CISters Gourmet Delights

This weekend we're cybercropping at Crafting in Style.  The theme is 'Gourmet Delights' and each challenge is based on a different course.

I'm started off with the appetiser - a sketch challenge.  This is my sketch, and my sample layout.  Everyone is most welcome to join in, but you'll need to pop over and visit the forum to find out the additional criteria.

(Still) loving teal

This week I finished two more layouts for our family day-tripping album:



# Allsorts ~ Challenge 15
I used the sketch by Jules and included a torn edge behind the title.
# ABC Challenge ~ C is for circles
I've had these Urban Lily chipboard circles in my stash for ages, so it was a great incentive to dig them out and use another one :)


I used: Bazzill cardstock, Coredinations cardstock, Basic Grey 'Marrakech' papers, Urban Lily  'Celebration' chipboard circle, AdornIt alphabet stickers, Grant Archival flower stamp, Kaisercraft pearl, white Souffle pen



I ran out of my favourite Bazzill 'Bahama' cardstock, so I scrapped this one straight onto the back of the first layout:





# Create4Fun ~ Week 34 ~ Bev's sketch
# Flourishes ~ Timeless Tuesday Challenge 30 ~ Pearls
# Method Playground ~ Challenge 52 ~ Doodling
I doodled around the photo edge and around the page border.

I used:  Bazzill cardstock, Cordinations cardstock, SEI cardstock, Stampin'Up leaf stamp, Prima flowers, Kaisercraft pearls, Basic Grey 'Marrakech' patterned paper, Making Memories journalling page, Martha Stewart floral punch, Cuttlebug 'Spots and Dots' embossing folder, Signo gel pens

Brown, yellow, pink

I don't think this is a colour combo I've tried before... and I kind of like it :)



This card is for challenges at:
# Basic Grey Challenges ~ Challenge #2 ~ a colour combo
Brown, yellow, pink
# Cupcake Craft ~ Challenge #54 ~ a shaped card
# If the Shoe Fits ~ Friday I'm in Love with Pink


I used: Basic Grey 'Blush' paper, Bazzill cardstock, Spellbinders Nestabilities 'Large Octagon' and 'Blossom' dies, Cuttlebug 'Script' embossing folder, Green Tara flowers, Colorbox fluid chalk, KindyGlitz 'Pink'.

Baby card

I enjoyed making this card for Kate to celebrate the safe arrival of her precious baby, Annika Kadee.

 

 I combined some old and new - vintage lace, a children's game card, and my new favourite tools - Spellbinders 'Deckled Rectangles' diecut and Cuttlebug 'Swiss Dots' embossing folder.

#  Crafty Creations ~ Challenge #30 ~ the farm

Cyber-cropping

I joined in some of the cybercrop challenges over at Scrap Boutique on the weekend.

This one is based on Jo's sketch, with the extra criteria of a checklist:



A card based on Liz's sketch, in 'exotic' colours:



And for Kylie's challenge, an OTP project which is Asian-themed:



My colours and patterns were chosen with an Indonesian/Balinese influence in mind :)

The quotes on the bookmark are from Carl Sandberg:

"Poetry is the journal of the animal living on land, wanting to fly in the air. Poetry is the search for syllables to shoot at the barriers of the unknown. Poetry is a phantom script telling how rainbows are made and why they go away."

Cards are fun

# 2 Red Bananas ~ Banana Split Sunday ~ sketch
# Cupcake Craft Challenges ~ Something Sweet
# Stamp Something ~ Birthday Somethings
Stamp: Whiff of Joy, coloured with watercolour pencils. I'm still not very happy with my colouring results, but I'm persevering.


Revisiting two of my favourite colours...

First, a Father's Day card. I'm not all that happy with how it turned out, mostly because I'm still not a very confident stamper. I think the ink bled a little into the Bazzill and it looks a bit fuzzy. But I'm sure the recipient won't mind, especially if I can come up with a suitable gift to go with it!



# Pile it On ~ Challenge 11
'Oh boy'+ additional challenges
# Creatalicious ~ Challenge #1
Something for Dad, brown, and metals (4 brads)
# Cafe Mojo ~ Colour challenge
Blue and brown

I used: Spellbinders Labels 3 dies, Mogilo alphabet stamps, Lil Davis swirls from 'Journalling 1' stamp set, Colorbox fluid chalk. No idea about the patterned card or organza ribbon or brads - just oddments from my stash.


