Circle of Friends

For the record, I'm NOT a "girly" girl.  At all.  I am most comfortable in jeans and tshirt, and I never wear skirts or dresses to work.

On Mothers' Day this year I attended a very special wedding which, of course, required me to dress up (in a DRESS!)  It doesn't happen very often [some of my friends have never seen me wear a dress - I think the last time was at my brother's wedding around six years ago...]

I created this layout for the Mothers Day challenge at A2Z Scraplets, using the May sketch from C'est Magnifique:





I used Doodlet-18 which I painted white, then coated with glitter varnish:




I'm also submitting at Scrapbook Fantasies for the friendship theme.

Other materials:
Dream Street Romantique - Simplicity patterned paper
Heidi Swapp Ghost Shapes - Pink Flowers
Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist - Key Lime Pie
Making Memories Boho Chic - Tiny Alphas stickers
Kaisercolour White acrylic paint
Derivan Crystal Glitter acrylic varnish
Portacraft paper flowers

Creative Scrappers - two layouts

This is my layout for Creative Scrappers Sketch #267:



I do love green, but the monochromatic effect was totally accidental this time.  I also used a litle bronze birdie embellishment for Craft Hoarders Anonymous Challenge #8 (use metal or glass):

*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*

My second layout is for the Creative Scrappers Birthday Bash, using the last sketch by Kristine Davidson:




I was also inspired by the May Inkido moodboard:

I recently discovered a wonderful multi-craft challenge site called Country View Challenges.  The May challenge theme is Nature's Glories and I think my layout fits. Our Australian beaches are certainly glorious!


Materials:
Making Memories Boho Chic - Tiny Alphas - White stickers
Spellbinders Butterfly Refections die
Coredinations cardstock
Memento Pluie/Rain patterned paper
Rouge de Garance Ailes ou Fleurs patterned paper

06/06/2014 Edit to add:  My beach layout was selected as the winner at Country View Challenges:

Scrappy Friends

I didn't manage to combine all three Scrappy Friends challenges this month, but I did do a two-in-one:



1> Brenda's sketch (rotated)
2> Rochelle's Tic Tac Toe:
* Doily (white unadorned paper doily)
* Punch (EK Success Double Morocco Lace)
* Chipboard (mixed alphabets - Heidi Swapp, Maya Road, Basic Grey - covered in patterned paper)



Slowly making it through some more of the scenery shots from our driving holiday last year...

Other materials:
Basic Grey Urban Couture - Cashmere patterned paper
Cosmo Cricket Garden Variety - Strawberry Fields patterned paper
Cosmo Cricket Garden Variety - Tossed Salad patterned paper
Cosmo Cricket Tiny Type alphabet stickers
ColorBox Catseye - Blush Rose fluid chalk

Something old, something new...

I started working on what I thought would be a super quick clean-and-simple style layout but for some reason it sat on my desk for weeks while I fiddled around with it!  In the end I stopped shuffling things, resisted the temptation to add more flowers "or something" and just stuck it all down:



I used the sketch from Pretty Little Studio, and combined it with the stash challenge at Scrap Our Stash which asked for:

* something old - Urban Lily paper
* something new - white cardstock, pink machine thread
* something fussy cut - Bella Blvd motifs
* something blue - yep, there's a few blues in there...



Materials:
Urban Lily Baby Lily - Denim Dot patterned paper
Urban Lily Doodle Daisy - Daisy Stripes patterned paper
Bella Blvd Sunny Happy Skies - Pandaland patterned paper
Close to my Heart Silhouette alphabet stickers

Burleigh Day Trip

This layout is based on the May sketch at Show Us Your Stuff:



As always, the essential criteria is to use something handmade.  This month the additional criteria is to include flowers.  I made the fabric lollipop flowers:



Materials:
K&Company Jubilee - Teal Florals & Butterflies patterned paper
Ranger Perfect Pearls - Platinum paint

Portacraft paper flowers - pale pink
Prima Rondelle textured alphabet stickers
Maya Road velvet ribbon
Bella! Sarah-Jane - Narratives journalling pages

Lemon cheesecake

I created this layout using the May sketch at Anna's Craft Cupboard.  I simplified the sketch a LOT, using only the main elements, because my photographs took up more room on the page than the sketch sample:



I was inspired by Craft Hoarders Anonymous to dig VERY deep into my stash and find some metal brads, which added the extra dimension I thought this layout needed:





Of course, I am still using up my very old paper stash, more of my beloved Basic Grey, and I couldn't resist some fussy-cutting.

