Resolutions, New Year Style.

2013.

I think I succinctly summed it up on my fb status as "Well, that's over."

We had some fun times, and happy days. But I spent the year fighting some big personal battles and eventually ended up with the news that I had to make massive lifestyle changes. Immediately.

Luckily I'm now a few weeks in to the 'New Me' and am feeling so much better.  So in the spirit of change here are my New Years Resolutions. I figure if they are here then I am more accountable and more likely to stick with them.  So of them are perennials for previous years, as why not?

• Wear more dresses
• Kiss more
• Walk every day
• Stick to my food plan
• Dive into Project Life
• Stay organised
• Be more comfortable with self promotion
• Post more on both blogs
• Less TV-more scrapping

I also have a few other goals that aren't really resolutions, such as save to get to CHA in 2015 (and save to get more in the house fund), increase our web traffic to the Dizzy Izzy store, expand our handmade items range, and continue our success with our Scrap Retreats.

My One Little Word for the year is TODAY. But I think I will still also revisit last years word as well, which was MAKE. Together, they pretty much sum up what I hope to get out of the year.

Lets see how it all goes.

Tracey xx

Feeling Successful

Last weekend was a huge one - May Retreat for Dizzy Izzy Scrapbooking. Our first 3 night Retreat, and our first fully booked (with a waiting list!) Retreat. 

2 years ago my friend Fleur and I made the crazy decision to leap into this business, and I honestly think it's one of the best choices I've ever made. 

I have an amazing business partner and I am doing what I love - creating and helping others to create. 

We have gone from 'Lets have 1, maybe 2 Retreats per year' to having either a Crafternoon or Retreat each month. 

We are now about to embark on Phase 3 of our plans, and it's the scariest step yet. 

This time next year, who knows what might be happening? 

OMG!!

On Sunday I got to meet and do a make n take with one of my scrapping idols Amy Tan. OMG!!!

If you aren't familiar with Amy's scrapping, she is the designer behind the Amy Tangerine lines from American Crafts, and you can check out her work here at her blog. I love her awesome use of colour, and her layouts and handmade embellishments really speak to me. And did I mention her Daybooks? Divine!

She is currently touring through Australia (and then NZ) through Spotlight to promote her lines now being sold at their stores. (ahem... they have been sold at Dizzy Izzy since Day 1!)

I dragged Matt along to Spotlight Miranda so he could take photos, and hung out near the Make N Take table they had set up, waiting for her to arrive like a creepy stalker.

With Amy

Amy and I chatted while we waited for the make n take to be set up. It was so exciting to tell her about my scrapping story and Dizzy Izzy. She laughed when I told her I have been too scared to post a comment on her blog, and encouraged me to blog more (and here it is, lol!).

The crazy thing is.... no one else came! Just weird considering she was swamped that morning in Melbourne. Oh well, I'm not going to lie... I loved it! I had Amy all to myself for an hour - who else can say that?? You hear that other people - you snooze, you loose!

Matt gets his craft on...

So Matt and I got to make a card with Amy, using her fun products. She taught Matt how to use a border punch and we got to chat some more about how she got started scrapping, and how her collaboration with American Crafts came about. We also heard about some of her favourite things coming out soon in the new Ready Set Go line like a date stamp & sheer letters - I can't wait to check them out in person.

Amy snapped this one 'just pretend you're being crafty'

 

I was even lucky enough to get a signed Amy Tangerine apron - you can bet that will be making an appearance at the Crafternoon this Saturday. PLUS she gave me a make n take kit to give away as a prize at the next retreat! Awesome!

Signing my apron

The big thing that I got from this was how much Amy loves creating - and it comes through in everything she does. She is living the crafty life and loves what she does. How lucky am I that I get to do what I love as well?

Happy Scrapping,

Tracey

a blog about another blog...

I can excitedly announce that the new blog for Dizzy Izzy Scrapbooking is live!

In case you missed it, Dizzy Izzy Scrapbooking is my team effort with my good friend Fleur to take the scrapbooking world by storm. We host awesome scrapbook retreats and day crafternoons, as well as hosting an online facebook community where we have competitions, sales and share layouts.

If you want to get your craft on, or just show your support for our venture head to the Dizzy Izzy Blog or search 'Dizzy Izzy Scrapbooking' on facebook and hit like!

cheers!

Scrapbooking Memories Masters

Yes, its been a while. Lets not talk about it. Let's focus on the positives and look towards all of the New Years Resolutions that I made and am desperately trying to keep up with.

Resolution 1: Blog more (or at all).

A lot of you know that I entered the Scrapbooking Masters Competition that is run by Scrapbooking Memories Magazine back in August 2011. It was a really long wait till the results came out, and even though I didn't win (sadface) I was lucky enough to get an honorable mention!

This was the first time that I had ever submitted to any magazines, I've always been too scared of rejection to submit. I must admit, the 4 entry tasks were challenging. I'm not much of a journaller, and the colour challenge was definitely a combination WAY out of my comfort zone.

So here are are my layouts, and also a shot of my first ever published layout. Enjoy!

Hidden Journalling: 'HeartBeat'

The journalling was under the left section on hinges.
I mirrored the title on both layers

I hand stamped and inked the letters, then cut them out

5x7 Photo: My Sunshine

the devil is in the details: a little stamping and fussy cutting

Colour Challenge - Brown/Orange/Blue: 'Still Working'

the cogs actually turn!

Sketch Challenge: 'Photo Booth'

I LOVE making paper pinwheels!

Honourable Mention! Woot!!!