Friday Freebies

# 1 Estelle

Estelle is beautiful, and this image is a little something for you (my blog visitors & followers) to play & make art with - Thank you for following my blog and your lovely comments :)

Feel free to use the images any way you like. Estelle is a little shadowy, but I actually like the softness it brings.. just click the image to open it in a large format and you can save it to your computer and print her out for your artwork.

If you do use any of these images I would love to see what you make from them and will proudly display your work on my blog.

# 2 Laurette

Art Cards

Art & Waffles (not the good eating kind)

Over the last couple of days I have been making some art cards.

Today I had my flu jab, attended a 'FM support group meeting' and met some nice ladies who can totally relate to my pain-filled days! (everyday)

The other night I took a bunch of craft stuff from my freezing cold craft room and dragged it out to the kitchen table - where it has stayed for two days!

It is warmer there, but I must have made 10 trips to the craft room for other things - maybe I need to move the entire room? Tomorrow I will have to drag it all back. Right now I have more important things to do, like blogging and uploading my newest cards ;)

Then I'm going to curl up in my electrocuted bed and read for a while.

Here's the resulting ATC's/ACEO's from over the last 2 nights -


Thanks for visiting :)

ACEO Magazine - June Issue

This months ACEO Magazine features two of my flickr groups I administer - 'Scrappindipity' and 'Artist Trading Cards' These groups have so many talented members, and I'm so thrilled to be able to announce that the groups will be featured quite prominently in the latest ACEO magazine issue.

Over the years of administering these groups, I have worked to try to gain some recognition and exposure for the groups talented members - and WOW they are amazing. If you haven't browsed through the photo pools, you can take a look via the links above.

A while ago I ran a competition for the members of the group - to receive some publicity, this is an awesome & very exciting thing for those ladies that have never been published before. I am thrilled to announce that it's finally happening - The ACEO Magazine now has a new editor and I would like to introduce you to lovely Anna-Marie who has worked tirelessly with me to sort out the winners details, their atc images, personal links etc., and the articles that we have developed, to promote the flickr groups.

I hope to see more members joining both the groups after the magazine is distributed.

If you would like a copy of the magazine, please don't hesitate to contact Anna-Marie

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Rubber Stamped ATC Swap - Flickr

The June/July theme for the Scrappindipity ATC Swap is 'Rubber Stamping'
Please see the link and sign up over at flickr or let me know you would like to participate..

Thanks
xo

Excuse the wonky scan :)

Updated my Music Player

Just updated my music player. It's currently turned off, as some people don't like opening different windows and hearing several different tracks from different blogs playing at the same time.
Which I can totally understand.
So, if you would like to hear my music, just click the big Play button (triangle) on my player - or you can 'pop out' the player to a new window and scroll and choose what you want to listen to.
I often do this when I find a blog with music I like.
Happy Listening
xo

Before and After - Bec's & My new store "Scrappindipity"

Cupcakes from our opening night... yum

Here's some 'before' and 'after' pics that I promised I would upload. There are a lot of them, so I have randomly picked a few here showing different stages and parts of the new store.

As you can see from the 'working' pics Craig, Bec and I did most of the work ourselves... which although very hard is also so very gratifying :)

Ok, here we go with the picture trail -

The first picture below is the gathering of supplies.... paints, sanders, buckets etc all ready to go!


Here is Bec at the start of the vinyl floor tile laying (for the workshop room - a little cosy & friendly room, that we love :)


This pic shows how we planned out the store layout - the masking tape is indicative of where our counter was going to be placed - provided all ended up going to plan of course... and YES it did, as you will see further along this picture trail.....

This wall was a grey/black metallic paint!!!! ARGH Don't paint black please.... we had to scrape the paint off - took a whole day of arm breaking work... thank you ALI & AMY you helped and were troopers!
Here you can see the black paint still on the edges of the wall - it's almost done.


2 new walls had to be put up, to create our workshop room, wall is painted a lovely retro blue, and Craig is busy sweeping whilst Bec continues laying those floor tiles!

