Saturday, July 11, 2009
Don't faint .........
Posted by Leanne Stamatellos at Saturday, July 11, 2009 10 comments
Friday, July 10, 2009
Exciting news!

A little while ago I received an email from the lovely Lisa Warren who asked me if I'd like to be a Guest designer for Inspired Blueprints. Like the name suggests, they provide a monthly sketch and are really a great inspiration.
I jumped at the chance .. this site is great and has a talented team of permanent designers, including Lisa as well as some pretty cool Monthly Guest Designers. My layout will be featured on the first of August - I'll post again but I was excited to share my news.
Apart from that, I've been fighting off the flu, entertaining the boys on school holidays and getting my scrapping commitments done. Looking forward to some 'me layouts' - you know the ones you do for yourself. Have some fun drawings I need to scan today of Joshua's - want to do a layout about that.
Happy Holidays and hope to post something nice soon.
Posted by Leanne Stamatellos at Friday, July 10, 2009 2 comments
Monday, July 6, 2009
Busy, busy, busy
Here's the link
Leanne Stamatellos Photography
Posted by Leanne Stamatellos at Monday, July 06, 2009 3 comments
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
Photos - hooray!
Hooray, I have some photos to share ... not of layouts but some photos none the less.
I have been scrapping, I promise ... working on Scrapbooking Memories Masters entries (if I ever complete them), Keeping It Simple Article for Scrapbook Creations, a sketch layout for an online sketch site (more news on that soon ;) and a couple of cards here and there.
In between all of that, I managed to take some photos of the boys using my 50mm lens f1.4 last weekend on our Sunday afternoon walk. Hope to have something to show you soon. Take care, Leanne
Posted by Leanne Stamatellos at Wednesday, July 01, 2009 7 comments
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Another boring post
Sorry guys ... no pics still ... my computer is still off getting checked for water damage .... it's been a week and the guy said it might not be too much longer :(
So, I can't upload any pics at all until I get it back. Thought I would just log in so you know I'm alive and well.
Thank you to Kathy who recently left me a comment - her first one and I'm so pleased she worked out how to do it. Kathy, when you do comment again, add your name to the end of your comment so I can tell it's you. When you do an anonymous comment, you need to add your name as well.
Kathy asked about BLACK AND WHITE conversion on my photos.
Yes, I use gradient map and yes I simply use the black and white choice and then I also add some contrast in the adjust curves section by gently pulling the curve down at the bottom of the curve (if needed). Hope that helps!
Also, I'm keen to start doing some more photo shoots - I have some booked in already in the next few weeks that should be fun - I can't wait to post .... so if you're interested in having me take some photos of your family or your party or whatever you have in mind, I'd love to hear from you!
Hopefully I'll have some pics to share on my next post - fingers crossed!
Posted by Leanne Stamatellos at Tuesday, June 23, 2009 1 comments
Friday, June 19, 2009
Questions / Answers
It's been a while since I updated my blog - good reason though. My hard drive has been sent away to be checked for water damage so temporarily i have set up my son's hard drive so I can 'make contact' with everyone ;)
I'm really glad so many of you loved the LEGO party as much as I did. I'll try and answer all the questions and if I miss any, please let me know OK?
ANONYMOUS - asked about the party - Yes, the party lasted for only 1 hr and they have no facilities for you to provide food which is a shame. The kids played for 1 hour supervised by a teacher who depending on your choice of party guides them with what they need to create. Our theme was "Journey Into Space" and they made aliens and spaceships and then had to show them off and explain what they had made. The cupcakes I made were wrapped in individual plastic containers with ribbons and given to each child as they left along with their LEGO CHOC MAN (as the lolly bag).
NICOLE S - I had seen on the LEGO site that you can buy ice molds from the US. I was concerned it wouldn't arrive in time and so I asked the brisbane LEGO store about them. She said 'no' and then about 1 week later, she phoned excitedly to tell me that a big shipment from the US was coming but not sure when. It arrived 3 days before the party. While I was there collecting the ICE CUBE MOLD, they had ICE BLOCK LEGO MAN molds also - that's what the CHOC LEGO MEN were made from. Of course I had to grab that as well. I'm assuming they should be available in Sydney also.
JODI - Hopefully, you have a LEGO store in your state, if so, then they should have it or maybe able to order you one from Brisbane. Yell out if you have any trouble.
I also received a lovely BLOG AWARD from Debra - that is so nice of you. Unfortunately I can't even load the pic or link you at this stage (who know's why - probably this little computer) but I will try again.
Also, CATH asked about my Black and White conversion on the photo of Ethan. I use photoshop to process my images. I go into GRADIENT MAP and use that to get my black and white's. I didn't do anything fancy to get that white background - the tiles I think were white or maybe even pale green so once converted that's how it looked. If I haven't explained this well enough, please ask again OK?
SO, not too exciting today - no photos to share .... since I can't with this computer ... but I have been creating and I'm excited about it too.
Have a great weekend,
Leanne
Posted by Leanne Stamatellos at Friday, June 19, 2009 1 comments
Monday, June 15, 2009
PARTY TIME!
Just moments before all his friends arrived.
These were in place of lolly bags - little chocolate LEGO men.
And the cupcakes all ribboned up.
And then ready to eat - white chocolate with hundreds and thousands LEGO pieces.
And the token birthday photo taken on the way back to the car.
He had a great time ... and I'm glad - he's a good kid!Posted by Leanne Stamatellos at Monday, June 15, 2009 15 comments
Friday, June 12, 2009
At last ......
Some of you who follow my blog may remember a while ago that I was going to create a layout about by 95 year old grandmother, Anastasia. I wanted to do an interview style layout. So many of you helped me out with suggestions for questions I should ask her. I sent the layout off to Scrapbook Creations and THIS MONTH it's been published. I've yet to get my hands on a copy, coming in the mail soon, but I am so excited to show it to her.
Here's how it turned out:
Posted by Leanne Stamatellos at Friday, June 12, 2009 6 comments
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
A visit to Forest Lake

