Life and Leonie

Blog Action Day (a little late!)

2007-10-17T08:01:00.000+10:00

On October 15th, bloggers around the web will unite to put a single important issue on everyone’s mind - the environment. Every blogger will post about the environment in their own way and relating to their own topic. Our aim is to get everyone talking towards a better future.

I found out about it on my friend Erin's blog Blossom Creations. Pop over to see what she has to say about this too.

As for me well I began my little business (as diverse as it now is) by creating greeting cards and hand made paper items with a focus on using recycled materials.
My whole life I have been exposed to recycling in some form or another as my parents owned a second hand and antiques business when I was a child and Dad was always very talented at turning old bits and pieces into something new and I kinda followed on in his footsteps using my natural creative instincts to re-do old furniture and bric-a-brac to decorate my home.
When I got into childcare, we recycled stuff to create the children's art and I guess it was a natural progression to do so in my own art.
When I began recycling old paper into new stationery It really made me sit up and take notice of how much waste our society produces. Just for our little household alone it is incredible how much paper passes through our hands. We have also begun to make changes at home to do our bit for the environment. Changing lightbulbs to energy saving ones, using recycled paper, turning old food containers into works of art, collecting water in buckets in the shower and when it rains to use on the garden and potplants....the list goes on.
You know ...it's amazingly easy once you start doing these things....why don't you give it a try?
Take care and keep smiling :)
PS: Those hail photos are still coming :)

Putting my money where my mouth is

2007-10-14T07:54:00.000+10:00

Ok I made the challenge and now I have to put my money where my mouth is and complete the challenge myself.

This was very hard to do but also something I really felt I needed to do.

I am a month early but Angel's approaching birthday anniversary has been on my mind constantly lately so it just had to be done.

On to other things...

On Tuesday we had a wild hail storm here and the hailstones were the size of golf balls. The skylight in our laundry was shredded and the perspex in our pergola was too. Luckily one of Steve's mates was here when it happened because help was needed to hold up the roof of the pergola which was threatening to collapse under the weight of the ice and rain. While I danced around the laundry trying to clean up the waterfall in there.

We were lucky that Steve managed to get a felt cover over the car so there was no damage there but poor Ben's car was badly dented from the hail.

I will post photos of the pergola and laundry skylight when I get around to downloading them from my camera.

The positive's from all of this??...

We had our skylight replaced within 24 hours and we will be getting a whole new pergola roof...turns out that as well as the holes from the hail, the entire roof was buckled and warped so the whole lot will have to be replaced. Thank god for insurance!

Take care and keep smiling.

October Featured Designer Challenge

2007-10-03T16:44:00.000+10:00

Go and check out my challenge at DID.

It is part of my job as featured designer there and the first time I have ever hosted a challenge so it will be very interesting to see what people come up with.

Life often throws us twists and turns that we least expect. Some are good and others are in fact quite the opposite. Regardless though they usually have a significant effect on us and to some extent change who we are and often make us a better person in the process. Next month brings the first anniversary of such a significant event for me so it has been on my mind quite a lot lately. I often find that scrapping about it can help me clarify the event in my head and if it is something that was not so good it can be extremely therapeutic; and if it was good then why not share it with everyone right!

So my challenge for you this month as featured DID designer....Scrap about a significant or life-changing event in your life that was either good or bad, how did it effect you and did it make you a better person?

The prize (see picture above) ... my new “hybrid mini album kit” (which can be found here). This kit features templates and instructions on how to make a mini album and matching box as well as a complete digital kit so you can match the theme of your layouts with the album.

AND

If the winner uses only products from my store they will get an extra surprise bonus...

So what do you think?

Can you do it?

Go on I DARE you!

Pop over to DID and have a go :)

October Featured Designer

2007-10-02T07:07:00.000+10:00

I am the featured designer at Designs in Digital for this month which is pretty exciting.
I had to answer a few questions for the gig and some really made me think.
Anyway here they are.

How did you first get started designing?
I used to do only paper scrapping and card making. When I left full time work in the childcare industry I started up a little micro business making cards and scrapbooking for others. This led me to do a weekend course on how to use Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator so that I could make my own graphics for my cards. Before you knew it I was hooked on the software and then one day whilst surfing the net I stumbled across digital scrapbooking. I started to make my own papers and embellishments and one day Robyn Gough (the original owner of Clickchic Designs) approached me to sell in her store.….and as they say the rest is history.

What do you love about being a digiscrap designer?
I am constantly surprising myself with what I can create. I love seeing what others do with my kits and feel it is a huge compliment that they actually want to use them. I also love the fact that by creating my own kits I have a never ending supply of scrapping products for my personal layouts.

