the Australian scrapbooking challenge blog devoted to all things HANDMADE

Friday, May 15, 2015

May mid-month reveal!

Already halfway through the month, so that means it's time for another dose of inspiration from our Design Team. Remember, this month we have a sketch challenge. You need only use the sketch as the basis for your layout and remember to include a handmade embellishment - can't get much simpler than that!
Here is a reminder of the sketch...


And don't forget that this month we have the fabulous Scrappers Garden on board as our sponsor too! There is a $15 voucher to the store up for grabs for our lucky winner, which is well worth playing for. You can pop over to the Scrappers Garden store HERE to see what gorgeous goodies they have on offer. And don't forget to also follow them on Facebook HERE to keep up to date with all the news, latest releases, specials, etc.

Now here's some eye candy from the DT...

Chloe
Burdy's Embellies cogs and Greatest View badge

Lisette
Burdy's Embellies satin flower; D-lish Scraps flair; Charms Creations lollipop

Amanda
Rainbow Splendour vellum bow and camera pin; Charms Creations arrow; D-lish Scraps flair and hand-dyed muslin; Flutterby Designs wood veneer title

Kylie
Handmade journal tag

Paula
Flutterby Designs flair

Sandra
Charms Creations heart; handmade heart embellishment


I hope we have got your mojo going, and that you will all join us in our challenge this month. Entries need to be linked my midnight, 31st May. (Please ensure that entries are created specifically for our challenge - unfortunately, if you combine with other challenges you will be ineligible for the prize.)
Happy scrapping! :)

Saturday, May 9, 2015

April Winner!

Sorry to keep everyone hanging, it's been a hectic start to the month, but we finally have a winner for our April challenge. We had such a fantastic batch of entries for our mood board challenge, and with much deliberation we finally managed to narrow it down to this gorgeous creation for our winner...


belonging to...Elaine Schoof!!!

Congratulations Elaine, we loved your layout inspired by our mood board! You can read more about Elaine's layout on her blog HERE

Elaine has won a prize pack from our amazing April sponsor Catie's Craft Corner! (Elaine - please send us an email with your details via the contact tab so we can pass them on for you.)

*Don't forget to show your support for our sponsor by visiting the Catie's Craft Corner Facebook page HERE and becoming a fan!*

Thank you to everyone who played along with us in April. We hope you will all join us again for our current sketch challenge (details HERE) for your chance to win a prize from Scrapper's Garden!

Friday, May 1, 2015

May Challenge!

Welcome to May! Well, we are definitely speeding through Autumn. I am sure the weather is cooling off nicely wherever you are (in Australia). Time to warm your day with the reveal of our new challenge. This month we have a sketch for you, courtesy of our very own Boss Lady Vicki, (who right at this very moment is up here enjoying some Qld weather with me!)

Here is Vicki's sketch...


Besides the sketch, the only other criteria is to make sure you include a handmade embellishment (it doesn't have to be made by you). How easy is that?

This month, we are very happy to announce that we have a wonderful new sponsor joining us...


Scrappers Garden is a family owned online store that specialises in handmade paper flowers and products. They also carry a great range of branded flowers and chipboard products. Scrappers Garden are generously providing a $15 store voucher for our winner this month! We will be back later in the month to tell you more about Scrappers Garden, but in the meantime, you will find their store HERE; their Facebook page HERE and their blog HERE


Now onto some inspiration!

This month, we are placing a special feature on our DT member Ali's layout.
As many of you may already be aware, back in mid March Ali's 18 year old daughter Zoe was caught up in Tropical Cyclone Pam whilst on a volunteer teaching placement on one of Vanuatu's outer islands. After the Category 5 storm passed, leaving many areas of the island nation in ruins, Ali and her family suffered an excruciating wait for news from Zoe's village. After a very long week, Zoe was finally able to contact home and let them know she was OK, but her poor village was not.

Here is what happened next, as told to us by Ali...

When Zoë's Pentecost community was without food and water, our Facebook community rallied behind her cause to charter a helicopter to deliver life-saving supplies. Donations flooded in, and in less than three days we had a total of $8000. More than enough to cover our mission.
Once Zoë delivered the aid she returned home for a month to raise awareness and support for Vanuatu. People have continued to be incredibly generous.
Zoë will return on 3 May, but sadly as the Level School community is still without a water tank her placement there is not viable. She will instead take up a teaching position in another village whose gardens and water supply were not destroyed in TC Pam.
Zoë and her new volunteering partner will make the five hour journey by foot to Level to deliver supplies including school supplies, medical supplies, blankets, clothing and food such as rice, flour and sugar.
School attendance in Vanuatu is compulsory but not free. Families sell their crops for cash to pay for their kids' education. But now that their crops have been wiped out, there is no money to pay for school. Zoë will also give Level School funding to help cover the cost of keeping the 45 students in school.
It's estimated that it will take five years before Vanuatu's gardens fully recover. That's a lot of lost years of education. If you'd like to help Zoë keep the Level kids at school please contact Ali on alisonabernethy8@gmail.com and we'll add you to our Facebook page. You can also follow Zoë's journey on her blog HERE 
Zoë's Dad will be travelling to Pentecost in June and will take further supplies. He and Zoë will again travel to Level School community and together with the Principal will work a long-term plan.


Here is Ali's layout documenting that very special aid flight, with her (now famous) daughter aboard...

Ali
D-lish Scraps flair; Charms Creations star

And from the rest of our team...

Vicki
Burdy's Embellies cogs and arrows; Lovelybug Bits n Bobs fabric button


Leanne
Rainbow Splendour cork polaroid frame; Charms Creations heart; Lil' Red Rocket button


Kim
Flutterby Designs flair


Sue
D-lish Scraps flair

(If you have made it this far in the post, thank you!) We hope you will all play along with us and share your take on the challenge. Entries close midnight, 31st May. Happy scrapping! :)