RTscraps (Rachel Tucker)

A mini album - Photographs 2011

While I sit here and try to work out what to write in this blog post I am itching to go for a run. I have Jess home sick today and apart from meeting a friend for coffee, the day has pretty much disappeared. Thank goodness for my in-laws willing to take Jess for an hour before Abby gets home from school so that I can squeeze some exercise in. There was a time not so long ago that I would have to force myself to do it, lately I have to force myself to have a rest day. Today is not a rest day, today I need to do it.

Still loving my instant camera. So easy to use, love the photos it takes and adore the way they are ready in a few seconds and that I can just pop them in a mini album. They are the perfect size for a mini album.
I finished this one a few weeks ago. A little bit of Prima, a little bit of October Afternoon – the thrift shop (yes they are old papers but still love them), and a whole heap of Scrapmatrix chipboard words and embellishments. All the chipboard pieces are painted with an Adirondack Acrylic Paint Dabber – Pitch Black. The lamp on the front was painted in black and then has a coat of “Rub’n Buff” . I’ve only just discovered this product !! I know, I know, I seem to be the last person on earth to discover new products, by the time I do they are coming around for a second time !! Anyway “Rub’n Buff , you will find it at your local art/craft store and it gives your project a wax metallic finish.

You can see more photos of my mini album here on the Scrapmatrix blog.

Hope that you are having a happy Tuesday !!

xxx  Rach

 

halloween project 2011

Yes !!  Halloween .. but before I get to that I want to share a great gift idea that I saw on Pinterest and made for my SIL's 40th birthday recently.  It was totally worth the work involved, mainly chasing people to get their memories down on paper and done.  Here is a snap of my memory to her.

They were all packaged in envelopes and i'm pretty happy to say that she loved it. 

 

Ok so Halloween.  Here is an image of a gift jar & card set that I made for Halloween from the Fancy Pants Oct 31 range.  Loving the vintage feel and look of these new papers and embellishments. 

and that is about all I have time to share today.  I have a mini album to share too but that will have to wait another day or two.  I have a Halloween party to get ready for ..... hope you have a wonderful Halloween too.

Rach

World Cardmaking Day

Did you know it is WORLD CARDMAKING DAY on the 1st of October ?

Well it is and Fancy Pants is having a Card challenge over on their blog. I am excited to let you know that this challenge is open to everyone, yes that is right international girls, this is the Fancy Pants challenge you have been waiting for.

I would love to see entries from New Zealand in that challenge, so to give you New Zealand ladies an extra incentive if you take part in the challenge and email me to let me know you have I will send you some Fancy Pants goodies. Note: Only for the New Zealand participants and you must comment to let me know or send me an email.

To give you a little inspiration here are the cards that I made from the Fancy Pants Summers End collection for World Cardmaking Day. Be sure to check out all the other gorgeous cards over at the Fancy Pants blog.

 
 
 
I can't wait to see what you create :)

Rachel 

A Jar of hugs for Daddy

I want to share with you a project that I made for my husband for Fathers Day.  I called it a Jar of Hugs, because it is just that. The little boxes inside were a scraplift from this project that I made a while ago.

I had the girls up early each morning for a week before school writing on little bits of paper what they love about their Daddy. My job was to then package them all up into little boxes and create the outside of the jar.

I decided to use an old mason jar and leave the lid seal off so that my husband could just reach into the jar and pull out a hug. The Fancy Pants Summers End range has beautiful neutral tones that are not too girly and therefore worked well for this project. The rubons were the perfect final touch. I cut the doily design in half and rubbed it directly onto the glass jar. A couple of xxx were used as kisses by the hearts and the words, so much to be thankful for, were rubbed onto the paper surrounding the back of the jar.

 
I have used Fancy Pants rubons before in a mini album that was made from fabric here. The Fancy Pants rubons are such great quality that they will transfer to just about anything. In the case of this project, glass.

Check out more images and the other projects from the Fancy Pants DT girls in this blog post.

Hope you week is going well.  Mine is ..... and tomorrow I get to spend some time with one of my favourite people in the whole wide world, Rach i'm so looking forward to your visit.

xxx

Taking some time

You know its time to do a blog post when people start emailing you and asking if you are ok right ?

