Back to school

When I heard that this week's Design Dollies Elements Challenge is all about 'School Days' - I was so happy because I've got a zillion photographs of J-girl's school events to scrap, and I find them quite tricky to do. Any excuse to get some more scrapped and join the "Good Mummy Club". Ha ha...

But then I realised that Adina added the two little words, "your own" to the criteria... and I panicked! No way am I scrapping photos from my own school days... that's WAY too embarrassing!! Hmmmm... then I thought about it a bit more and decided to dig out some photos of my exchange student days in Japan. After all, it IS supposed to be a challenge. I've got a couple of dodgy magnetic albums that need to pulled apart and scrapped properly, so I decided to try 8.5 x 11 on for size. That, alone, is a challenge for me!



The journalling reads:



The photograph was taken at Kurobe Dam, 27th July 1988.

I'm entering my layout at:
# Simon Says (on PCP) ~ Challenge #8 ~ Back to School
# Stamp Something ~ Back to School somethings
I used: Lil Davis journalling stamps


While I was in a 'school days' mood, I did actually grab a few photos from 2006 and scrap them for J's album. This one is based on the August sketch over at Challenge Heaven:


Click to enlarge 

Blues and greens and lots of scraps

A few more blue creations, with some green thrown into the mix...

First, a cute one:



# Simon Says ~ Paper Piecing
# Cupcake Craft ~ Challenge 105 ~ blue and green
# Totally Stampalicious ~ Texture-licious!  (Embossing and lace trim)

I used: Paper scraps from Kaisercraft, SEI and Kelly Panacci; Stamps from Imaginisce (the birdie) and Basic Grey ('Hello'); Cuttlebug 'Jamara' embossing folder.  I'd planned to tie some white organza ribbon on top, but for the life of me I can't find the ribbon spool, so for now, this is it!


Next, a fabric-y one:



# Scrap Fit ~ Mini Workout #3 ~ Make a birthday card using scraps from WO#26
I didn't have any paper left over so I used some of the fabric scraps and the same pack of alphabet stickers
# ABC Challenge ~ B is for ~ blue
# Aud Sentiments ~ Challenge #9 ~ Anything goes

Loving all things orange

So what's new? I love orange, and I've been scrapping with orange a bit over the past few weeks:

This one was for the Scrap Boutique August cybercrop - it was a 'lucky dip' challenge. My assigned criteria was: Use orange, blue and white (I was heavy on the orange, no surprise there); include stars (mine are handmade); use paint (I used Kaisercraft 'Mango')

Click to enlarge

The next one was for a 'scrapbooking whispers' random challenge, also at Scrap Boutique. These are fun - it's like a game of Chinese Whispers, except you see a layout that the previous scrapper did, scrap your own version, then pass it on. Interesting to see how the original and the last one look nothing like the other!  I enjoyed scrapping this one, but I'm not sure if I like the result or not - it's almost entirely done from offcuts and leftovers, and I really don't like the alpha stickers (but I was happy to use up some more of my dodgy old stash!)



And speaking of orange - last month I created another orange page for a random challenge during the Design Dollies blog hop.  Thank you Ms L'Orange for sending me the most amazing RAK for that challenge!!

I have lots of ideas on what to do with the goodies you sent, and your card is so delicious that I want to show everyone:

xx

Krafting it Up

I love Kraft cardstock and I've been using it quite a lot lately.  This month is also the first time I've joined in at the Kraft It Up! challenge blog.  The August criteria is to use green, yellow and black in any ratio:

Click to enlarge

I used: Bazzill Kraft cardstock, Glimmermist 'Key Lime Pie', Autumn Leaves 'Lime Twist' paper, Prima packaging, Stampin' Up! black ink, Thickers foam alphabets, Adorn It tiny alphabets, and I made my own flowers from fabric and buttons.   Thanks to Leone for the die cut leaves :)

Feeling blue...

Well not exactly, but I've been scrapping blue a bit lately!

First up, for this week's Design Dollies Colour Challenge (using the colour combo of mint green, navy blue, and ivory) I added another page to my cocktail recipe mini-album:

Click to enlarge

(Thanks Melissa for the papers - I have no idea what these ones are, but the colours were just perfect and there was just enough to cover the chipboard.)

I'm entering this one at:
# My Partner in Crafting Crime ~ Challenge 9 ~ Food & drink
# Really Reasonable Ribbon ~ Challenge #6 ~ Aloha
I used navy blue trim
# Fab'n'Funky ~ Challenge #36 ~ Flower Power
I used bling flowers, and I fussy-cut a flower from the patterned paper.


The next layout was completed for the Scrap Boutique cybercrop challenge on the weekend. Lauren set a fun 'Choose your own scrappy adventure' quiz challenge. My criteria were: Use a cardstock base, two different patterned papers (Kaisercraft and Basic Grey), a mixed alpha title, flowers, and five buttons. The result is an 8x8 layout for our family daytrip album - yet another Duyfken layout:





This was also the first time I've made the little concertina flowers - I think I need to practise a bit more, and maybe next time use a thinner paper, but I'm still reasonably pleased with my first attempt.

