Wednesday 22 September 2010

The Secret Garden




It's been a good week. Getting my computer loaded & sorted has been a mission but I am finally reaping the fruits & it's all been worthwhile. Windows 7 seriously rocks & yup, I love being a geek...Picasa is back in & I love the new Picture Library that has taken over from My Pictures & the way you get a sneak peek of what's in the folders. Makes it so quick if you're looking for something that may have been misfiled.

My bloggy friend Linda brought me an American Crafts raw chipboard D ring album with a peach canvas spine, especially ordered for Chelsea's Matric Dance photos. It's going to be a lovely album. I have about 8 layouts in there so far & about as many still left to do so it won't be too full & I may add in the ones from Chelsea's boyfriend's dance too. Will probably do about 4 layouts of that so everything will fit in just perfectly ;-D

The Secret Garden was the theme of this year's dance & it was VERY pretty. Last year's fund-raising all suddenly took on a new meaning when we walked in to this set-up & saw just how much time, effort, and, not to mention, money, had gone into it all. Well worth it. This is the entry page of the album & sets the scene. I like that I now have so many sets of new alphas that I can mix it up in the titles.

The alphas are from Pink Paislee {top & bottom}& American Crafts {centre}. The paper is a VERY old Deja Views "Fresh Print" from 2006! in the ever-so-trendy colour "de jour" - currant! Black scallop bazzill was already pre-cut {thank Goodness for that!} The photographs were all professionally taken {on a Nikon I noticed ;-D} & I decided to bite the bullet & pay through the teeth for them so that I could relax & enjoy my evening. Very good decision...

The red-glittered chipboard swirl is also Pink Paislee & that pretty sheeny flower was sent to me by Jessy in my RAK. Just added a red feather & a bit of pink bling. The black & white printed papers were all offcuts from my left-overs container. Needless to say this layout came together ever so quickly & easily. The butterflies are from my new Martha Stewart punch & I hope they stay in fashion for a LONG time because I can't resist punching every offcut in sight & now have little containers of them all over the place hee hee...

I finally got to HP to return my printer & a brand new one is on it's way to me from Dubai...by this coming Tuesday so I'm told...I DON"T think so...but you never know so let's hope it makes it here that quick! I have spent today {between attending an awards assembly for Reilly - for getting an 83% average this term - taking Jack out for breakfast as he was off school today as he has finished his syllabus for the term - collecting DD from her sports day & lifting her friend to her work experience - popping in on my LSS to collect the new Kaiser Craft Hippy Girl Line & buying our must-have toiletry requisites from the local Clicks!} editing & backing up all my September photos so can't wait for my printer to come home so I can PRINT, PRINT, PRINT!

Looking forward to HERITAGE DAY {aka National Braai Day} here on Friday! It's nearly here people...only one more day to go...{bought a new salad bowl especially...} well, not really, more because I needed a new salad bowl as mine has turned into the "where we store the potatoes" bowl...veeeeeeeeeeeeeeery nice, will photograph it to show y'all soon!

9 comments:

Shayne said...

Very pretty Helen. I actually got into my scraproom today - didn't get very far but at least I made it in and started th eLO!

Nice that you're doing an entire album for her. WOnderful way to preserve her special night - especially as you got the prof photos too.

Noddy badge Mommy Moment!

Lynette Jacobs said...

Wow that album is going to be so very pretty. I am sure Chelsea is going to love it.

jessica_haley555 said...

Super cute. I did three 8 by 8 memory albums for my mom, dad, and maid of honour for my wedding. Check them out if you're looking for ideas.

Bernadine said...

I also bought the Martha Stewart punch - from Blue moon scrap booking site - clearly we both have very good taste. I also punch out all my scraps with it!!!!! Great minds think a like. :)

I am so tempted to buy more stuff as the rand / dollar exchange rate is so good but so far so good as I am resisting.

Diana said...

A whole album for one dance. Wow, must have been some dance. Rite of passage sort of thing, eh? Love it when there are professional shots available of these things. Yes, you can then relax.
Love your little punched butterflies with bling. I'm going to "teach" those to the Latin American expat ladies whose club is meeting next week. Very excited about that because they are so simple but so lovely.

Stefanie said...

lovely LO. Welcome back!

Pearl said...

what a great theme for a Matric Dance!lovely layout too to start the album !

Great to hear most of your 'puter woes are behind now ! ;)

Jessy Christopher said...

Another stunning layout by you & yes, I could recognize that Prima flower!! That is a beautiful place for a dance.

Ella Swan said...

Hi girls - thanks for the comments! LOL Bernie I think the rand is only going to get stronger so don't think you need to rush there...I have enough stash to start a business & find the more I have the less I scrap because I spend as much time sorting as I do scrapping so am trying to focus on producing pages right now ;-D I was seriously ill when Chelsea had that dance. Had been in bed for a week with a stomach bug that had me up night & day & wouldn't clear up so only lasted a couple of hours there before the immodium wore off lol...so the professional photos were a God send. It is maybe a bit OTT to have one whole album for an event but it is more about showcasing the culmination of her teenage memories with the people in her life who are so important to her right now. If she goes away next year she may take it with her & hopefully it will make her smile if she is homesick ;-D