Is there a particular creative process you go through when you’re designing?
No not really. I just go with the flow. Each kit generally comes from a different inspiration and once I start….the kit and the creative process take me where they want.

Where and when do you do your designing?
Any chance I get. I am lucky enough to have my own craft-room/office so everything is always set up and ready to go.

What inspires you to create?
It can be anything. I always have ideas floating around in the back of my mind. Sometimes it can be a layout that I am doing and I require a little something for it which leads to a whole kit. Other times it can be a colour or an advert or a song.

What is your programme of choice? Any favourite tools you like to use?
Photoshop is definitely my favourite program and I enjoy Illustrator too. It’s great when I can combine the two.I tend to use a lot of blending modes and I really must use my Wacom tablet more often.

Do you have a favourite kit you’ve made? Why is it your favourite?
I think my latest kit is usually my favourite, generally because I have often learnt a new skill in the process of making it.

Do you have any favourite styles for your designs?
Mmm, this is hard. I have quite eclectic tastes and I like to try my hand at most styles. I really strive to recreate that paper scrapped style though for most of my layouts and kits, but it can be fun doing something more digitally oriented.

What do you feel is your strength as a designer?
My willingness to try new things and experiment.

What do you like to do when you’re not designing or scrapping?
I am really getting into web design lately since I finished a Graphic design course. I am in the process of building up a little business in this area. I love to read, garden, restore furniture and of course anything crafty.

What are you working on right now?
I always seem to have a number of projects on the go at the same time. This ensures I never get bored doing the one thing and ideas that I come up with that won’t work for one kit will generally work with another.

Experiments

2007-09-27T17:40:00.000+10:00

I have taken a little time over the past week or so to experiment with utilising my digital designs for paper scrapping. This was the first project I finished and I am so pleased with it.

I have never really tried a mini album before and I am thrilled with the way it turned out. I am going to give it to my sister for christmas and I am so pleased with the results I am enthusiastic to do some similar items for the rest of the family.

I was chatting to my friend Erin the other day too and we got talking about blogs and utilising them as a tool for our businesses. We both agreed that they can be an advantage but it can sometimes be a bit hard to find time in the day to add to it. Anyway I have added a link to her blog Blossom Creations so you can take a look.

Erin does some beautiful work and I always feel inspired after reading her blog and looking at her latest project. Actually it was Erin that inspired me to have a little play with blogger and work out how to place a blinkie or picture in the sidebar with a link attached.

I worked it out and again I feel a sense of acievement for doing something I have never done before.

I am getting a bit excited too because my stepson arrives tommorow and will be staying for 10 days. I always love it when he comes to stay and it tears my heart out when he goes. We haven't got anything specific planned as yet but I am sure we will be busy and find plenty to do. We always do.

I told you so!

2007-09-23T16:48:00.000+10:00

Well well well, I did warn you that I was'nt much of a blogger. But I am finally back.

I have just uploaded a new splash page to my website. It will act as a hub to all my little business endeavours and hopefully bring in a little more business.

If you would like to have a looksie you can find it here.

I have been very busy lately updating my branding info and making some new digi kits as well as making a start to my graphic and web design website which will be uploaded in the not too distant future.

I have been elected as featured designer at Designs in Digital for the month of October so I will be in for an interesting month and a bit of a learning curve too. I have never been a featured designer before, or ran a challenge or chat, all of which this entails. So wish me luck.

My first job will be to answer a questionnaire on my designing. That will be fun and it will then be posted on the DID Blog for all to see. I am both nervous and excited about all of this so more on the progress later.

I have also been doing a little scrapbooking and what a wonderful feeling it has been to actually do that! Here are a couple of layouts I have done.

Both layouts are using some papers from a couple of kits that are still a work in progress so you will have to keep an eye out for them.

Here are a couple of kits I have recently uploaded to my DID store. Why dont you go and take a closer look :)

Please Bear with me while I learn the ins and outs of picture placement in this blog. I have never really had the time to play around with modifying my blog so it really still is a work in progress on the design front LOL.

Any way I hope you like what you see and decide to take a closer look.

I had better go and eat the yummy pork spare ribs that Steve has just cooked me.....mmmmm.... and then go and work on some stuff for DID.

Til next time.
Take care :)

Woo Hoo!

2007-06-20T17:28:00.000+10:00

I am so excited! TAFE has finally finished for the Semester and possibly forever!
Yesterday was the last day I had to attend as I have finally finished everything that had to be completed. It sounds like I am going to do alright with marks too. My teacher Graham hinted I would be getting a High Distinction.