Sketches and doodles and the Duyfken

I've been scrapping a few more pictures from our day trip to the Maritime Museum.  These ones are about the Duyfken.

The first layout was inspired by this week's Design Dollies sketch by Kristy Dalman.  I also did lots and lots of doodling around the edges for this month's Scrap Lounge Technique Challenge:






The second layout is based on the August sketch at Scrap Lounge:



Also entering this one at:
# ABC Challenges ~ B is for ~ blue

Summer lovin'

At Design Dollies this week, the Elements Challenge is all about 'Catching the Wave'.  Even though it's still winter in Australia, I have no shortage of summer photographs to scrap!  Here's my layout:





I was inspired by a pattern called "Pompeii Wave" that I found stencilease.com This site has all sorts of stencils, in a range of categories, and an easy search function too.

I used some more yummy papers and elements from Cosmo Cricket 'DeLovely' - I can't get enough of these lately.

I'm also entering my layout at:
# Practical Scrappers ~ August Bonus Challenge ~ Water

J-card

She's been busy again! And, she's still better at colouring than I am! More practice, maybe? Or maybe she does it without trying so hard?



Jazi is entering her card for these challenges:
# Simon Says ~ Summertime Blues
# Little Hands Do Crafts ~ Challenge #9 ~ Anything goes
# Kona Kid Krafters ~ Challenge #6 ~ Anything goes

Some cards

Just a quick card share today...

First, I decided to join in at That's Just So Cute, for their baby-themed challenge. I made a baby welcome card for Gill's new grand-daughter, Charlee Rose:





I used: Cosmo Cricket 'DeLovely' elements card, Bazzill 'Dotted Swiss' cardstock, Fiskars 'Threading Water' punch, and some organza ribbon and flowers from a discount outlet store.


Next, while I was in a 'clean and simple' frame of mind, I made this one:



# Craft Your Days Away ~ Challenge #1 ~ Favourite Things
I have LOTS of favourite things - one of my favourite colours is green (check out my creations if you don't believe me!) and I used some of my favourite products: Bazzill 'Dotted Swiss' cardstock; my current favourite paper collection (Cosmo Cricket 'DeLovely'); my favourite alphabet stickers (Cosmo Cricket 'Tiny Type' - I love ALL the colours and styles of these!); my favourite pen (white Signo)... is that enough favourites??
# C.R.A.F.T ~ Challenge 63 ~ Mini-beasts
I cut the caterpillar motif from one of the Cosmo Cricket 'DeLovely' elements cards, and superimposed it on the pear

Inspired

Inspired... by etsy (again). I've already joined in at Etsy Inspired Challenges this week for their 100th Challenge Party, but I was so inspired by Cathy Walters's Etsy Shop that I had to make another card.



This one was inspired by the gorgeous pendant made by Cathy, AND the neutral colours I used were inspired by the 'reflections' photograph which is featured at The Shabby Tea Room this week:



I used: Bazzill kraft cardstock, Coredinations cardstock, 'Jules Jewels' Cuttlebug EF, Spellbinders butterfly die, A2Z Scraplets 'Borders 05' chipboard scallop (with KaiserPaint 'Candy' and KindyGlitz 'Pink'),  Green Tara flower.  Button, vintage music paper and twine.

Jingle all the way...

Jingle is a super-fun, upbeat and somewhat zany crafter whose work I first came across over at Design Dollies.  She's also going to be a Guest Dollie next month too, which will be very cool!

This month she's celebrating two years of blogging, and she's having a super giveaway. 
Check out Jingle's fun blog for the details - you've got till 26th August to join in.

Melissa's scraps

Melissa was kind enough to give me some of her leftover bits and pieces when we had our scrappy day on Monday. It was just a few offcuts from her kits but I think I surprised her a bit at how excited I was - all of these were from papers I've never used before. I don't really care if papers aren't the latest or newest ranges, because there's always ones that are 'new for me'. Amongst them were these:



I assured her I'd challenge myself to use them on layouts really soon, and so I did! This is what I did today:

Click to enlarge

I started out playing with the smallest scraps, assembling some handmade flowers. Then I worked my way up to some of the larger scraps. Everything on this one is made from offcuts except for the alphabets and the lonely little Green Tara flower. I love how it turned out, and I haven't decided whether to keep it or to give it to my parents. I may even frame it for my Mum for her birthday later this month. It's an old photograph (2005) but I don't think she'd mind.

I'm going to enter this in the August Song Challenge ("We Are Family") at Challenge Heaven.


For the next layout I added a vintage book page, stamping and bling, machine stitching and watercolour pencil highlights:


Click to enlarge

I'm submitting this one at Scrap the Boys for their August Challenge 1 - using flowers.  I've always loved using flowers on boys' layouts - I don't think it in any way takes away the 'masculinity' of their character.  I really loved the retro colours of these ones, which fit well with the 1960's photograph.

Colour play

I love playing with colour, and I love playing with Dollies... so I always love the Design Dollies Colour Challenge days!  This week the colours are yellow, white and kraft.  Here's my contribution:



Only a simple little project for me this week ~ using some reply-paid envelopes, a journalling stamp (Lil Davis) and a few scraps to cover up the printed part of the envelope.  I'll be using these to post off a couple of RAKs soon, and hopefully it's another way to brighten someone's day!

