Another shabby one...

I'm still playing around with shabby chic style, and to be honest, I'm not sure if I'm getting any better.  I am having fun though, and I'm getting some more of AJ's birthday photographs scrapped, so I'm at least making progress on the album :)

This is my latest one:




I used the October sketch from Blue Fern Studios.  I included some BFS Bohemian Flowers, which I inked and heat embossed:



I used lots of layers (including punching and fussy cutting) for the Layer It challenge at Craft Hoarders Anonymous:



Materials:
Prima Annalee - Romance patterned paper
Basic Grey Two Scoops - Spumoni patterned paper
Pink Paislee Spring Fling - Rain Showers patterned paper
Blue Fern Studios Bohemian Flowers chipboard shapes
Colorbox Cat's Eye Queue- Rainforest (Mint and Celedon) fluid chalk ink
Prima Rondelle canvas alphabet stickers
Bakers twine
Paper doily
My Memories butterfly punch
Basic Grey Nook & Pantry - Element Skickers motif

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Homeward bound

This layout is a just a simple one... the last photograph that I took on the way home from our two-day winter break in July:



The Big Photo theme at The Studio Challenge nudged me in the right direction for this layout.  I used a large photograph to feature prominently on the final page of our winter holiday album.  {{Although it's the last page of this album, it's not the last layout from that vacation, because I never scrap chronologically!!}}

I kept the design fairly simple, and I used up lots of scraps from my "blue scraps" ziplock bag of supplies.  I was inspired by Rochelle's Tic Tac Toe this month to include:
* paperclip (straight from the office stationery box)
* diecut (the photo corner - from a box of Making Memories glitter die cuts)
* camera (7gypsies metal embellishment)



The folded circles idea/quilting inspiration was something I saw on Julie Jeavons' blog.  Counterfeit quilting!  Julie achieved a much crisper result because she used a square template to create her folds.  I just eye-balled it, so it is a bit more haphazard and uneven. And she placed hers on the diagonal, so the effect is a lot more "quilty" where mine are just in regular rows, making it a bit more linear.  It was fun to do but made it a bit tricky to photograph because the 3D folds cast shadows in all directions...  Anyway, it's definitely a technique that I'd like to try again!

Finally, I'm also linking up at Scrapbook Fantasies Weekly Challenge #42/2014 - create a layout using scenery photographs.   I do take a lot of scenery photographs when we are on our little trips, and I love to include them in my layouts so there's a balance of people and places.

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Inspired by...

... this picture at Mei Li Paperie:

This is what I created:



I used up lots of scraps (gotta be happy with that) and some product packaging too.  I'm also joining in over at Simon Says Stamps for their Anything Goes challenge.  I don't use a lot of stamping on my layouts, but this time I pulled out my Heidi Swapp clock stamps, and the journalling is stamped with my Pebbles roller stamp.

Clique Kits is having an Anything Goes theme featuring Fancy Pants Designs this month, so I'm submitting this layout.   {{The two yellow harlequin circles on my layout are cut from Fancy Pants Happy Together paper.}}  I'm not sure if that's enough FP product... but it's there!

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Sweet treats

At Lasting Memories this week our theme is Trick or Treat.  The challenge is to scrap a layout in line with the theme - it can be Halloween, or Halloween colours, or just take the words literally - "trick" or "treat".  Halloween is not a tradition where I live, so I have focussed on the treat aspect in my layout:



The photographs were taken at Taylor's Sweets & Treats in Tenterfield.  We enjoyed browsing the wonderful selection of sweets in store, and took home some handmade fudge (which I forgot to photograph).  It didn't last long enough ;)

I used two words from Kelly's Scrappy Friends word challenge:




I used the October sketch at C'est Magnifique to create my layout.  I used lots of paper scraps and had fun with the layering (for Craft Hoarders Anonymous Layer It theme):



and the embellishments too:



Materials:
Bazzill cardstock
American Crafts Chap - Tim patterned paper
K&Co McKenna - Pink Swirl patterned paper
Rose Moka Equinoxe - Brown alphabet stickers
Daisy D's journalling card
Sam&Lucy Medium Star punch
MFT Die-namics - Little Letters alphabet dies
Kaisercolour Dusty Pink acrylic paint
Derivan Crystal Glitter acrylic paint
Trinket Track wooden frames
Trinket Track birdie button
Paper doilies 

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Now & then

Another layout (kind of) about our recent trip to Sydney.  At AJ's 90th birthday, she had a little display set up in her living room, with photographs and memorabilia of her life.

