Catch me over at Digiscrap 101

Today Kayla Lamoreaux is kind enough to be featuring some of my Perth winter photos as part of her Savoring Summer series…

Check it out and enjoy your summer!

Melissa

Simple Tips for Finishing an Album

Coming to Simple Scrapper...

• Five simple steps to completing you scrapbook albums
• A sneak peek at my latest album (completed in 30 days!)
• Access to a free workshop recording from me!

Go check out my guest post!

Click here to view this photo book larger

Big Idea Festival: My words in pictures

Now that the Big Idea Festival is over, I want to share with you my words and pictures inspired by the words chosen over the past few days. I hope you enjoy them.

Nest

Cherish

Live

I want to take everything in!

Free

I am free, I have the ability to be the best I can be, think positive and no-one can stop me!

Moment

Embrace

Play

Lately there’s been little time for play around here. But then again, Emily and I have been building lots of tunnels and doing a bit of dancing, lots of trampoline jumping and making playdough animals.

Emily loves to dance!

But I’ve been working hard!

Melissa

*Thank your for using affiliate links to support my blog*

My Bare Necessities

Today I'm sharing with you the 'stuff' of my life, the things I use every day, the creature comforts. I pondered about whether to even post this one online, but may it will encourage others to see we all have our little health issues!

Vitamins & Minerals
I eat well, but even so I need the daily ginkgo, magnesium, and multivitamin. Lately I've also been throwing in some fish oil. I love the improvements ginkgo makes for my varicose veins, and other issues that the minerals bring!

Computer
When considering what I wouldn't want to live without, I guess I must say my computer. It's how I communicated with family and friends, how I create and share my art, and how I do my work.

Face wash
With my skin - twice a day 3 step is essential. I'm 29 and still have acne issues!

Shoes
I love my high heels but the shoes I am talking about are my joggers. Since wearing them around the house my leg pains have decreased dramatically.

Supplies by Flergs and Janet Phillips

What little things are you thankful for?

Melissa

*affliliate links where possible- please use them to support my blog*

Big Idea Festival Words to Live By: Wonder, Less, Give, Enjoy

Today I was inspired by Kim to document the words for the the Big Idea Festival.

Wonder

Having a little toddler in the house reminds me of the wonder in our life. Each day is a gift.

Less

We are certainly living with less right now as the sale of our old home fell though.

Give

I want to give my passion and enthusiam to helping others. I want to give my time to productive things. I want to give my love to my family.

Enjoy

I enjoy time alone, time with people, time creating and time organising. I want to enjoy my life every day.

So these are my thoughts so far.

The festival is free, so why not join in?

Melissa

*Thank your for using affiliate links to support my blog*

The power of one thing

Lately I’ve been inspired to help Emily focus on one thing at a time. I’m quite easily distracted myself, so as I’m teaching Emily this skill, I find it’s also helping me.

During the past week I’ve found that having one activity set up and ready to go helps us get the day started right. Even though (or perhaps because) Emily has all her toys nicely set up in the games room, it can be hard for her to know what to do when it’s time to play.

This week we’ve done:

• Puzzles
• Colouring in/pasting shapes
• Lego
• Block
• Playing with the ‘sandcastle’ (dolls house)

At the moment our morning routine is:

1. Wake and breakfast with Daddy
2. Second serve of breakfast with Mummy
3. Pray for the day
4. Play with Mummy
5. Quiet play while Mummy reads her devotions, has a cup of tea and checks her work emails.

Some things we’ve been learning lately:

• ‘Stamping’ shapes on the carpet mat
• Teaching her how to make a tea party with toys
• Anticipating the good things in the next day to come
• Keeping sand in the sandpit
• People come and go in cars, buses, trains and planes (and they mostly visit ‘Melbourne’ when they go away)
• The built in wardrobe can also double as playgroup or the shops when Emily’s is ‘Ready to go’

Big Idea Festival Words to Live By: Share

Today I played with a Flergs freebie and created a layout inspire by Amy Tan’s word for the the Big Idea Festival.

Every day I share my life with two wonderful people - Emily and Phill
Every day I share my life with friends and followers on Twitter and Facebook
Every week I share my worship with other believers.
Every week I share my thoughts on my blog
Every fortnight I share my journey with lifegroup
Every month I share my skills teaching Photoshop Elements
Every month I share some crafting fun with friends

Sweet Afternoon Freebie by Flergs.

