via Facebook I made the decision to go for as long as I could manage.  

The first project was a techniques class in using masks and sprays and resists. Tell you some really HANDY tips came out of that project!!! 

Then came Kim's Christmas Mini album with lots of bits and pieces. I did as much on this as i could, but by the end of this project I was really struggling with pain and tiredness. 

After a tea break the third and final project was to start, I grabbed my kit and instructions and headed home, where I set to working on the memory album after my exam.

The Photo_a_day challenge photos I ended up using in the memory along with photos I took on the day of the workshops. 

All up I had a great time, it was a nice distraction from the pain I was in as well as the stress of my impending exam. 

Heidi and Kim are both wonderful ladies, I am a very glad to have met them both.