Materials:
Basic Grey Sugared - Beauty patterned paper
Pink Paislee Queen Bee - Worker Bee patterned paper
Cosmo Cricket Tiny Type alphabet stickers
Glitz Designs Teeny Alpha - Yellow Block alphabet stickers
Making Memories Antique Copper - Round 1 decorative brads


10-08-2014: Edit to add ~  I'm linking up my layout to the Paper Issues Mix Tape theme.  Home-baked cheesecake - mixing ingredients...

Use a digi!!

My next Lasting Memories challenge layout is overdue... oops.  This week the challenge is to use a digi on your layout.  Thanks to the talent and generosity of so many online artists, we are absolutely spoiled for choice when it comes to free digital products.

It's been a long time since I did any 100% digital layouts, but I still love using digital elements on my traditional pages.   I didn't use a digital 'picture' but I did use some digital embellishments.

 This is my layout:




This is a closeup of the journal card that I used:

I downloaded the journal card FREE from Miss Tiina's: 
http://misstiina.com/blog/new-everyday-collection-cu-plus-128-free-printable-journal-cards/

I also created my title using digital alphabets, which I added to my photograph before printing:



The alphabet set is called When Summer Ends, created by Maya de Groot.  The original yellow didn't match my photograph, so I changed the colour using hue and saturation settings in Photoshop Elements.

I created my layout using a sketch from Stuck?! Sketches.  The sketch was perfect for using lots of paper offcuts, so despite the focus on digital elements I still managed to reach deep into my stash and use some more of my hoarded patterned paper (all Echo Park), flowers (all Prima) and buttons.

Another party layout...

I only have two photographs from this particular occasion - I scrapped one already, and this is the second one:



I followed the sketch at Scrap Our Stash, and I also followed the criteria:

> Ink or paint - I used Kaisercolour Candy acrylic paint, and Lindy's Stamp Gang Starburst - Salt Water Taffy mist
> Mask or stencil - I used Scrap FX - Whirlpools 6x6 stencil
> Make your own background - I made my own background using the above items from my stash, as well as a lashing of modelling paste

I'm joining in at Scrapbook Fantasies for Weekly Challenge #19/2014 - to create a layout using black, white and pink.

Other materials:
Creative Imaginations Narratives - Sweet Pea patterned paper
American Crafts Thickers - Jewelry Box alphabets
Carolee's Creations Adorn It - Flirtatious alphabet stickers

White with gold

Fabulous colour choice at White with 1 this month:

I don't have very much gold in my stash (in my bank balance either, for that matter!) but I did manage to meet the criteria with some paint and a sheet of glitter cardstock.  This is what I came up with:



I die-cut the letters with my Cuttlebug, and used the negative pieces to make a title banner:



I punched some starburst shapes from the offcuts, and used them for flower centres.  [Incidentally, I also broke the punch on about the fifth starburst - seems those $2 punches from the reject store don't have much staying power!!]



Materials:
My Memories Glitter - Bright Gold cardstock
Coredinations Black Tie - White cardstock
Heidi Swapp Ghost Shapes flowers
Luminarte Twinkling H2O - Honey Amber
MFT Die-namics - Little Letters alphabet dies

Lasting Memories

I am absolutely loving my time at Lasting Memories - it's all about **layouts only** so I'm managing to catch up on a LOT of scrapping subjects.   This week it's a sketch challenge, and this is my layout:



It's another January layout (Australia Day) using lots of leftover bits and pieces, including my own layered background using the technique I shared >>here<< a few weeks ago. 

