Winter is looking at us.....

...and the weather man is promising lots of snow. Now that is what they said last year, and we did have a good dump...but only one decent one, and no White Christmas (pout)

Still, I'm always in the mood for snow (that is probably only because we don't get much of it where we live...) so that when I was making overlays, the gorgeously dreamy 'Whispers of Winter' kit by Rina Kroes was calling my name in a most insistent way. (Treat yourself to a look at the whole Collection HERE)

What can I say?
Did I resist?
Did I even try?

Not at all....so here you go

You can download the freebie HERE.

Over on Rina's blog you'll find this QP freebie by Kabra, still available too...

Time to snuggle up with a good book and a warm drink...yummy!

And something for Spring!

After all, while we take pictures of autumn leaves, others take pictures of flowers in their spring gardens!

So my next freebie overlay is fresh cool...and very 'girlie'!  Enjoy!

Rina Kroes is Designer of The Month at Scrapbook-Elements this month. She has a beautiful selection of goodies in her discount box. Take a look at these HERE. It includes the kit I used for the freebie (see below) Check out the whole Collection of coordinating items HERE

I wish I had lots of girlie pictures to scrap when I come across kits like this one....

And here is your page overlay freebie. It is a 4 sided border overlay in png, and the pinkish background paper is not included! Enjoy!

You can download your freebie HERE and over on Rina's blog is a QP freebie also featuring 'Cherished'  I used the QP on Rina's blog (made by Kabra) for this LO.

I have already taken quite a few pictures and October is barely halfway through! I see pages looming in my future...yummy fall pages! Yipeeeeeeeeeeee!

LOL...catch you later gators...

Vintage LO's - so special

I would not say they are my absolute favourite LO's to do - I enjoy variety - but they really are special. Of course I'm very fortunate to have a wonderful collection of old pictures to work from. Anyone who has been following along this blog will know that by now!

I recently made these two LO's with a new Page Set (and Add Ons) by Rina Kroes. I'm really pleased with how they have turned out and I know already that I will be making more pages with this collection for sure. It suits my pictures and my idea of vintage feminine perfectly!

Here is a look at the Page Set but take a look HERE at the rest of the Collection you can also hop on over to Rina's blog for previews, more LO's and a QP freebie

I turned my LO (second one featured here) into a gift for you.

Download the freebie HERE

Oh and Rina is the Designer of The Month at Scrapbook-Elements for this month (starting this Wednesday 14th. (actually this will be from the 21st, so you still have time to sign up for the newsletter!)) ) Here is a look at her free gift. Sign up now for the SBE newsletter if you'd like this beauty. It coordinates with Rina's Serenity Collection

Serenity - New from Rina Kroes

I'm still working on the July pages (when I'm not cleaning/sorting/packing - we are downsizing...need I say more?) so I'll be posting those shortly (I hope!)

Meantime I have a freebie for you down below. It features Rina Kroes new kit Serenity. Take a look at Rina's store for the rest of the collection, with new additions releasing tomorrow (Sunday 21/08)

There's some beautiful LO's over on Rina's blog featuring this kit. As well as a 12x12 QP freebie.

And here is my little gift for you...enjoy!

You can download you freebie HERE

Thanks for stopping by!

Rina's New Marshmellow Kits

Yummy delicious sweet... that describes Rina Kroes' New Marshmellow Kits (available in an element pack & paper pack - see below) or available as 3 minis. See them HERE in Rina's store. Still on sale for today

Then head on over to Rina's blog for this QP freebie HERE

Have a great week!

A Year in Review

Pictures/previews for this page have been removed due to Designers retiring and stores closing

I only waited till the end of the year to do monthly LO's...trust me to make life difficult for myself LOL. Truth is I wasn't sure that I wanted to do it...I tried a daily picture/ weekly LO for 3 months...but in the end decided this was probably as realistic as I should try to be. ( I LOVED the daily picture idea, but I got so involved I didn't get anything else done. Maybe one day when I'm all caught up, right....? ROFLOL

So I headed on over to Kimberly Stewart's Royal Court blog and Rina Kroes' Reluctant Recluse blog and grabbed the Quick Pages and templates from there (One month the Quick Page is on one blog with the template for the page on the other blog, next month, it is the other way round.) I found them under 'digital freebies' on Rina's blog and on Kimmi's I just went by the months and scrolled till I found what I was looking for. The downloads for March are not working. I'll see if we can get that sorted out.