I used sketch #132 from Sketches in Thyme to design my layout:




The colour scheme was inspired by Under the Jacaranda Tree by Richard Godfrey Rivers, featured at ARTastic this month:

I used some darker purples for my layout (didn't have any in a 'jacaranda' shade) but the inspiration was there.  {To tell the truth, the only time I use purple on layouts is in response to challenges - it's not one of my go-to colours and I don't have very much of it in my stash.}
 
The vintage photograph I used is circa 1944.  My husband's aunt was in the AWAS and although there was no date on the photograph she has amazing recall of her years in the service.

Also submitting my layout at:
* Scrapbook Fantasies Weekly Challenge #41/2014 ~ Create a layout using lace

Materials:
Bazzill Basics cardstock
Bo Bunny Jazmyne - Twilight patterned paper
Kaisercraft Lilac Avenue - Violet patterned paper
Cotton lace
Paper doily
Handmade crocheted flowers by Robyn
Prima Rondelle textured alphabets
American Crafts Thickers - Jewelry Box ampersand 
Buttons from local markets
Cre8tiv pearl brads

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Thank you card

You can never have enough thank you cards on hand, so when I saw card sketch #105 at Feeling Sketchy, I knew exactly what I wanted to make:



I hand cut the leaves from old book, using a free template I found online.  I resized the image, printed it out, and cut through several layers of book paper at once to make a bunch of leaves.  Then I sprayed the shapes with two different mists and allowed to dry.  They curled up beautifully like autumn leaves as they dried.  I added some pen work for the veins.

Materials:
Pink Paislee Queen Bee - Bees Wax patterned paper
Pink Paislee Queen Bee - Worker Bee patterned paper
Pink Paislee Whimsies - Chocolate alphabet stickers
Tattered Angels Glimmermist - Golden Terracotta 
Smooch Spritz - Sun Kissed mist
Product packaging (gold cardstock) 

09/11/2014 EDIT TO ADD:  My card was selected in the Top Picks at Feeling Sketchy.

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She can...

This layout was inspired by the October moodboard at Sassy Scrappers:

 

I used lots of pink and used a photograph of my daughter on her bicycle.  The journalling is all about how strong-willed she was about learning (or not learning!) how to ride it.

Sassy Scrappers are donating $1 to the Breast Cancer Foundation, for every entry in the October challenge.   They also have some other fundraising promotions running in the store, so I encourage anyone who reads my blog to link across and take a look.

Materials:
Basic Grey Perhaps - Julia patterned paper
Basic Grey Gypsy - Harem patterned paper
Heidi Swapp Florals - Pink silk flower
Wooden craft pegs
Adhesive Pearls - pale pink
Forever in Time Chipboard Fonts - Large Caps flocked alphabets
Affirmations Australia inspirational quote card

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We are family

This is my DT reveal layout for Lasting Memories #213, where our theme is Lists Everywhere:



My list is very, very simple - a numbered list of all the kids' names!  {I just know that sometime in the future someone will want to know who is who!}  The list is tucked in behind the photograph and can be pulled out from the top of the page. I used a numbered journalling card to make it even simpler:



Materials:
My Memories Chevrons - Aqua patterned paper
Corrugated cardboard
Echo Park Life is Good journal cards
Echo Park Sweet Summertime journal card
Echo Park A Walk in the Park - Alpha Stickers numbers & letters
Carolee's Creations Adorn It - Tiny Worn Navy alphabet stickers
Imaginisce Bazzill Bling - Glitz large blossom

Birthday girl

I'm trying to stick to my resolve and get all of my August Sydney trip photographs scrapped before moving on to any others.  I haven't done much scrapping at all this month, so I'm way behind my target to get them done by Christmas.  I still have a few envelopes of photographs sitting on my desk that are untouched.

 I used Sketch #104 at Feeling Sketchy to build my layout.   I started by pulling out a bunch of papers and products to work with the October colour challenge at Mei Li Paperie:

I tried very hard to stick to the same colours, but it ended up a bit more pink:



I'm also submitting my layout at Unstampabelles this month, where the theme is Time (how about 90 years?) and the twist is shabby chic.  This is a style I've never quite been able to pin down, but this year I've really tried to work at becoming more comfortable with shabby elements. I do love doilies and lace, so I think that's a great foundation to build on...  {PS:  there's no stamping or digital images on this layout}

Some close-ups of punches & diecuts:



And a mix of embellishments:



