Happy 2nd birthday

... to Scrap Boutique. Chelsea's gorgeous store and friendly forum have been part of the cyber-scrapping world for two years now.

To celebrate, Chelsea and the Stylists have been hosting a fun week-long cybercrop, as well as some free classes, and four weekly challenges.

Here are some of my challenge creations:

Week 1: Liz's OTP challenge ~



I used some old Gin-X papers and I love the result!


Week 2: "2" challenge ~ using two of everything!




Weeks 3 and 4 are still works in progress... so I can't show those ones yet.


Then, for the week-long cybercrop, I finished these ones:

For Liz's sketch ~



For Kylie's card challenge, three cards!!







I have started two of the other challenges too, but I don't think I'll finish them in time. So many challenges, so little time!

Mixing it up

Just a share of some layouts I've been creating lately:


I really enjoyed putting this layout together for the 1,2,3 challenge blog. I even made myself use purple, without any prompting from anyone!! The criteria for July are: polka dots, altered photograph, and stamping with paint:




Over at Top 50 I only managed to get one layout done for the Christmas in July crop, but I was really happy with how it came together:




This is one that I did last month for a colour challenge at Aussie Scrap Source:

Home is where the heart is

We're weekend cyber-cropping at Crafting in Style with lots of fun challenges, games and chatting.


Laura has created a fabulous technique challenge, and here is my take on her challenge:




And this time it's my turn to do a sketch. This is the sketch, and my layout:





There's extra criteria too, so you'll have to check the forum if you'd like to enter the challenge :)

Whiff of Joy

I've never been into 'cutesy' stamps very much but participating in the recent stamped image swap over at Scrap Pile opened my eyes to some amazing possibilities. Not to mention my daughter falling in love with some of the images and demanding that I create something with them!!



So... I've been labouring under a serious stamping and card making affliction over the past few weeks. In my own defence, I think it's also because my printer is broken and I've got very few photographs to scrap with at the moment. I've turned my attention to my unused stash of scraps and older supplies to create with. Hmmm, who would have thought I'd be enjoying cards so much??

I've also been blog-hopping and checking out some cards made by 'real' card makers, and finding some truly amazing and inspirational creations along the way.


And just for fun I made another card on the weekend, a super-simple one and definitely not in the same league as the aforementioned 'real' card-makers. It's based on Liz's sketch at Scrap Boutique:

Something blue...

This week I created a layout with the new Bella 'Vintage Beauty' range. I'm in love with the blue and white, and of course I'm loving the decorative edges. Over at Scrap Pile this is my sample for the design team weekly challenge:




This is a layout to add to my long-neglected Book of Me.

Cards, cards, cards

I can't believe how many cards I've been making lately! I'm definitely making good on one of my New Year's Resolutions - which was to conquer some more of my creative phobias. Last year it was paint, this year it is cards.

This one was for a challenge on the Bo Bunny blog - based on a sketch and using Bo Bunny papers ~




These gift cards were based on a free class that Liz is presenting over at Scrap Boutique for their 2nd birthday celebrations:




This card is based on a challenge by Melanie over at Scrap Pile this week:

Loving Copics

My friend Leah recently got some Copic markers and I had a chance to play with them. After a slow start I eventually got the hang of it and I can see why they are so popular. I really like how the colours blend together.

So, this is my first attempt, which I made into a birthday card for a friend's little girl:




Crafty Goings On is giving away this set of 72 Copic markers - that would be very cool! Fingers crossed!!

Sketch layouts

The July sketch is up over at A Page from my Sketchbook, and this is my sample layout:



Unfortunately due to sponsorship issues the blog has been put on hold for a little while. Liz will still showcase one of her gorgeous sketches each month though... so pop over and take a look.


This is another layout based on a sketch, this time over at Scrap Lounge:

More than layouts

I'm slo-o-o-o-w-w-w-l-y being dragged into the arena of card making and OTP papercrafting, and surprising myself by enjoying it too :) This week I made a small gift card for a paper piecing challenge over at the Simon Says Challenge blog:




And last week I made an accordian file box for a challenge over at Scrap Boutique:

Creating at Scrap Pile

Time to share some of my DT layouts for Scrap Pile this month:

I'm loving RED at the moment, can you tell? Oh, and decorative edges, and My Minds Eye die-cuts, which make putting the page together quick and fun:

Thank you

A little while back I left a message on Tanisha's blog, and unknowingly won a RAK in the process :)

A lovely package arrived in the mail this week, full of gorgeous ribbons:




Thank you so much for your generosity Tanisha!

Weekend scrapping

It's still chilly outside so I've taken advantage of my indoor time to do a little bit of scrapping this weekend.

The first one is based on Krissy's sketch over at the A Passion for Craft cybercrop:



The next one is for the inaugural challenge over on the Let's Get Shabby blog:



My layout was influenced by the soft pinks and the fans featured in the inspiration photograph. I had fun making the little butterflies:

Shaping Up

Over at Crafting in Style, it's my turn to do the Shaping Up challenge. This month, it's all about HEARTS, and this is my challenge sample:



Check out the forum for full details :)