Lots of layers in the background, layers of patterned paper behind the photograph, even some layered flowers... perfect for the layers challenge at The Crafty Scrapper this month.

Here's a little detail shot - I'm all out of brads, so I used some beads for flower centres:




Materials:
Cosmo Cricket Garden Variety - Strawberry Fields patterned paper
Cosmo Cricket Garden Variety - Tossed Salad patterned paper
Bella! Happy Holidays patterned paper
Little Yellow Bicycle Laundry Line journalling card
Pink Paislee 365 Degrees - Flip Notes journal page
Cosmo Cricket Tiny Type alphabet stickers
Bella! Denim alphabet stickers
Prima Sprites 2 paper flowers
Prima Got Flowers paper flowers
Jo Sonja's Unbleached Titanium acrylic paint
Kaisercolour Spearmint acrylic paint

Take a moment

I'm trying to get a bit more adventurous in my scrapbooking, so for the past week I've been playing around with backgrounds.  Still keeping it simple, but adding more techniques to a page than I usually do.

I was inspired by the texture challenge at Rhedd & Rosie's, so for this one I created a textured background with a paper napkin and Mod Podge, then painted all over, and then misted.  I'm still not confident enough to combine too many colours in one background, so I stuck to two colours - one background acrylic, and one mist.

I didn't have a particular layout in mind when I started out, but when I saw the sketch at Swirlydoos, I knew exactly which photographs I would use, and I knew the layout would also be perfect for the Simple Pleasures challenge at Berry 71 Bleu:



Materials:
Cosmo Cricket Garden Variety - Strawberry Fields patterned paper
Cosmo Cricket Garden Variety - Tossed Salad patterned paper
Carolee's Creations AdornIt - Rugged alphabet stickers
Derivan Flesh Base acrylic paint
Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist - Golden Terracotta
Coredinations cardstock
Fiskars Flowers border punch
Prima Iron Orchid Designs - Build-a-Frame Collection 1 stamps
Kaisercraft Pearl Strips - black

Mother's Day

Without me to remind them, my special people aren't very strong on marking occasions. So, I was very impressed that Jasmine remembered Mother's Day, and even made me a card.  This is it:



All of the materials are hand-me-downs from my old stash; she did a great job of coordinating the colours and patterns without any help.

But it's the inside that I like best:

Jasmine is entering her card at Scrap it Girl for the  Mothers theme.

Beach inspiration

It's Sunday, which means it's reveal day for the weekly challenge at Lasting Memories. This week Denise is asking us to use something not normally used on a scrapbook layout.  I had a dig through my hoarded 'findings' to see what I could use, and I came up with this:



It's the cover of a 2011 cafe and restaurant guide from West End/South Bank in Brisbane.  At some point I guess I was going to use it for something, but I honestly can't remember now.  I do love the teal green colour and the gold embossed pigeon on the front, and the pigeon motifs all over the inside cover.  I cut some large circles for part of my background, using both sides of the cardboard.

This is my layout:




In creating my layout, I was inspired by the new inspiration board at Inkido:

 

I have no shortage of "beachy" photographs to scrap so this is another push to get some more of those pages scrapped.

My layout was created from Ashley Horton's sketch at the Creative Scrappers Birthday Bash.

Materials:
Pink Paislee Queen Bee - Worker Bee patterned paper
Pink Paislee Fetching alphabet stickers
Kaisercraft 5cm Lime paper flowers
Scenic Route Sonoma diecut journalling card

Flinch

I have LOADS of photographs of our chooks and ducks;  this layout features our youngest duck, Flinch:




I used layout sketch #89 from Feeling Sketchy.  The colour palette was inspired by Scrapbook Fantasies Weekly Challenge #18, to create a layout using pastels.