I'm entering my little project at:
# Creative Inspirations ~ Challenge 40 ~ Recycled element
# Simon Says ~ Sing it Baby ~ Inspired by the Elvis Presley song, "Return to Sender"


I've also been doing some more monochromatic work (ever noticed I *LOVE* mono??) for a challenge over at Scrap Boutique.  Amanda challenged us to create a friendship-themed layout with a monochromatic colour scheme.   I started this layout yesterday when I visited Melissa, and I've been procrastinating about a title... finally decided to keep it simple and I ended up with this:

 
Click to enlarge

The lace at the bottom is from the gorgeous RAK that Deb sent me.  Thank you again xx

A happy scrapper

After more than a week of 'merely sporadic' scrapping, I've finally been able to snatch back some fun time and get tactile and creative.

On Friday, I received some happy mail from Deb Clark:



Thanks Deb for your lovely RAK!!  I've used some of the lace already, and you'll be seeing that layout really soon :)


This is a layout I scrapped on the weekend:


Click to enlarge

Cosmo Cricket 'DeLovely' is one of my newest favourite paper collections. I just love the bright, happy colours, and the patterns make me smile, so it was an easy choice for my DT focus this month at Scrap Pile.

The layout is based on a Liz Qualman sketch at A2Z Scraplets; I rotated it 90 degrees to the right to suit my photograph, but apart from that I think I remained true to the sketch:

I also used A2Z Scraplets on the layout - the scallops are from the Border Strip 05 set, which I painted and Kindy-Glitz'd.

Here's a little detail shot - I loved doing all the fussy-cutting (therapeutic, much?) and I also added some seed beads because the packet was sitting on the edge of my desk from the last time I used them, and a little extra sparkle never goes astray...




Today I met up with the gorgeous Melissa, who I first met online at Design Dollies.  Amongst the coffee and cheesecake and chatting, we actually squeezed in some scrapping too!  This is one of the layouts I finished today:


Click to enlarge

This one is for the August Stash Stomper at Scrap Boutique.  This month we were asked to 'stomp' our photograph stash and include four photographs, based on Manon's sketch.  It's been a while since I scrapped with my old favourite colour combo of blue and brown, and it was fun to 'stomp' some of my older stash too - MME Wild Asparagus, Doodlebug and MAMBI papers, some old WRMK rubons and a few mismatched AC Thickers too. I love using up old stuff!

Happy Anniversary

... to P and me!!  Married twelve years ago today.  Although it was totally serendiptious that we chose a wedding date of 8th August, it does make our anniversary easy to remember! 8th of the 8th...

And of course, I made an anniversay card to mark the occasion:



# Simon Says ~ Sing it, Baby
My song choice is "Love Me Do" (Beatles)
# Creative Inspirations ~ Challenge 40 ~ Recycled element
My recycled element is the vintage music paper 
# Crafty Creations ~ Challenge 79 ~ Wedding or anniversary
# ABC Challenge ~ A is for ~ August
# Etsy Inspired Challenges ~ 100th Challenge Party

My card was inspired by this gorgeous creation, which I found at Cathy Walter's Etsy Shop - she is a photographer who also makes beautiful pendants.

Thursday Sketch LO

I've been working on a day trip album about our family visit to the Queensland Maritime Museum in April - we were only there for half a day but we packed in a lot of fun (and of course, a lot of photographs!)

I didn't add a title to this layout because I thought the sign was enough - "Welcome on board Duyfken".  This layout is for Design Dollies ~ another amazing sketch by Kristy:





I'm also entering this layout at:
# Practical Scrappers ~ Anniversary Week Challenge 4 ~ Only one embellishment
My only embellishment is the hand-cut banners

Friendship

It was Friendship Day on 1st August, and over at Scrap Pile, my August Inspiration Challenge is to use one of the suggested friendship quotes on a layout.

Design Dollies also has a friendship theme for the first Elements Challenge for this month - check out the blog for challenge details and to see the fabulous projects by my sister Dollies.  Here's my layout:





It's been a while since I made these "box flowers" and I'd forgotten how much fun they are! I had just the right amount of paper left over to add some to my layout.

I'm also entering this layout at:
# Paper Play ~ Week 30 ~ Anything Goes
# Scrap Our Stash ~ August challenge ~ handmade flowers

Colour splash

Over at Scrap Pile this month I'm hosting the Technique Challenge, and this is my layout:





Full details of the challenge can be found in the forum.

I also created my layout with these challenges in mind:
# Play Date Cafe ~ Challenge 40 ~ black, white and a splash of green
# Craftalicious ~ Challenge No 5 ~ Make your own flowers
I made some box flowers and rolled roses.
# Frosted Designs ~ Use arrows
I used a Luxe Designs journalling card.

Edited 2/8/10 to add:  Thank you True for inviting me to enter my layout at Really Reasonable Ribbons for their August black & white challenge.  I have some vintage trim and some varigated ribbon on the layout.