Why not join in?

Melissa

*Thank your for using affiliate links to support my blog*

On the third stroke...

At the third stroke, the time will be 7:45am. Beep Beep Beep

What fun we had circa 1998 with that! We lived in a newish development where power was often going off as new homes were built or just because there were blackouts. When the power came back on we would have to reset quite a few clocks. Occasionally we were allowed to ring 1194, put the phone on speaker and then run around the house setting all the clocks.

I also love watching the clock at London Court in Perth

Always on Time...At the decorative Hay Street Mall entrance, a blue-faced clock chimes every quarter of an hour. The clock face is a replica of one of the dials in the clock tower that houses Big Ben in London. To the left of the clock, near one of the turrets, visitors can see the name of the Court's plasterer engraved into the plasterwork. Above the clock four knights, known as "Tournament of Armoured Knights", circle in the window when the clock chimes. Another clock is located at the St Georges Terrace entrance. Above this clock, in a window, is a miniature St George doing battle with the dragon. Both the clocks are replicas of the "Great Clock" of Rouen, France.

These days there are only a few clocks in our home that don't automatically keep themselves on time, and I'm sure that setting the time will not be a common occurance for Emily!

Melissa

*affliliate links where possible- please use them to support my blog*

New52: The one that proves how little I use cash! #new52

My New 52 for the week – this is the first time I’ve had a $100 note in my hands! I’ve always got cash at an ATM, so they only give out $50s. I guess I have seen the old paper money back in the day, but for the plastic money it’s a first for me. Thanks to the customer who made my day!

I was so excited I just had to snap a photo!

 

I have loved the New 52 challenge, thanks for running it Peppermint & Christine! I’m finding that looking out for new experiences is helping me appreciate that my life even more. I have to say I have many more draft posts, just waiting for me to finish them! Read more New 52 posts:

• Buying some happiness
• Crafting out and about
• Bye-bye Oven
• Souvenirs
• Bible 90 Days Complete
• Watching Playschool
• Not such a good new thing
• Battle of the Facial Cleansers
• Housesitting Edition
• Week 3
• Change is good

What’s new for you lately?

Melissa

*affliliate links where possible- please use them to support my blog*

10 things on the 10th: Photoshop Elements Tutorials

I’m sharing 10 of my Photoshop Elements and digital scrapbooking tutorials today, some are videos, some tutorials with screen shots, but all of them teach you in minutes what took me hours to learn!

Learn how to Fix your Photos in less than 2 minutes!

Find your templates with one click using the Photoshop Elements Organizer

Quickly apply the same settings to many layers in Photoshop Elements

Create a Double Page Spread for your Shutterfly Books

Install brushes painlessly in Photoshop Elements

Extract an image from its background

Use Organizer for your Digital Scrapbooking Supplies

Add dimension to your layouts with dodge and burn

Create a digital scrapbook layout with a template

Use Styles to Change the look of your embellishments

Like these scrapbooking tips? Head to Digital Scrapbooking HQ My previous 10 things posts:

• 10 cards and some how-tos
• 10 to dos

Thanks to Shimelle for the meme!
What are you doing today?
Melissa
Don’t have Adobe Photoshop Elements 9? Buy it now!

*affliliate links where possible- please use them to support my blog*

Learn easy fixes to common photo problems using Photoshop Elements

Want to have better photos?

Go from bland to brilliant using just Photoshop Elements. I’m running a free webinar – Photo Fixes for Real People on 15th August 9:30-10:30 am (+8 GMT) View in my timezone

• Turn your overcast skies blue
• Clean away food from your baby's face
• Create a perfect group shot - where everyone is smiling & has their eyes open!
• Get rid of red eyes.

I'll teach you how to fix your photos using Photoshop Elements and answer any questions you may have along the way.

15th August

Fixing your photos

9:30-10:30 am (+8 EST) View in my timezone

Cost - Free!

The workshop includes:

• One click fixes for photos
• Using Photoshop Elements guided editing to improve your photos
• Question and answer session

Register now to secure your seat in this workshop.

All of the classes are run online using a webinar system. All you need to do is register for the workshop using the buttons below. You'll receive a reminder email one week before, one day before, and one hour before the workshop begins. You just log in with your name and email address and start watching my presentation. I am always keen for you to type questions and I answer them live via my webcam.

Can't attend?

Even if you aren't able to attend, just put in your details below and I'll keep you informed of upcoming workshops.