So what the heck have I been doing, you ask ? Just simply taking some time. Not so much time away from scrapbooking or away from my studio. I’ve just been taking time out from spending so much of my time on it and spending more time with my family. I’ve been thinking a lot lately about how much time I spend in my studio.  I will always scrapbook but I have come to the conclusion over the last couple of months that while I was busy recording our memories on scrapbook pages and mini albums I was missing out on making new memories. I was so involved with the scrapbooking industry that I was not spending as much time as I wanted just being with my girls. I don’t want them to remember in years to come that Mummy spent hours and hours in her studio “working”. I want their memories of me to be of me spending time with them. Being there for them. They are growing up so fast and I want to be a part of that. 
I’m still scrapbooking, in fact I have done some of my favourite projects over the last couple of months. I’ve just not spending as much time showcasing my work on my blog. Fancy Pants have released some gorgeous products at CHA and I have been lucky enough to have my DT box already.  I'll be sharing some of my new projects soon.

 
 

I've been working on a mini album of our trip to America last year.

 
 
I've been making birdhouses andy layouts for Scrapware.  They were on display at SENZ.

There is so much more to share but i'll save that for another day .....

 

 

 

 

SENZ 2011

I’m done!!!!  And it feels good. My SENZ class kits are packed and ready to go. I’ve dropped them in the care of Hastings Rubber Stamps to take them to Auckland. Yes there are a few places left in my classes! If you want to come or if you are not coming to SENZ and would like a kit you can book though Hastings Rubber Stamps here.

Pretty as a Picture

When it comes to scrapbooking do you ever ask yourself “how did they do that?” If so then this class is for you. A technique class with step by step instructions, endless tips, gorgeous new products and a couple of “ah ha” moments that will help you to unlock your creativity. Join Rachel for this 12 x 12 layout class and learn how to create that WOW factor on your pages.

 

Pieces of Me

Ever wonder why you find it easy to scrapbook pages about everyone else and find it a challenge to scrapbook pages about yourself? Rachel wants to show you easy it can be to record “pieces of you” ! A fun, fast paced class in true Rachel style. The end result a gorgeous 12 x 12 layout all about you.

 

Sew my Style

Rachel describes her scrapbooking style as fresh vintage. Creating pages that show your individual style can sometimes be a challenge. Let Rachel guide you to discover your creative style. From hand stitching to gorgeous layers of paper & super easy techniques, this class is all about discovering your scrapbook style. A 12 x 12 layout jam packed with products, texture and gorgeous detail is the end result.

 

Mini Album – Captured memories Binder Book

Rachel is well known for her fabulous OTP projects. Take a vintage book, lovely pattern papers, special stationery supplies, cute embellishments and turn it into a very special mini album. Add your photos and journaling either in class or in your own time to create a binder book full of your favourite memories. Let Rachel show you how easy mini albums can be made sharing with you, in this class, her all time favourite OTP techniques.

 

Yesterday I spent the day finishing off the last of a few projects for Ange from Scrapware for her SENZ stall. Be sure to check go and say HI to her if you are going to be at SENZ this year.

 

I’m so looking forward to driving to Auckland with Tana on Thursday. Girls’ road trip, oh what fun. xxx

SENZ 2011

SENZ 2011 classes have been released and are booking up fast ! If you are going to SENZ this year make sure that you book into the classes you want to do ASAP. There are some awesome classes being taught this year by some pretty fabulous tutors.

Here are the classes that I’ll be teaching –

 Captured memories Binder Book - Mini Album

Rachel is well known for her fabulous OTP projects.  Take a vintage book, lovely pattern papers, special stationery supplies, cute embellishments and turn it into a very special mini album.  Add your photos and journaling either in class or in your own time to create a binder book full of your favourite memories.  Let Rachel show you how easy mini albums can be made sharing with you, in this class, her all time favourite OTP techniques. 

  

Pretty as a Picture - Layout

When it comes to scrapbooking do you ever ask yourself “how did they do that?” If so then this class is for you. A technique class with step by step instructions, endless tips, gorgeous new products and a couple of “ah ha” moments that will help you to unlock your creativity. Join Rachel for this 12 x 12 layout class and learn how to create that WOW factor on your pages.

 

Pieces of Me - Layout

Ever wonder why you find it easy to scrapbook pages about everyone else and find it a challenge to scrapbook pages about yourself? Rachel wants to show you easy it can be to record “pieces of you” !      A fun, fast paced class in true Rachel style. The end result a gorgeous 12 x 12 layout all about you. 

 

Sew my Style - Layout

Rachel describes her scrapbooking style as fresh vintage. Creating pages that show your individual style can sometimes be a challenge. Let Rachel guide you to discover your creative style. From hand stitching to gorgeous layers of paper & super easy techniques, this class is all about discovering your scrapbook style. A 12 x 12 layout jam packed with products, texture and gorgeous detail is the end result.

 
You can book any of my classes on the Hastings Rubber Stamps online store.  Check out the other amazing classes on the SENZ website from tutors like Nic Howard, Jill Geraghty-Groves, Trina McClune & Lianne Gray.