I must admit I was a tiny bit sad as I drove away from the place, thinking I will really miss the social aspect of being at TAFE. Saying goodbye to my teacher Wendy probably set me off. She has been so supportive and helpful throughout the whole course. In fact all of the teachers have.
It was probably the last time I will ever see some of those great people. I have made quite a few new friends though and before I left got the phone and email numbers of a couple more who I will keep in touch with.

I have been extremely busy today, finishing off the labels for Abbey Farm and preparing them to be signed off and sent to the printers.
This is so exciting being a part of the production and launch of a brand new product and business. I can't wait to see the labels on the mead bottles and then get the photos so that I can finish the website in time for the business launch at the Abbey Medieval Tournament on the weekend of July 8th and 9th.

A Fantastic weekend!

2007-06-18T09:41:00.000+10:00

What a great weekend I had. It was my birthday on Saturday and I turned the big "40" so I decided to have a party/barbecue to celebrate.

I have not had a birthday party since my 18th birthday so I figured it was about time I had one. So many beautiful people turned up to help me celebrate and the day turned out to be one of the best I have had in a very long time. I was spoiled rotten with the many thoughtful gifts that I was given and humbled by the love that was shown toward me. Thank you to each and every person who helped make the day so special.

Steve did so much hard work to help make this day special for me and cooked fried rice and chicken wings and then the barbecue. He made sure that there was not one but TWO birthday cakes so we had enough to go around. Yummy mud cake....mmmm my favourite!

The afternoon started at 12.00pm and we partied on until about 3.30am. I really didn't expect to go that long but the guests arrived in a couple of waves and as one group of guests disappeared, another began to arrive. Thank god I didn't have too much to drink so I was not hung-over on Sunday morning...only tired and was able to face the clean-up and then my last lot of homework for the semester.

Last homework....that sounds like music to my ears. This week is probably the last week of TAFE and my Graphic design course which is both fantastic and a little scary. It means that I now have to venture off into the big wide world and start putting my new found skills into practice! I have managed to get some part time work doing Graphic design for a company called ReferCorp which is fantastic, but I am constantly worrying and hoping that I am doing a good enough job and keeping them happy. There have been a few hiccoughs the first two weeks and I have had to re-do a couple of web banners a couple of times over...nothing major but it is things that I did not learn about in the course and particular ways that the company like to have things done. They have been very patient with me and I am sure expected at least some hiccoughs as they consciously picked a new graduate for the job.

I was extremely flattered to be recommended for the job by my Web design and Print design teachers at TAFE. ReferCorp had approached TAFE asking if they could recommend a student for the job and I was picked. A HUGE compliment. It's funny, I wasn't really that nervous about the interview, but now I am constantly nervous about whether I am doing a good job. That's not always a bad thing though...I figure if you are like that you put the best efforts in to ensure you are always doing a good job. As long as my employers are happy...then I am.

The big bonus with this job is that I can work from home and it is only a few hours a week. This will give me the time to develop the scrapbooking side of my business and seek out other Graphic design freelance work. My dream is to get my designs recognised and made into paper c=scrapbook designs and break into that market. It will be hard work but I am willing to put in the hard yards and hopefully it will pay off.

My friend Erin is inspiring me to keep going with this dream. She is just beginning her journey of following her dream with her new design venture Blossom Creations. She does some beautiful work and I am sure she will be very successful.

I caught up with my cousin Jude late last week and it was wonderful to see her again. She was in Brisbane for the Papercraft expo and had a stand for her business Scrapbooking top 50. She actually had forgotten that I lived in Brisbane and so hadn't contacted me. I surprised her by just turning up at the expo to see her. We met up again on Tuesday for lunch and a but of shopping and had a lovely afternoon together.

Not long now until Greg arrives...he will be here Tuesday week and I am getting so excited about seeing him again. Steve has booked a few days at a unit in Agnes Water which will be lovely. A holiday we all need I feel. It will be great to spend time together as a family and just enjoy each others company.

Wow this will probably be one of the biggest posts I ever do LOL. I really should get going and finish that bit of homework that didn't get done yesterday and check my e-mail for new jobs from ReferCorp.

Take care and keep smiling :)

I have Done it at last!

2007-06-15T17:25:00.000+10:00

OMG I have finally done it and joined the ranks of the blogger!

I don't know how good I am going to be at this as I have never been one for keeping a diary but I thought it might be a great way for my family and friends to keep up with what is happening in my life and for those who are interested in my designs to keep up with the latest happenings in that area.

I will probably even offer the occasional digi scrap freebie here too.