Sign up below to be invited to the next workshop

Want to see past workshops?

You can also purchase previous workshop recordings. Including:

• Introduction to Digital Scrapbooking – Create a layout from a template in less than an hour!
• Using Memorabilia on your Digital Scrapbook page – step by step through 2 ways to add real life stuff to your layouts!
• Digital scrapbooking secrets: Misting, stamping, inking and more messy fun! Techniques for creating the fun look of mists, stamps and more on your layouts!

See you there.

Melissa
PS Don't forget to register

Overheard today

Emily's been playing in her tent for the last half hour, with her new little squeal of delight featuring prominently.

Lots of chatting:

• Children dancing
• Mima, Emily dancing
• Dolly fell down
• Emily's a wiggly worm, Dolly's a little worm (from her favourite song - Doin' it doin' it)
• Catterpillar out - drink some juice

Yesterday morning Emily was singing "Fly little bird" with her dolly's hat as the bird - so cute.

Written 22 July – only just found it in my drafts recently!

Melissa

*affliliate links where possible- please use them to support my blog*

Digital Scrapbooking Layout: This I believe

This week’s challenge in the Memory Logbook is about sharing your personal truth, which was also similar to the topic in Week 10 of the Yesterday and Today class at Big Picture Classes.

Here’s my take on it:

This I what I believe. I believe in God, I believe His plans for me are beyond my wildest dreams. I believe He is in control. I believe I can be joyful in all situations, I believe I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. I believe God's timing is perfect and He is never late. I believe that my emotion can be a part of my life without ruling it. I believe God designed me to live with passion. I believe I can be loving wife and mother, I believe I can run a successful business to share my love of art. I believe I can serve others in practical ways. I believe I can lead by example and speak wise words when they are needed. I believe my creativity is a vital part of my gift to this world. I believe my positive outlook on life can encourage others. I have learnt that to be good does not mean I have to be boring. I have learnt I can hold my tongue, I have learnt to laugh at myself. I have learnt to allow the tears to come and with God's help they will turn into joy in the morning. I have learnt that each day is a new day with no mistakes in it.

Template – Ali Edwards from the Yesterday and Today Workshop Week 10

Fonts Melissa’s hand and 1942 Report

Kit Impressions of Comfort at Home and Anna Aspnes Yesterday and Today Kit from the class.

I love it when something comes back around to inspire me. And now I’ve got another layout for my Yesterday and Today Album.

• Yesterday and Today–Day in our life
• Yesterday and Today–Random Childhood Memories
• Yesterday and Today–Album cover

I’d love to see your layouts – link me up in the comments!

Melissa

*Thank your for using affiliate links to support my blog*

Scrap Happy Blog hop: Buy some happiness #New52

I've been loving reading Stephanie's blog about the Scrap Happy project over at Scrapworthy lives, so I was thrilled when I found out she's got a blog hop going. You have probably found me from Kiss and Tell Scrapbooking.

This month the theme is:

Buying some happiness.

I have to say this is a hard one for me, as we are on a budget right now, but recently we invested some money in upgrading our computer, so it wouldn't constantly crash when I was scrapbooking (I'm a digiscrapper and a power user!). My husband encouraged me to just buy a new hard disk rather than go through the hassle and stress of trying to back everything up and reinstalling everything.

Of course I did have a few glitches (turning off my DVD drive in the bios and wondering why I couldn't install Windows, and having issues getting Windows 7 to activate) it was the best investment we could have made. My PC is running like a dream and I can just get things done!


I've also made this post my New 52 for the week - yes it's been a while since I posted one of them!

Now we are past half way in the year I’m still going strong with the New 52 challenge, thanks for running it Peppermint & Christine! I’m finding that looking out for new experiences is helping me appreciate that my life even more. I have to say I have many more draft posts, just waiting for me to finish them! Read more New 52 posts:

• Crafting out and about
• Bye-bye Oven
• Souvenirs
• Bible 90 Days Complete
• Watching Playschool
• Not such a good new thing
• Battle of the Facial Cleansers
• Housesitting Edition
• Week 3
• Change is good

Want more of the Scrap Happy project?
Here’s the other blogs in the hop!

• Scrapworthy Lives
• Scrapping Mojo
• Pie for Breakfast
• Scraps & Sass
• 1200 Some Miles
• Slice of Life
• Our Life with Spiky Potatoes
• Abstracts Mixed with Extracts
• Your Memory Connection
• Kiss and Tell Scrapbooking
• Melissa's Blog

Have you bought some happiness lately? Let me know about it in the comments below.