Who's excited ?

xxx

Rachel

a package coming your way ...

Random.org  said it was comment number five

So that is  TERYL MCKENZIE

Teryl said :  Had the best time at my first AE. Ventured down on my own and had a ball. Loved my 5 classes, all were WOW, including Fancy That. Loved looking at the ladies aprons, pure delight. Still cannot believe a lady did 100 LO's. Great to see you again Rachel :)

 Posted by: Teryl McKenzie | April 27, 2011 at 07:38 PM

Email me Teryl with you address and i'll get it in the post to you

I don't think I posted a picture of the candy bar at Autumn Escape.  Here is one that I've altered a just a little in Picnik.  Cute huh ?

 

xxx

Live Big - Autumn Escape 2011

Live Big.  That was on a pin attached to my welcome pack in our room for Autumn Escape. Live Big. A button from Big Picture Classes. I thought it was extremely appropriate as I’ve been living big for a few months now. Planning, packing and making everything about my classes for Autumn Escape BIG.

 

(BTW this photo does not include the boxes of class kits that I took with me.  This is all the product from Nic and Lucy). 

It’s just what I do and it has become the mantra of Autumn Escape for me. Creating the WOW factor!! I think we do it well. I did hear a couple of WOW’s from a few of the ladies as they entered the room for the apron class. This year is the last year we are doing an apron so we had to make it extra special. I think we did.

 
Toadstool pincushions, handmade fabric flower pins, scissors with velvet strawberries and Prima Vintage Trinkets … yep WOW!!

 

I don’t even know how to put into words how much I enjoy Autumn Escape every year. Three years running Nic and Lucy create something more spectacular than the last. The sponsors are always generous and this year we made sure that they know how much they are appreciated. Some of the girls made cards that were on display throughout the event to sign. You can see a full list of the sponsor’s here. I made the one for Prima

 

and the one for Fancy Pants Designs

 

Fancy Pants Designs were a major sponsor of my layout class - Fancy That.  Thanks so much Fancy Pants we love you!!!!

 
 

My Mini Album class was so much fun to teach and I loved looking at all the old books that were brought along to alter.  If you are looking for extra binders Janet Hopkins has some in her etsy store.  You can find them here.

 

I hit the ground running when I came back from Autumn Escape. I had three days to get a number of deadlines complete and then pack for a waterskiing / wakeboarding holiday (our last of the season) over Easter.  Yes I’m still running, more deadlines. This week our nieces are down from Auckland for a few days over the school holidays. I hope to charge the camera battery and get some great photos of all the girls. I have my fingers crossed that this rain stops long enough for that to happen.

Before I left for Autumn Escape I had the best of intentions to do a blog post and a giveaway.  I kept back a fabric flower, a toadstool pincushion and a velvet strawberry scissor kit.  Since that didn’t happen before Autumn Escape I am offering it up now.  Just comment on this post to be in to win a little pack of handmade goodies.   I’ll make a random draw next Monday 2^nd of May.

xxx

Vintage Treasures and a girly weekend in "Palmy"

When Jo Burney told us about a vintage treasures fair in Palmerston North last year at Autumn Escape we were pretty sad that we had missed it only by a few weeks. The Palmerston North Methodist Social Services collects vintage treasures all year and then has a huge sale to raise money for the church.

Jo said that she would let us know when the next one was going to be and we vowed then and there at Autumn Escape to meet in “Palmy” and make it a girly weekend. Jo has been to many of the sales and said to us “ You never know what you will find”. This year was no exception! Rach, Kate, Jo and I spent a good couple of hours rummaging through sewing treasures, vintage lace, buttons, linen and all sorts of beautiful old and battered things.

 

Oh what fun we had …… walking down the street (in the rain) holding on tight to our newly purchased vintage leather suitcases full to the brim. I went for the linen and managed to find quite a few wooden cotton reels for a very reasonable price. I also loved the ½ finished needlework table coverings and doilies that I was able to pick up for a fraction of what I think they are worth. Rach brought a gorgeous vintage handbag and a few other yummy treasures. (that girls got impeccable style!)

 

It was a weekend filled with drinking bubbles, discovering vintage treasures, eating out, shopping, relaxing in the spa, coffee, talking, more Red Bull and vodka than one person is supposed to drink in one night and dancing till 3am !  All in all another fun girls weekend. I’m so lucky to not only have a husband that loves to spend "Daddy time" with his daughters, but girlfriends who let me be me. Who let me talk, drink, laugh and dance along with them. 

 

Can’t wait until next year, who wants to join us ?

xxx