To balance it out a bit, I have to say I'm very happy with the second card:



# The Cuttlebug Spot ~ Challenge #44 ~ You're Invited
I used: 'Textile Texture' embossing folder, Coredinations cardstock, Kaisercraft 'Friends' mounted stamp, Versacube 'Bark', AdornIt alphabet stickers, Spellbinders Labels 3 die

Christmas in August

I came across quite a lot of card challenge blogs this week with a Christmas theme, which has prompted me to start making my Christmas cards! In my 'clean-out the-stash' drive I came across some old papers which I think are a fabulous match with embossed white cardstock, and I had a play around with some card sketches I found online:



* 2 Red Bananas ~ Banana Split Sunday
* Creative Card Crew ~ Challenge 24


I used: Cuttlebug 'Script' and 'Floral Screen' embossing folders, Alison Ellis Design paper




* If the Shoe Fits ~ Monday's sketch in card form
* Creative Card Crew ~ Challenge 24

I used: Cuttlebug 'Allegro' embossing folder, Alison Ellis Design paper



The next two are fairly plain, no sketches used, just using up some more scraps:



* Simon Says ~ Christmas in August
* Dutch Dare ~ Challenge 58

I used: Cuttlebug 'Swiss Dots' embossing folder, Alison Ellis Design paper, Inque Boutique stamp, Bazzill bling cardstock




* Simon Says ~ Christmas in August
I used: Cuttlebug 'Spots & Dots' embossing folder, Alison Ellis Design paper, stamp ?? ** I don't know - can somebody tell me??**, coloured with Twinkling H2O's

New toys

I bought two new Martha Stewart punches last week and they arrived in the mail yesterday!

Here they are:



I'm going to have to control myself and try not punch every edge in sight, but I couldn't resist using the Lattice Arch border on this card:



I'm entering this card in these challenges:

# Stamp Simply ~ Challenge #100 ~ Birthday card
# If the Shoe Fits ~ Friday colour challenge ~ lime and fuschia

Credits: Bazzill cardstock, Cuttlebug 'Devine Swirls' embossing folder, Grant Archival flower stamp, Kaisercraft pearl, Rose Moka alphabet stickers

Something blue

A super quick gift card that I made for a friend:



# If the Shoe Fits ~ Roundabout challenge
Create a round card
# Splendid Stamping ~ Farm Fresh Friday ~ Sew Simple
Faux stitching with white Souffle pen


And a layout for our family 'daytripping' album:



# Stamp Something ~ Summer Vacation
Stamp: from Kaisercraft 'Doodled Frames' set

Cycling...

I have a HUGE collection of cycling photographs - folders and folders of them, from various day trips, outings to the park, and everyday "Mum, look at me" moments. Bicycle photos are fast overtaking "playground" photographs! Not that I mind, because they do capture moments of pure fun and joy, but they might get a bit monotonous for other people to look at...

So here are two more!

This one is for the Scrap Boutique August 'Stash Stomper' challenge:




The next one is for the August 123 Challenge - using a blurry photograph, staples and metal embellishments. They didn't photograph very well, but I found some metal beads in my stash and used them as flower centres:

Where did all my money go?

... hehe, I know where mine went!! But it's also the name of Steph's blog. This is one talented lady, whose work I first came across at the Cuttlebug Spot. She is giving away a HUGE blog candy, well worth checking out.

And speaking of Cuttlebug, here are some creations I've done lately with some Cuttlebug'd elements:







# The Cuttlebug Spot ~ Challenge #43 ~ Aymee's sketch
I used my Cuttlebug to emboss the Heidi Swapp journalling spot (Swiss Dots embossing folder), and to die-cut some cardstock 'lace' (Spellbinders 'Classic Lace Border' die).
# ABC Challenge ~ A is for Anything Goes + Animals
# Whimsy Stamps ~ Challenge 14 ~ Animal Magic
My whole layout is animal themed, and I hope the Autumn Leaves butterfly stamp counts as animal image??


Thank you Leah for inspiring me to get tearing on my layouts again, it's been a while since I've done that.


And a card:



# Pile it On ~ Challenge 10 ~ No patterned paper
"Piled on" three other challenges listed below:
# Cuttlebug Challenge ~ Be Inspired #44 ~ Scenery
* I chose a beach scene
* Cuttlebug embossing folders: Spots and Dots, Devine Swirls, Swiss Dots
# Crafty Creations ~ Challenge #28 ~ Yellow
# Cute Card Thursday ~ Challenge #73 ~ At the Beach
Stamp: Imaginisce Snag 'Em 'Penguin Dude'

Teal and brown and a little bit vintage

Sharing some more cards :)



# The Pink Elephant ~ Challenge #27 ~ Brown, turquoise and neutral
I used paper from Pink Paislee 'Fetching' which was just the perfect colour.
# Allsorts ~ Week 13 ~ Vintage
The stamp is by Paper Artsy. I've been wanting to use this image for a while and I was waiting for the right project. I added some twine and inking to 'vintage' it up a bit, hopefully it worked.


Sticking with the turquoise, but switching to blues and greens for this one, which is for my friend and CISter Laura. Well, actually it's for her little boy who turns 2 on the weekend. Happy birthday Luke!!



# Stamp with Fun ~ Challenge 19 ~ Birthday theme
Credits: Stampin' Up truck stamp, Twinkling H2O's, Bazzill 'Bahama' cardstock, Daisy Bucket papers, Carolee's Creations alphabet stickers

Anything but a card

I pushed some more boundaries this week and made a paper-crafted basket, using a fun free template from Create4Fun. It's super easy to make! And perfect timing for my Mum's birthday. I'm going to fill it with Turkish Delight, her favourite sweet treat.