I hate painting btw!!

In the other room, the moved wall is in place, and here is Craig and I painting a nice cream colour... over that existing grey/black from the wall we moved.... It took 4 coats of paint.

Here's the workshop room again, and wow, it's looking like it's taking shape now... this time there is more paint on the walls and those floor tiles are coming together rather nicely - Bec and I laid most of those ourselves while Craig was busy sawing, drilling and preparing everything else...


The edge that wrapped up around the wall because the concrete was formed that way... a bit of a hard job, but one which I managed to complete myself... yay

"Stuff" starts to move into it's new home - and things are starting to look a bit more organised... room for more tables to arrive (when we pick them up)

Here you can see our cute little polka dot curtains - one for over the back door (all those unpacked boxes out the back! YAY), a curtain under our sink, and there is also another one at our window.
Do you notice my framed print from Kelly Rae Roberts after purchasing my copy of "taking flight" - It looks so lovely. Since this picture I have now put up a couple of my own artworks too.
A cute retro cannister and a couple of bottles that Bec liked, sit nicely on my favourite little counter top in our kitchen/workshop.

The fixtures and the stock start to move in.......... a little disorganised at this point but it was good to see it starting to happen!



One corner ready to go.... Notice those two large collage boards above the stock... they are the one's I blogged about doing a while ago. They are each 3mtrs long and .70 high!


The other side :)
The other end of the store... more stock has finally found a new home - what a lot of work to get it all laid out and in place!


This is the end of our counter, looking toward the back you can see our fish tank, yep we have live fish to entertain our customers - and us!!

We also have a gumball machine on our counter which is full of jaffa's and mints - mmmm


All our fish have names - Bec named them all actors and actress names from the 50's..... don't ask me to remember them though... We have 8 fish at the moment, because 8 is a lucky number in chinese. I do think we are supposed to have 9 - so we just might go buy another one :)

We wouldn't be complete without all our gorgeous collage supplies would we now?


and some tools of the trade.....
and some chipboards to alter......
and some gorgeous inks, rubber stamps and arty supplies!


It's OPENING NIGHT.... and we had some gorgeous little cupcakes to share with everyone. Thanks Em for making them - they were totally delicious!!


Here's me on the opening night, standing alongside the acrylic paper racks..

As a final thing on this post, I would like to say a heartfelt thank you to all my art buddies who offered their support and encouragement during all the moving process... with my health in not such good shape (as some of you know) it was a very trying time for me at times..... I couldn't have done it without the support you have all given me. I wish some of you could have been here with us!

Special Thanks to my husband Craig, who took holidays from his work, to work for us!!
Thanks to my beautiful daughter Amy & her partner Ali for their help with all the paint scraping.
Thanks to Mick for helping us on the 'BIG' moving day - a big job and it was hugely appreciated!
Thanks to my Dad Norm, for his help on the 'BIG' moving day, and the help with the walls and the shop floor..... we couldn't have done it without all your help.
Thanks to Lyn for her help putting out stock on our 'spinner' racks.
Thanks to Jesse for doing without Bec while all this was going on, and for the help on opening night.

A huge thanks to Bec even though it's 'our' store, without her I wouldn't be a part of Scrappindipity & I wouldn't be so proud of everything we have achieved together!

Bec is a trooper and worked so hard to get this working for us - If your'e reading this Bec (as I think you might) I'm so proud of you sweetheart. xo

A big hug to you all.

Whew - I hope you enjoyed the journey into our new store :)
Stay tuned for updates and some more pics soon!

Scrappindipity Store Peeks

The store is finally finished and we have had our first week there. There are a couple of little 'tweaks' here and there, but it's all up and running...... whew and woo!!

That cute cupboard was found at a 2nd hand store, and I think it was made for us! It's the perfect colour to match our wall. The top drawer is full of pens and the 2nd one full of cute mini canvasses.
Can you see our handmade jewellery in the cabinets?