Materials:
Prima Annalee - Romance patterned paper
Basic Grey Blush - Crush patterned paper
Pink Paislee Queen Bee - Bees' Wax patterned paper
FWAB Chloe - Pink pearl flourish
Prima Botanical Mix - English Garden mulberry flowers
Inque Boutique Isn't it Romantic - Mini Felts heart and flower
Trinket Track pink birdie button
My Memories butterfly punch
Martha Stewart Floral Lace edge punch
MFT Die-namics - Little Letters alphabet dies
Paper doilies
Lindy's Stamp Gang Starburst - Salt Water Taffy mist
Heart Warming Vintage Creative Scraps - Garden vintage image 

29/10/2014 EDIT TO ADD:  Thrilled to be selected as a winner at Mei Li Paperie

09/11/2014 EDIT TO ADD:  My layout was selected in the Top Picks at Feeling Sketchy.

10/11/2014 EDIT TO ADD:  My layout was selected as October winner at Unstampabelles.

>

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Grass trees

I love working with sketches, because the right sketch can take me out of my comfort zone and get me thinking about different ways to use my papers and embellishments. When I saw Brenda's latest sketch, I knew I wanted to try it:

I've had the photo and the patterned papers sitting on my desk for over a week, and.... nothing.  I looked at all the other takes on the sketch so far (and they look amazing) but I just couldn't get it to work for me.

Today I noticed that the three dynamic angled pieces reminded me of slivers of a sun burst, and I finally knew what to do. This is what I came up with:



I'm not so sure about the title; I think it should have been a bit more prominent, but I'm leaving it alone and moving on.  I've already done enough obsessing and procrastinating over this page!

I'm also joining in the Friday challenge over at Frosted Designs ~ use fall colours, ink and bling. I used brown, orange, and yellow/gold - I love these colours together.  I inked the edges of my 'sun' and added strips of rhinestones:



Materials:
Pink Paislee Queen Bee - Bee's Wax patterned paper 
WRMK Fiesta - Hola patterned paper 
Basic Grey Lily Kate - Chocolate patterned paper 
Kodak photograph envelope (large yellow circle)
CTMH Silhouette alphabet stickers
Kaisercraft Mini Alpha - Cream letter stickers
Yellow rhinestones
Tsukineko VersaColor - Gold ink

Hello...

This one is another layout for the Sydney trip album... with another photograph from the lovely 90th birthday party that we attended:



I'm showcasing my layout at Lasting Memories this week, where we have an Anything Goes theme.  This week scrappers can submit layouts with ANY theme, using ANY products, and ANY techniques or colours that take your fancy.  You can also combine challenges...

I've done that very thing ~ my layout was inspired by the picture inspiration at Pixels and Paper:

I adore the lovely aqua blue colour of the teapot and I built my layout on that colour.

Materials:
My Memories Chevron - Aqua patterned paper
Green Tara 10 cm petals - Baby Blue paper flower
Green Tara 7cm petals - Sky Blue paper flower
Green Tara 6cm petals - Sky Blue paper flower
Jenni-Anne's Jewels hand made flowers
Miss Tiina Everyday Collection printable journalling card 

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A grey day

I created this layout using the first October sketch at Sketches in Thyme:



I followed the sketch but used tags instead of the two smaller photographs. 

My favourite part of this layout is the beaded thread, which I found in my stash.  I used it for the tassels on the tags and also for the butterfly trail:



I'd like to enter my layout in these challenges:

* Butterfly Challenge ~ add a tag with butterflies
* Scrapbook Fantasies ~ create a layout using tags

Materials:
Webster's Pages Nature's Storybook - Soar Blue Skies patterned paper
UHK Gallery Winter is Coming - Wheel of Fortune patterned paper
Cosmo Cricket Togetherness - Elements patterned paper (fussy cut tag)
Prima Flights of Fancy - Miss Pretty patterned paper (fussy cut butterfly + punches)
Prima Rondelle alphabet stickers
My Memories butterfly punch
Tsukineko VersaCube - Gold ink
Helping Hands beaded craft thread 

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Party time

This week at Lasting Memories the theme is Beauty of Friendship and the challenge is to scrap a layout about friends.  This year my daughter has made some new friends and has been invited to a few parties.  I scrapped some photographs that she took {selfies, of course!!}



I used a sketch from The Studio Challenge to create my layout.  This past week has been so busy and I've hardly had a minute to myself; this sketch helped keep me focussed and enabled me to pull my layout together reasonably quickly.  I used up some of the bits and pieces on my desk, and hand-cut my title from the leftover patterned paper.  

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