Here are my pages for January and February 2009. Please click on the images to go to the galleries for full listings of products used.

For January I used the Quick Page on Kimmi's blog (plus a few added bits)

For February I used the template for the February page instead, as I needed something cold and snowy. The February Quick Page is beautiful and I will be using it for sure...

I'll be back with more pages asap. Meantime Gypsy Couture is releasing some great Project 365 stuff tomorrow. I got my LO's ready and waiting...see you then!

Glorious...

and sumptuous! That is how I would describe Rina Kroes' latest Page set : Glorious

Pictures/previews for this page have been removed due to Designers retiring and stores closing



Here is a better look at the papers:





I used it here, not for a Christmas LO, but for a Golden Wedding Anniversary.

The alpha used is one that coordinates with Rina's Christmas Traditional Page Set and is not currently available.

I made my LO into a freebie for you.

Download it HERE...and then hop on over to Rina's blog for another beautiful QP by Kabra..and over on Debbie's blog you'll find yet another one! Whooot!

Enjoy!

Oh yes...I hear rumours of a blog train coming through....I'll keep you posted!

December Desktop ready to go!

On Rina Kroes' blog :

Pictures/previews for this page have been removed due to Designers retiring and stores closing

Grab this gorgeous desktop calendar HERE.

Happy Thanksgiving....

...to our American friends....

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Have you seen this freebie over on Rina Kroes' blog today? Check it out HERE

I hope to be back later with a post and freebie of my own....

Desktop Wallpaper/Calendar Anyone?

These sure make for neat looking desktops, although I must confess to having a solid black desktop myself....with a funny (Garfield) perched in the middle. The first thing I check online every day is the Garfield funny....puts a smile on my face. And the good ones end up on the desktop untill a funnier one comes along. (btw I get these via a 'Feed' on Yahoo)

Pictures/previews for this page have been removed due to Designers retiring and stores closing

BUT! since I know many folks like a wallpaper/calendar, I thought I'd give you the heads-up that the new one has been posted on Rina Kroes' Reluctant Recluse blog

Click on the linked image to go to the blogpost and download your freebie!

Going for a Ride....

That was so much fun!!!

Pictures/previews for this page have been removed due to Designers retiring and stores closing

I used items from Rina Kroes' Enduring Love Collection (see it HERE )

I used the Stacked Papers, the Journal Tags, Embellishments and the Alpha

Here is a look at the Stacked Papers here, aren't they neat?

I hope to add a QP freebie, featuring Enduring Love soon! just have to do a couple other things first....and between posting that and now, I managed to wrap this up. Hope you find it useful!


*Please note that not all the items used on the QP are from the Enduring Love kit. A full product list is included in the download* Or click the LO above for a full listing with links.



You can find the freebie HERE and the Enduring Love Page Set HERE

Oh and Rina posted the October Desktop freebie on her blog HERE

Flying...?!?

Pictures/previews for this page have been removed due to Designers retiring and stores closing

Well they told me it felt like it...LOL. The guys having some fun, waaaay back in 2000. Can it really be 9 years ago?

I used this kit by Lorilei over at Rosey Posey Studios. many LO's in this kit....very nice indeed!

and Rina Kroes has her September desktop calendar freebie on her blog. You can find it HERE



The last few days of summer holidays.....I'm not looking forward to the morning alarm clock drill...

The Smell of Orange Blossoms

Pictures/previews for this page have been removed due to Designers retiring and stores closing

Do you know what they smell like? The most wonderful of fragrances, one of the smells of my youth, full of memories. That is what comes back to me when I look at Rina Kroes' latest Page Set "The Bells of St Clements" remember to check the Doorbuster sales over at Scrapbook-Elements for additions pieces to the St Clements Collection!

For today and Monday you can still buy the Page Set as a separate Paper and Elements pack, in Rina's Doorbuster sale.

Fresh, clean and fragrant. Invigorating. That is what it stands for!

Now if you zip on over to Rina's Blog, you'll find a beautiful QP freebie by Kabra posted for you there,

and if you scoot over to Debbie's blog, you can scoop up another QP.