My sewing machine foot pedal has been playing up a bit lately so the machine stitched circles are a bit ragged.  There is no middle ground to stitch slowly - it's either stop or go, with bursts of power.  Hopefully the imperfection just adds to its charm...  I did enjoy a little bit of hand stitching:



Materials:
MOD patterned paper
Glitz Designs Beautiful Dreamer - Floral patterned paper
Bazzill Bitty Blossoms - Apple Green flowers
Portacraft paper flowers - pale pink
Mini ric rac - pale pink
American Crafts Thickers - Giggles foam alphabets
Tsukineko Versacube - Petal Pink inkpad

07/06/2014 Edit to add:  My layout was featured at Feeling Sketchy as one of their Top Picks!

A sketch... and some ribbon

This layout is based on the May sketch at The Scrapbook Store:



Our chickens are so entertaining - they way they roll around in the dirt and dust makes me laugh.  I know it's just natural behaviour but it never fails to make me smile, even when they dig up the dirt right in front of our front door, and we almost trip over them when approaching the gate!  They look so gangly and forlorn when they're covered in dirt but in reality, they couldn't be happier.

I raided some more ribbon from the depths of my stash for this layout, inspired by the current challenge at Craft Hoarders Anonymous - Ribbon, Lace & Twine (oh my) -  I've had this ribbon for years:



Materials:
Rouge de Garance Ailes ou Fleurs patterned paper
Pink Paislee Queen Bee - Worker Bee patterned paper
Pink Paislee Holly Doodle - White alphabet sticker
Making Memories ribbon
EK Success Double Morocco Lace edger punch

Scrap & Play

This is a layout I created, based on the sketch at the new Scrap & Play challenge blog:



I used one photograph instead of two, but apart from that I worked fairly closely to the sketch.  I didn't set out to make it monochromatic, but it kind of worked out that way... 

When I was searching through my ribbons I came across a tangle of metallic trim which added the perfect finishing touch. I ran the trim through my old Xyron X150 (I haven't used it for years) and it worked a treat for attaching it to my page without mess  - thank you to Jackie for the tip!



I'm also submitting at:
Craft Hoarders Anonymous - Ribbon, Lace & Twine
Crafty Ribbons - Anything Goes


Materials:
Bazzill cardstock
GCD Studios patterned paper
Bella! Happy Holidays patterned paper
Kaisercraft Pearls

Playtime

I created this layout using the April sketch at My Creative Sketches:



Materials:
Prima paper flowers - various collections
EK Success Medium - Retro Flower punch
Luminarte Twinkling H2O - Navajo Pearl
Luminarte Twinkling H2O - Summer Breeze
Rouge de Garance Ailes ou Fleurs - Fly Away patterned paper
Basic Grey Two Scoops - Spumoni patterned paper
Memento Pluie/Rain patterned paper
Little Yellow Bicycle Traveler alphabet stickers
Kaisercolour Spearmint acrylic paint

Make your own background

This week at Lasting Memories, the layout challenge is to make your own background.   You can use any materials or techniques that you like, and of course digi layouts are also welcome so that's another world of possibilities!

I decided to use up some scraps to create a bit of texture, and I also stamped with some paint.  I'm still very new to the world of mixed-media so everything I did was very simple!

I used the sketch at Chic Tags as inspiration for my page:




I also created a step-by-step to show what I did:

(1)



(2)



(3)



(4)





(5)





After that, it was just a matter of arranging my photograph and other elements, then doing a touch of stitching and outlining to finish things off.  Here's a little closeup of some of the embellishments:




Materials:
Kaisercolour Spearmint acrylic paint
Kaisercolour Candy acrylic paint
Chic Tags Vintage Note Stamps journalling tags 
A2Z Scraplets Words - Friends chipboard title
Prima Essentials mulberry flowers
Robyn's crocheted flowers


12/05/2014 Edit to add:  My layout was announced as a winner at Chic Tags

Drive

Just a simple multi-photo layout I created over the weekend:



I was inspired by a National Scrapbook Day challenge at Erin's blog, to create scallops.  I cut mine freehand from some scrap paper strips.

I'm submitting my layout at:
Scrapbook Fantasies - Create a layout with four photographs
Berry 71 Bleu - Simple Pleasures