Owl Love

It's recipe time at C.R.A.F.T Challenge this week and I always seem to struggle with these ones.  Probably because I tend to overthink the criteria and then get a mental block... anyway, I pulled out my scraps folder and just started shuffling bits around, and then I found a card sketch that would work, and this card happened:



The recipe?  Three squares (which I layered on top of each other), two ribbons, and one circle (the button).  On top of it all is the adorable 'Owl Love' image from our sponsor, Bows and Berries.

I used scraps from Crate Paper 'Crush' range, and printed the owl onto a scrap of MME. The fabric is from a pack of Junkitz swatches I found in the bottom of a box last week!  The button is from American Crafts (I only know that because it was still in the blister pack) but I have no idea what brand of ribbons they are...

I'm submitting my card at:
# Frosted Designs ~ Card sketch
# Papertake Weekly ~ Things with wings

A new favourite

Fickle, fickle, fickle...  my favourites constantly change.  I can't decide on a favourite colour - it's different every week.  I can't decide on a favourite food - it depends on my mood.  Same with favourite clothes.  Favourite papercrafts company - almost impossible!  Right now, it's Lily Bee Designs.  My last few layouts have been created using the 'Picket Fence' collection and I just love how easily the papers coordinate.  So... here's another one:




I'm joining in these challenges:
# The Paper Variety ~ Favourite papercrafts company
I used Lily Bee papers, alphabet stickers and cardstock sticker all from the 'Picket Fence' collection.
# Scrap Lounge ~ September technique ~ Paper tearing and scrunching
# Craft Your Days Away ~ Make your own flowers 
The large flower is made from a scrunched up paper doiley

Haute Couture?

My scrap-mojo needs a serious kickstart, so Passion for Fashion 2011 at Scrap Boutique couldn't have come at a better time for me:

Week 1 was all about 'Haute Couture'.  I know next to nothing about high fashion, but what's fabulous about the challenge is that the criteria can be interpretted however you like!   

My layout:



My take on the criteria:

Colours - Unusual and rare 

Orange, yellow and terracotta - unusual and rarely to everyone's taste, I'm sure, but it worked for me :D

Lines - Unusually layered, fitted to suit, very specific individual taste

I have five layers, not counting the photograph or the base cardstock. The mix of patterns are  individual to my eclectic taste.
Textures - Unusual and rare
I used a mesh bag that came with my lemons!  Other textures are the tulle, damask and felt letters. Rare?  Well, the damask swatch is from a Junkitz collection and since the company went bankrupt a few years back it's pretty rare now, LOL!

Effect - One-of-a-kind, very unique

Not sure if I achieved this?

Needs of customer - Custom-made, designer's originals
I made my own custom background by ModPodging the glittered tulle to the cardstock.

Favourite Accessory - Coordinated, matching and custom made pieces

The flowers are custom made by me from the same tulle as the background.

The flowers are my favourite part - I had fun making them and deciding how I would use them on the page:



I think I covered all of the criteria except for "expensive" - but I did invest a lot of time in the layout and I do have lots of gold flecks in the tulle!

And most importantly I had a lot of fun with it, used up some more older stash, and got another photograph onto the page.

The miracle of the moment

I've been playing with Lily Bee papers again!  During the July school holidays we took a day trip to O'Reilly's, putting our little soft-roader through its paces on a local 4WD only road.  It was a fun day out, with gorgeous scenery, brisk weather and some quality family time together.  One of the highlights was the Treetop Walk and climb to the top of the observation deck 30m (110ft) off the ground.  I took some lovely photographs throughout the day, but these ones of Jasmine reaching the upper deck were my favourites.  She was so nervous, but also so proud that she climbed all the way to the top:



My layout was created with the following challenges in mind:
# Scrapping Everyday Miracles ~ Miracle of the moment
# The Paper Variety ~ Favourite photographs
# Frosted Designs ~ Sketch-Along Tuesday

My first Lily Bee

I have to admit, I've never used any Lily Bee products before.  But after receiving some Lilybee 'Picket Fence' papers, stickers and alphas in my Scrap Pile design kit this month I think I have found a new favourite!  Fickle me, I have lots of favourites!!  I found it very easy to put together some layouts using mostly product from a single collection.

This is the first layout I created, with a few little Prima 'Essentials' and a Little Yellow Bicycle journalling card to mix it up a bit:



I based my layout on the sketch I designed for Scrap Pile this month:



Digital credits: 'BnW Grunge' papers by Toucan Scraps; journalling card ('Daily Planner') by Michelle Underwood; 'Feed the Birds' paper flakes by Dianne Rigdon


I'm entering my layout at:
# The Paper Variety ~ Monochromatic
# Lime Tree Creations ~ August/September
The gorgeous lime green doiley is made by Becci at Lime Tree Creations.

For a child...

The daughter of a special friend is turning 6 this week, so I made a card and decorated a little (store-bought) plastic case full of little-girl trinkets:

 



The timing was just perfect too, because this week at C.R.A.F.T. Challenge it's all about children - any project for a child or featuring a child can be entered.  The cute digital image I used on my card is called Balloon Leah, generously provided by our sponsor, Whimsie Doodles.

I also used: American Crafts 'Vanilla' cardstock, BoBunny 'Jazmyne' paper and alphabet stickers, American Crafts 'Dear Lizzy' paper (for the paper piecing), Martha Stewart border punch, and a few assorted flowers from my stash.