Add these to the Quick page album in Rina's store and you have a beautiful album ready in no time at all! (still only $2.00 till tomorrow ! (Monday))

I also have a blog gift freebie for you today : a border, cluster and decorated tag set. All made with elements from The Bells of St Clements.

You can download you blog gift freebie HERE

Thanks for dropping by!

I Love The Ocean

Pictures/previews for this page have been removed due to Designers retiring and stores closing

My love for the ocean has been life long....I'm so glad to be living near it now.

In the previous post I showed you Rina Kroes new "Sea Spirit" kit....and here is my LO with it.

You can find a QP made from the LO on Rina's Reluctant Recluse blog HERE

Enjoy! I shall be braving the grocery store today and the ever growing number of tourists....LOL. Our population explodes every summer, without fail...

Don't miss out on super deals during this sale : Rina and Kimmi both have wonderful products at $1-$2!!!

FINAL DAY - Sale ends Monday May 25th at midnight central The SBE designers have put together some awesome specials for your Memorial Day weekend! Not only are most things in the store* 30% off, but we have a HUGE selection of $1 and $2 items in our Doorbusters section!

Don't miss these great bargains! Scrapbook-Elements Memorial Day Weekend Sale Friday-Monday, May 22nd-25th(sale ends at midnight central time)Over 250 Doorbuster Items will be available - priced at $1-$2*30% off most items - Exclusions include items regularly priced at $2 or less, Designer of the Month and Spotlight items, Designer Resources, CD Burns, Gift Certificates, Doorbusters and Close Out Specials

A Beautiful Beach Day

It was such an amazingly beautiful day. Yesterday. The perfect day, and I got to spend it, well the entire afternoon at least, on a nearby beach. It was a party for our youngster's friend, but seeing as these youngsters are no longer 'little' we actually were more busy watching the crows (so they don't share the treats!) than the kids. But I cannot think of a finer way to spend time than with the best of friends at such a location, on such a day.

The kit used for my LO, is "Free By The Sea" by Gypsy Couture, and will be available on Thursday, May the 14th. Don't miss this one. It is simply gorgeous. I could do a whole album with it and not get tired of it, I'm sure!

Have a wonderful week and check back on Thursday for another LO and some previews of the new kit. I hope to post a Quick Page for you too.

Pictures/previews for this page have been removed due to Designers retiring and stores closing

Meantime, take a look at what Rina Kroes has over on her blog

Fresh New Joyful Awakening

Pictures/previews for this page have been removed due to Designers retiring and stores closing

Rina Kroes' new kit from last week, Joyful Awakening, really celebrates the freshness of spring time!

And this week Rina is releasing a set of Quick Pages for the Joyful Awakening Page Set. There is also a set of cluster frames, a danglement and an alpha! What a fine collection!

I have a freebie Quick page for you to download today. You can get this Quick Page HERE.

Hop on over to Rina's Reluctant Recluse blog and you'll find another quick page HERE.

Scoot over to Debbie's blog and pick up another beauty.....and while you are collecting....scoop up a delightful cluster on Lorilei's blog!

Wow! Just look at the collection you have now!

Remember Rina's new items are on sale only Sunday and Monday. But with National Scrapbooking Celebrations coming up next weekend, go ahead and add all you like to your wishlist....you should be able to pick up a few good bargains then too!

Joyful Awakening!

Pictures/previews for this page have been removed due to Designers retiring and stores closing

Walking around outside yesterday, that is exactly what it felt like. I actually felt warm, there is lots of new growth on all the 'dead' twigs, the birds are a twitter....everything seems to be experiencing a "Joyful Awakening" and that is the name of Rina Kroes's new page set for this week. I think it is beautiful.

I've been scanning negatives again....and when I saw this picture....I knew I had just the right kit for it. I already had my page done with Rina's new kit, but swapped the pictures out. This picture goes so beautifully with Rina's Joyful Awakening Page set.

Hop on over to Rina's Reluctant Recluse blog for a freebie QP as well as links to more goodies!

Moroccan Nights

Pictures/previews for this page have been removed due to Designers retiring and stores closing

Rina Kroes has a new kit in her store over at Scrapbook-Elements, called Moroccan Nights.