This project is also for:

# Simon Says ~ Anything but a card
Stamp: Kaisercraft "Flowers" set
# Crafty Creations ~ Challenge #28 ~ Yellow
Lots of yellow on the reverse side of WRMK paper, a big yellow Heidi Swapp flower, and some yellow ribbon.

Some sketches

A quick share of a couple of sketch layouts that I've done over the past week... despite all the cards I've been making, my first love is still scrapping layouts. And still loving orange.

For Crafty Sketches:



Thank you Liz for the Scenic Route papers.



For Scrap Lounge:

Card challenges, continued

OMG, more cards... someone stop me!!

The first one started out as a cybercrop challenge over at Scrap Pile. Gorgeous Melissa challenged us to make a card based sketch 17 from Unscripted Sketches, and using a stamped, hand-coloured image:



I played around with it for a while, and it also fits in with these fun challenges:

# If the Shoe Fits ~ Friday colour challenge
I used pink, brown and orange - some old scraps of Fancy Pants and SEI papers were just perfect.
# Stamp Something ~ 'Charmed Somethings'
This charm has been in my stash for years, I think it might be AMM, but I'm not really sure.


The next one is for a challenge by Melanie ~ to create a card inspired by the Scrap Pile website. I chose the colour green and the theme of friends:



I'm also submitting this one for:
# Secret Crafter ~ Challenge #44 ~ 'Cute as a Bug'
I added some tiny butterflies from my sheet of K&Company 'Mira' rubons.

Card challenges

I've been making even more cards this weekend, and making a huge dent in my scraps folder!! Yay, gotta be happy with that. I'm starting to get into the habit of making a card every time I finish a layout, and using up the bits and pieces on my scrap desk.



This one is for:

* The Pink Elephant ~ Challenge 26 ~ Recipe
Use three brads, one flower and designer paper.
* A Spoon Full of Sugar ~ Challenge 63 ~ "Floral fantasy"
Feature flowers in the card design
* Papertake Weekly Challenge ~ Four Seasons
Yellow reminds me of spring and sunshine and daisies.






This one is for:

* Basic Grey Challenges ~ Challenge 1 ~ Sketch by Tara.
I used patterned paper from the Basic Grey 'Marrakech' 6x6 paper pad. The scalloped piece is from my Basic Grey offcuts folder, probably 'Phresh & Phunky' but it could be one of the other discontinued ranges.
* Cuttlebug Challenges ~ Be Inspired #43 ~ Digital stamps.
I used my Swiss Dots embossing folder, and I chose the frame from MlamarreDesigns digital stamps. Check the Cuttlebug Challenges blog for details on how to get hold of some for free. I left the sentiment blank so I can add something when I decide who the card is for.

Weekend scrapping

Over at Scrap Pile we're having a weekend scrap-fest as a farewell to the site in its current format. Justine has sold the business, and the new owner takes over next week. Past and present team members are hosting challenges and there's some fun games too.


Leah started the weekend off with a speed-scrap challenge. This was my layout, scrapped, photographed and uploaded in under 90 minutes:




Leone hosted a sketch challenge. This is my layout based on the sketch (and using up the scraps from my first layout):




My challenge is a monochromatic theme, and this is my sample layout:

It's all about colour

Someone asked me the other day what part of scrapbooking I do best. Hmmm... self-evaluation is pretty tricky, but I think one of my creative strengths is that I'm not afraid to experiment with colour. I love playing around with colour and I can usually manage to pull together unexpected colour combinations. Even when I get the overall balance or the embellishments not-quite-right, I can usually hide those shortcomings with colour.

Over at Scrap Boutique the monthly challenge is to create a layout using PRIMARY COLOURS - lots of fun!




Next, I created this card, which was inspired by two challenges:



* Cute Card Thursday ~ "Tealy Good' challenge
Use the colour combination of TEAL and RED
* 2 Sketches 4 You ~ Kazan's sketch #72

Credits: I used MME paper from the Just Dreamy 2 range, and a stamp that I received in a stamped image swap. I think it was from Leah, will need to check to give proper credit!!


And last one for today, this layout is for the Scrap Lounge monthly challenge for August, which required the colours of BROWN, GREEN and CREAM:

Circles!

I've had a love affair with circles for a long time now.

This month over at Crafting in Style, the Shaping Up challenge is all about circles.

This is my layout, which was inspired by a sketch from Mojo Monday:




And another layout using circles:



This layout was inspired by

# Friday Sketchers ~ Sketch 63
# Simon Says ~ 'Buttons and Bows'
I used ColorIt buttons and some recycled ribbon.

Product showcase

Over at Crafting in Style I've been playing with some of the new Kaisercraft ranges. These are some of my projects, which were featured in this week's newsletter:







All of them feature the Duchess range of papers, and it was fun to use the soft muted heritage tones with contemporary photographs.

I also have a little sneak peek of a class kit that will be featured in September:

More July layouts

Just a catch up of some July layouts.

These ones were completed for Scrap Boutique challenges:





Both were based on sketches, with both using some of my older K&Company 'Blue Awning' papers. And both featuring a cutie pie who loves to lick the beaters after baking birthday cake :)


Just a few more - this one was step-by-step challenge completed over a few days:



And this was inspired by the Scrap Boutique launch page: