Kim Archer | Mindful Living

Just quickly..

Missing in action here on my blog over the past week or so because of this..

We are about half way through at the moment so it's a great time to sign up and join in as there's certainly PLENTY to look at and there's still the LIVE layout class coming up plus the fun of watching the rest of the workshop unfold each day.

So I've been a bit all consumed with getting the projects uploaded each day and organising handouts and the chat room has been a hive of activity with plenty of chatting PLUS I am already getting loads of emails through with pics of some of the girls' finished projects to share! Very exciting. PLUS the @HOme shop WAS stocked up with Christmas goodies but cleared out pretty quickly so I am knee deep in boxes and orders and stock at home and working out what I need to reorder!

I'm overdue for a family catchup as we had Brandt's Year 12 graduation dinner and presentation on Friday night and some other stuff to share.  I have tons of photos to share for the family but just haven't gotten there yet to resize and upload them here on the blog.

Getting there though.

Have a great Tuesday everyone.

Oh, just a quick note - there's still a couple of spots left for the LAYOUT SWAP. I've got enough for almost 3 group so we need a couple of more people to make up the numbers. email me ([email protected])  if you are interested..the swap won't start until next month at this stage - or we can push it to the 1 January '09 if things are too busy.

Who wants to play?

Ok, so Janelle, Mardi, Yvette, Helen and I have been involved in a really cool swap over the past 6 weeks or so. And I am keen to organise a similar one for my blog friends now that this one is almost finished.

So, who wants to join in? Basically our swap ran like this:

• we all chose our photos and a background for our layout. And then we added one thing to the base.
• we worked out a mailing order and the layout was then sent to the next person on the list and they added some 'bits' to the layout before sending it to the next person. And so on.
• we filled in a form with some basic details such as our likes and dislikes, what products we wouldn't use on a layout, some title and journaling suggestions and stuck that to the back of the layout which also included our contact details.
• and then, once our layouts had travelled full circle around the countryside we had a beautifully completed layout with 'bits' contributed from each of us.

It's like a round robin circle journal! But much quicker than a circle journal as you add in your 'bits' and send it onto the next person.

My layout has still got to travel to Janelle's place to have the final touches added before arriving home BUT I couldn't wait to share what my layout looks like so far and open up a swap here for my blog readers. - if anyone is interested.

Here's my layout base.

Now I painted and added tissue paper and mod podge and glitter to some chipboard BUT the backgrounds don't need to be as detailed..they can just be cardstock or patterned paper - I was just trying out something different:

I then sent my layout and photos and details to Mardi and she added her touches plus my photos..

And she turned the photo mat into a flippy, photo mat for extra photos and journaling.

and Mardi sent it to the next person on the list - Helen! And Helen added her signature messy stitching and her own little bits and pieces!!

I love how the layout is starting to take shape!!! Helen mailed the layout onto Yvette and she added this:

and Yvette also added the following to the inside of the photo mat:

and today Yvette sent my layout off to Janelle for the final details - a title and some journaling! I will share the final layout when Janelle has added her contribution.

Soooo, is anyone interested in joining in another swap? Details are below

SWAP NAME: ADD TO IT LAYOUT SWAP

Please only sign up if you have read the details/info and can meet the swap requirements.

SIGN UPS: Limited spaces - ideally groups of 6 with a nominated "leader". I have NO idea if anyone will even want to be involved so I will keep you all posted as to the cut off for participants once I see the response.

I will assign groups of 6 with one Leader per group. The Leader will be in charge of organising the mailing order and making sure everyone is keeping the swap moving and the layouts added to.

To participate, cut and paste the following info into an email and send it to me at [email protected]

NAME:

EMAIL ADDRESS:

ARE YOU INTERESTED IN BEING A LEADER OF A GROUP?

YOUR LOCATION: town/city/state/country

DO YOU WANT TO POST INTERNATIONALLY?

YOUR BLOG ADDRESS?(if you have one)

And that's it. I will allocate the groups once I have closed off the swap. And you will be emailed your group leader and the names in your group as well as the info sheet to fill out which will be sent around your circle with your layout..

I think thats all..this is my first little swap..so I hope theres some people out there who would like to join in?

No more exams!

This is the face of someone who is THRILLED that for him, his HSC exams are over with! Taken as he was about to run out the door for his very last exam last Friday.

And this is such a typical pose. That thing is constantly glued to his ear.

And the evidence of two years of study!

Another handmade Christmas

Yes, it's that time of year again!!! The festive season is upon us and over at the @Home site we have just opened registration for this years Christmas workshop - JINGLE BELLS CHRISTMAS

AND this year marks our THIRD Christmas workshop. It all started from humble beginnings in my little blog classroom back in 2006 and then we moved to the @Home site in 2007 and now we are celebrating our second year in the @Home custom built classrooms. And for lots of you, this will be your third year with us for a handmade Christmas too. Thank you!!!

We have a sensational selection of Christmas craft ideas, gifts and projects to help you have a truly happy handmade Christmas. There’s something so satisfying in giving or receiving a handmade gift. And we have loads of ideas to share with you.

The Support Team girls have been busy creating additional samples PLUS they have been working on their own step by step projects too. Wait until you see what they've come up with!

AND our @Home Christmas Shop will be open over the next few days with some products and bits and pieces to help you create some fantastic Christmas gifts. Stay tuned.

Make sure you sign up for our @Home newsletter so you don't miss a thing. Our newsletter sign up box is on the home page of the site. I have had lots of emails bouncing with the last few newsletters I have sent out so if you think you are subscribed but you aren't receiving the newsletters, your address may have changed or be incorrect! Let me know so we can check your details and get you back into our mailing list.

So are you ready another handmade Christmas?