Take a look :

Apart from the colours that are just wonderful : they vibrate together in a way that both contrasts and compliments, thus creating a vibrancy and excitement, that makes you look and look and look. But what stands out to me most, is the vast selection of textures that Rina included in this set. Treated with her customary incredible attention to detail, I see satin and glass beads, rough stone walls and cloth, brass and copper and woven baskets. Truly a feast for the senses.

See what I mean?

The Page Set as well as the Alpha, decorated frames and the Danglement are on sale Sunday and Monday.

Freebie time! And what a selection for today!

From me to you : A Quick Page to download HERE

and over on Rina's "Reluctant Recluse" blog you will find this beauty, made by Kabra,

and...! Over on Debbie's blog, you'll find a set of wordart:

Wow! Now that is the way to start the week!
Happy scrapping! I'll see you later with my LO from which I made the Quick Page!

Have you seen these Danglements?

Pictures/previews for this page have been removed due to Designers retiring and stores closing

What is a danglement you ask? A Danglement is one of Rina Kroes's elaborately decorated frames. I think Rina gets an enormous amount of pleasure out of making these, and I must confess, I love the way they look on a page. And seeing as she makes them so beautifully, I am just too 'lazy' to make my own! Besides, Rina does them so well!

Now a little birdie told me -LOL- that there will be a new one in Rina's store this Friday....during the 2 days March Madness Sale....and really, to pay one $1.00 for one of these is quite 'ridiculous'

Let me show you what I mean : Here is my LO of Edith

I took this danglement that co-ordinates with Rina's Summer Garden kit

for the background I used a couple papers from the Summer Garden paper pack. (I blended them using a grunge brush as my eraser)

and used an overlay for Rina's Elegant Page Overlays to add a delicate border to the page.

Then all I needed to do was add the journalling and I opted to use the matching Summer Garden Alpha and the TXT LongHand font.

In no time my LO was done...and I love how it turned out!

Searching for 'Danglement' in the SBE store leads me to these results. The danglements are included, in the results, as well as the kits they co-ordinate with.

Here is another example of how I used one of these decorated frames :

For this LO I used some items (papers & folded Ric-Rac) from Rina's Polka Dot Prism series (now on close-out -great bargain!)

and the Red, White & Blue Danglement

Very quick and easy....and very pretty indeed.

For more danglement LO's (including the latest ones in the store) : head on over to Rina's Reluctant Recluse blog

Go ahead! try a Danglement today!!

Till next time : Happy Scrapping!

Enduring Love

Pictures/previews for this page have been removed due to Designers retiring and stores closing

Oh another favourite page set by Rina Kroes. I KNOW! I have tons of favourites among Rina's kits, but would I CT for Rina and Kimmi if I didn't LOVE their design work? Kinda obvious, right? LOL

Still I have bigger and less big favourites, and Enduring Love is one of those BIG favourites.

I could not say it any more eloquent than Rina does in her product description : " This collection is dedicated to devoted parents and grandparents whose love endures throughout the decades. Take a step backward in time to the not too distant past with these warm earthy colors of gold, green and rust and sprinkle a bit of nostalgia into your creations. Loaded with texture and detail, Rina's "Enduring Love" has gently worn embellishments that will be perfect for anniversary layouts or to celebrate the love of an older generation."

Here is a bragbook page I made using Enduring Love. We were camping, I'm the little one in the front, with the bib (we were having lunch!) and so it must have been in the early 60's. I think the location is the Pienaars River Dam in South Africa, but I'm going to have to verify that with my mom, before adding the info to my page.

I also used a template by Rina. This one is part of her Vacation Bragbook Templates, currently on Close-Out and a STEAL at $1.99 RUN don't walk and grab this one!

Here is another LO where I used these templates as well as some of the wordart that comes with it. (The kit is Passionate Elegance, also by Rina, but no longer available) click the picture for full credits.

and finally another page, this time I used a freebie QP made by Kabra, that is still available on Rina's blog! Zip on over to The Reluctant Recluse and grab yours today! HERE (or click on the LO below)

Thank you Rina and Kabra!

I took my snowy, spring picture of buried crocus earlier today...hope to show you soon!

Later gators!