We have our window signed and now just have to wait for a huge 11 metre sign up the top!!
The store isn't huge, but we didn't want it to be - we want it to be cosy and friendly.
Workshops will be put into place very soon - we are looking forward to having some socialising and creativity :) as we are both really enjoying having our own workshop space out the back, and it's even inspired me to create more (which is wonderful)

I still haven't uploaded the pics from my camera, but here's a couple that Bec took........ just a couple of sneeky peeks which I have knicked from our official site Scrappindipity

New Studio in New store = New art

Yay, I got to play in the new studio at the new store and made some new art...... lots of NEW things been happening.
I've become a little run down after all the work, but hopefully things will settle soon...... meanwhile, here's what I created today. I used images that were so kindly sent to me from Kirsi. Enjoy :)

Image Challenge

Ali created this beautiful gothic arch for a challenge, using one of my image giveaways.... Please pop by her blog Ali's Space and view the rest of her lovely work. Thanks Ali for participating :)

New Store Opening / Blogoversary / Freebie image

Oh, please excuse me, I'm SO tired............ (is that a stress-ball in my hand??) haha

Well I didn't even notice that it was my blogoversary the same day we (Bec and I) had our opening preview night for our new 'relocated' store Scrappindipity.

I have been so busy, I didn't even notice.

Thank you to the ladies who congratulated me on the blog birthday!

So in honour of my blogoversary and opening the new store...... The image above is free for you all to play with. (Don't forget to send me pics of anything you make and I will include here on my blog) Why not make an atc out of her, and send me one to trade - I'd love to do that :)

It's all happened now, the store is ready for trading - tomorrow is our first official OPEN DAY, woo hoo... I have been plagued with migraines for the last 4 days (think it's my cracked molar!!) so I will have to find time to get to the dentist to eliminate that problem - hopefully it will fix the damn debilitating headaches. ( I just want to feel normal for a day )

I'm thinking of classes now, and what sort of things to do - so many choices and techniques to choose from.

We will also be looking at tutors for the new store, and a new 'inspiration squad'... we might call them something different, but basically they are the 'creative stars' who design gorgeous things from our supplies to show off to our customers.

Some social gatherings will be great too, and I'm really looking forward to that. There is nothing better than spending time creating and letting yourself drift off into the art world in the company of happy like-minded friends!

I feel like I have been MIA (missing in action) and ACTION it has been, I can't believe the work Bec, Craig and I put into the new store... doing it yourselves sure does make you sit back and look around you and sigh with relief!! (as well as joy) even all the back-breaking jobs like laying floor tiles!!

Every minute my muscles hurt It just reminds me of what we have accomplished - so it's a good thing really.

As for the photos, they are still coming as they are stuck on Bec's camera! I promise to upload a stack of the before, during and after pics when I get them. So please visit me again.

xo

A small reprieve among the many hours of work

Last Friday night, we celebrated Amy's birthday with a how to host a murder mystery party. It was fun, and "Tattle Tale" ended up doing the murder (my Mum's character) LOL

It was a good night, I enjoyed it. Especially after all the stress of moving store. Bec and I are almost done, we have worked ourselves silly, and I mean it...... we have had some seriously delirious moments!!! Lugging boxes - at least 200 of them!!!!!! full of stock, files, paperwork, samples etc etc

I'm sure moving house was easier than this has been.

We have erected a wall to form a classroom/workshop area - it's smallish - around 25M2 but plenty big enough for 8 ladies to create in a friendly atmosphere. Now I'm looking forward to getting some arty things happening, and to have a social feel to our store.

The store itself is looking nice too - all so clean and neat, with stocks galore. We have gone with our colour scheme and retro themes.

My mum made us some cute little polka dot curtains & the pinup boards are up, the paper storage in place, as well as lots of other 'necessities'... I will definately post some pictures when it's all complete.

I will post a couple of pics in this post a bit later, from the "Murder Mystery Night" (Hollywood Powar & Greede Premiere night) I have to get them off Bec's PC.

Amy and Ali did a wonderful job with the decorations too - it really helped to set the scene.

That's all for now, I'm desperately in need of a spa - I ache from head to toe!!

xo