Posted by Leanne Stamatellos at Tuesday, June 09, 2009 8 comments
Sunday, June 7, 2009
New Product + A visit to the scrap show .....
Yes, between coming home from the Brisbane Scrapbook Convention and going out with some of the girls that night, I managed to start a layout using one of my new purchases from the Scrapbook Show.

or some cards like this .....
Apart from that, I'm enjoying a long weekend here - The Queens Birthday Weekend and I'm loving it. Hope yours is great too.
Posted by Leanne Stamatellos at Sunday, June 07, 2009 1 comments
Friday, June 5, 2009
Happy Birthday!
Some great news for Tanyah's online scrap store - scrap'n'craft with T
- it's turning ONE and there are some great things happening over at the site.
I've had the pleasure of being part of the Design team there - always creating with some beautiful products and knowing that Tanyah has a good idea for colour herself, gives me the confidence to let her choose whatever she thinks co-ordinates with my goodies.
Happy Scrapping and I'm looking forward to catching up tomorrow at the Scrapbook Convention and Exhibition.
Posted by Leanne Stamatellos at Friday, June 05, 2009 0 comments
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
Scrapbooking Memories layouts/cards

Then there is this layout that I created using Kaisercraft papers and my favourite Hambly rubon strips. This photo of Joshua is a favourite. Featured in Vol 11 No 1.

Looking forward to seeing heaps of new products at the Brisbane Scrapbooking Convention this weekend and maybe even seeing some familiar faces and some new ones too.
Is anyone planning on going - I'd love to say hello - drop me a note if you are please!
Posted by Leanne Stamatellos at Wednesday, June 03, 2009 6 comments
Monday, June 1, 2009
Been tagged!
Posted by Leanne Stamatellos at Monday, June 01, 2009 1 comments
Sunday, May 31, 2009
A lovely birthday party!

Then the family all enjoyed morning tea at a gorgeous park with the most amazing winter day.
Yes, that's right - this in winter where we live!
My six year old!
My food colouring didn't turn out red like I was hoping, but no-one seemed to mind.
Joshua happily blew bubbles until they ran out.
And we all had a lovely day!:)
Posted by Leanne Stamatellos at Sunday, May 31, 2009 8 comments
Monday, May 25, 2009
Scrapbook Creations Layouts
188 - this is the height that Joshua might be when he's an adult.
I remember reading somewhere that if you double the height of a child at age 2years
then that will be their height when they are fully grown - I have a few years to wait and see.

BREAKING THE HABIT - this was the layout I created for KEEPING IT SIMPLE article
that I write with Helen Karanfilovski and Belinda Venables. The theme was LARGE PHOTOS.
Posted by Leanne Stamatellos at Monday, May 25, 2009 12 comments
Sunday, May 24, 2009
Family photo shoot

Seth had the most gorgeous eyes.
Zac and Ella - seasoned models
and Miss Ella
Thank you for a lovely day!
Posted by Leanne Stamatellos at Sunday, May 24, 2009 7 comments
Saturday, May 23, 2009
UPDATE PART 2
I'm overwhelmed with the number of good wishes left by friends about the floading here in Brisbane.
We are all well and safe and apart from some major inconvenience everything should sort itself out with time. Fortunately the insurance company came yesterday and were pretty good - now I need to get quotes for everything that needs replacing.
I've spent this morning running to IKEA and other stores getting quotes for all the stuff that was damaged. The carpets have been ripped up (only 2 rooms affected - my study being one of them) and will be replaced brand new - I'm happy with that since they were starting to smell Musty yesterday afternoon. We have an industrial blower currently trying to dry out the concrete in the 2 rooms.
Good news is, nothing sentimental was lost - that means alot to me.
My albums are safe - I can't imagine how that would feel if they weren't.
So, I'm in the library using internet again and hopefully over the weekend, I'll set up a temporary area for my computer and maybe even get some internet connection as well.
I hope all the rest of my Australian friends are not affected by this heavy rain. It seems to be pretty OK today and things may be on the improve.
Thank you again for your kind thoughts.
Posted by Leanne Stamatellos at Saturday, May 23, 2009 6 comments
Thursday, May 21, 2009
The Update
As some of you may know, Queensland has had some major rainfall.
In fact, ONE THIRD of the year's rainfall fell in just one night.
Many roads have floaded and properties are under water.
We are fortunate to be on a high piece of land but the combination of water and strong winds caused lots of water to enter the lower level of our home and damage wooden toys, bookcases and carpets. My study was one of those rooms and I have had to disconnect the computer and remove all furniture from the room while the water is being extracted from the carpet. It's no fun at all.
So I'm at the library using the computer to log in and update my blog and check my emails. Hopefully I'll be up and running soon even though the carpet man told me that apparently more rain is on it's way - 'the worst is yet to come' is what he said.
Hope everyone else is ok!
I'll check in again soon.
Posted by Leanne Stamatellos at Thursday, May 21, 2009 12 comments
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
Last Stack
Mostly I create my layouts as I go along and work with my embellishments or photos but this time I had seen a sketch challenge on Anna's Scrapbook Cupboard and I guess subconsciously after I created the layout I could see quite a few elements that tied in with the sketch. So, I posted it on her site and had my first official play - I think I like this way of scrapping :)
Posted by Leanne Stamatellos at Wednesday, May 13, 2009 11 comments
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
A Wedding!

Posted by Leanne Stamatellos at Tuesday, May 12, 2009 8 comments