Melissa

*affliliate links where possible- please use them to support my blog*

One Little Word August #OLW Blog Hop

Welcome to to my stop on the One Little Word blog hop for August. If you’ve come from Lynn’s blog welcome! The full list of blogs is at the end of this post.

 

July’s prompt was music. I’ve heard lots of children’s music this month. Of course Emily loves it, and I don’t mind singing along to Bullfrogs and Butterflies. I guess they fit well with my word also! Growing and changing!

 

I also bought God is able from iTunes, but haven’t made it past the first few songs yet!

 

For my album I chose to highlight one song – Doin it Doin it – Emily’s favourite.

Lyrics

There’s a bumble bee, a honey bee
Gettin’ the honey for you and me

Doin’ it doin’ it – doin’ it doin’ it
Buzzing around – helping the garden grow

There’s a little worm diggin’ around
Eatin’ dirt from out of the ground

Doin’ it doin’ it – doin’ it doin’ it
Little worm – helping the garden grow

Up in the sky there’s a yellow sun Shining down on everyone

Doin’ it doin’ it – doin’ it doin’ it
Shine shine – making the garden grow

There’s a big fat cloud and a drop of rain
It’s falling down on the window pane

Doin’ it doin’ it – doin’ it doin’ it
Splish splosh – making the garden grow

Fly fly through the sky
Little bird drops a seed
The seed grows up into a tree
A green umbrella for you and me

Croaky frogs, cats and dogs
Creepy crawlies under a log

Doin’ it doin’ it – doin’ it doin’ it
All over the world – making the garden grow
Everybody – making the garden grow
You and me – making the garden grow

 

I just did a little bit of trick embossing – used card embossing folder on my 5x7 page and then lining it up as best I could and repeating it at 90 degrees to the first one. That way I got 80% of the page overed. I cut and embossed a scrap and added some lyrics. A very simpel take on this month’s prompt.

 

Supplies:

 

 Cosmo Cricket Honeypie Ella Paper

Cuttlebug A2 Embossing Folder, Stylized Flowers

5x7 Bind it all cream pages

Spellbinders Borderabilities

Spellbinders S4-239 Borderabilities Petite Classic Scalloped Border Die Template

 

I’m thrilled I’m keeping up with this – being accountable to sharing it in the hop really helps me keep my word front and centre.

 

Ali sends out monthly emails with a prompt for the month and you just complete it as you are inspired to throughout the month. Did you know that the One Little Word class is still open? You still have plenty of time to catch up or why not just jump in with this month’s prompt?

 

 

Here's the latest slideshow of my One Little Word album:

Created with Admarket's flickrSLiDR.

 

Did you know we have a OLW flickr group? Join us here

 

For more posts about my One Little Word adventure:

• One Little Word July Blog Hop
• One Little Word June OLW Blog Hop
• One Little Word April Self Portrait
• One Little Word–My album so far
• One Little Word 2011–Grow
• One Little Word 2011

Want more? Check out Sam’s blog

Here’s the rest of the stops:

• Margie       http://xnomads.typepad.com/blog
• Nikki        http://www.inkyart.com.au/
• Monica B    http://questtoperfectimperfection.blogspot.com/
• Cheri         http://cheriandrews.blogspot.com
• Jamie        http://jmpgirl.blogspot.com
• Jill          http://jillconyers.typepad.com/
• Monica B1    http://Scraplifters.blogspot.com
• Lynn        www.crafty-creativity.blogspot.com
• Melissa    http://blog.mshanhun.com
• Sam        http://learncreatedo.wordpress.com/
• Jenn        www.studiojenn.blogspot.com
• Maureen    http://cookingmylife.blogspot.com
• Chrissy    http://getcraftywithchrissy.blogspot.com/
• Jan        http://mysimplelittlelife.typepad.com
• Kimberly    http://foreverdaisies.blogspot.com/
• Kathryn    http://www.katlodesigns.com
• Lisa        http://backtoallen.com/writers_blog
• Amanda    http://scrappnbee.blogspot.com
• Cassie    http://craftycassiescorner.blogspot.com/

Thanks again to Margie for Organising this hop!

Happy hopping!

Melissa

*Thank your for using affiliate links to support my blog*