I'm submitting my card at:
# Crop Suey ~ Numbers
# The Stamping Boutique ~ Birthday
# Raise the Bar ~ Paper Piecing 
# The Paper Variety ~ Use stamps

I'm submitting the decorated case at:
# Craft Your Passion - Anything Goes (with flowers)

Jasmine's card

The J-girl has been using up my scraps to create some cards. This one is a thank you card, using a butterfly punch:



Jasmine is submitting her card at:
# Creative Card Crew ~ Anything Goes
# Cute Card Thursday ~ A pinch and a punch

A bit sketchy

I really enjoyed making a quick and easy card for C.R.A.F.T. Challenge this week ~ it's a sketch challenge and the fabulous, versatile sketch was designed by Kevin, who was previously on the DT with us.  Here's my card:



I used an image called 'Top Hat for a Lady' from our generous sponsor, Floppy Latte Designs.  I also used:  Kraft cardstock, Spellbinders 'Blossom' diecut, Basic Grey 'Black Tie' and Echo Park 'For the Record' papers, Bella flower and Making Memories metal flower (shows how old some of my stash is!!)

This is also for:
# Simon Says ~ Anything Goes

Butterfly Garden

It's been a while since I posted any Scrap Pile layouts. These are some layouts I completed in July, featuring Pink Paislee 'Butterfly Garden' papers, but due to some computer issues I couldn't open a whole bunch of image files.  To make matters worse, I couldn't find my original layouts to re-photograph them.  This weekend I found them - safely filed away in a pizzabox which had fallen down the back of my desk!

The first one is for the August technique challenge - to use chipboard on a layout.  There's still time to enter this challenge - it's EASY, and we don't usually get a lot of entries, so the odds of a prize win are pretty good too ;)  I used Dusty Attic 'Park Bench' - when it arrived in my kit I was a bit stumped.  It's beautiful but I didn't know how I would use it.  Turns out it was just perfect for this photograph:



The next two are super simple - with lots of roses ~





The last one is another from the same series of photographs:



Now that I've found these again, I've filed them into the album they were intended for - Mother's Day 2011.  Tthis album is still a work in progress - I have a few more photographs remaining.

Colour Fiesta

This week at C.R.A.F.T. Challenge it's all about the colour palette:

 

I delved into my old stash and found some Creative Imaginations (turquoise) and K&Company (pink) papers, and I also rediscovered some chipboard shapes that I picked up at the Scrapbook Expo years ago.  This is what I came up with:

I also used: Bella journalling card, Rouge de Garance felt alpha stickers, flowers from Prima, Green Tara, Bazzill and a few others I don't remember!

This layout is also for:
# Creative Craft ~ Anything but a card
# Tuesday Throwdown ~ Dimension and texture
Chipboard for dimension, felt alphas and a mix of flowers for the texture

Another 1000 sheets...

 

Holy dooley... Amy is giving away another mountain of patterned paper!! Not only is she an amazing paper crafter and stamp designer ~ this amazing giveaway shows just how generous she is too :)  Fingers crossed!!

Crafty Ribbons

My online friend Mandy shared some news about Crafty Ribbons and their new challenge blog, which is launching in September. To celebrate, they are hosting a fun giveaway, and they are also seeking a design team. Sounds like fun, doesn't it?

So... This is where I'm sharing some of my favourite 'ribbon or lace' projects that I've created this year - each of these can be clickety-clicked to enlarge:

It was hard to choose my overall favourites so I went with three cards and three layouts :)

A little gift

This week at C.R.A.F.T. Challenge the theme is Gifts. I kept it super simple and made a few little 'candy wrappers' with a little giftcard. This is the story ~ my daughter went on a week-long school excursion to Canberra, by bus. She took some spending money with her, but I didn't want her to spend it all on snacks, so I sent along a little care package of her favourite muesli bars. I wrapped them individually, and gave her two for the first part of the trip, and I hid the rest in her suitcase so she would find them later (and not eat the whole box on the first day!!)



The image is called Sailing, Sailing from our sponsor, Robyn's Fetish - coloured with watercolour pencils.

I used: Gin-X paper, Martha Stewart 'Lattice Arch' border punch, Basic Grey 'Two Scoops' patterned paper (for the card)

I'm entering my project at these challenges - popular theme this week!
# Deep Ocean ~ Sea
# CES Challenge ~ Water it
# By the Cute and Girly ~ Sea

Loving red...

I made another 'Thank You' card...  this one for my Zumba instructor.  (The water bottle is a kind of in-joke between us.)





I used:  Bazzill cardstock, Cosmo Cricket alpha stickers, Green Tara flower, Robyn's Fetish image - coloured digitally

I'm entering my card at:
# Allsorts ~ Red
# Lollipop Crafts ~ Monochromatic
# Cute Card Thursday ~ No designer paper

Another thank you

I really enjoyed making my gift wrapper yesterday, so I made another one today.  This one is a 'Thank you' for my yoga instructor:



Why all the 'thank you' things lately?  It's nice to let people know you appreciate them not for something *special* they did, but for what they do for you every time you see them :)   It's so nice to bring a smile to someone's day.  I've got a few other people on my gratitude list this month... and a few other projects in mind.

I used: Echo Park 'Walk in the Park' papers and element card, Prairie Bird Boutique wrinkled ribbon, Studio 18 rhinestone, Bazzill Bitty flower (white), unk silk flower (yellow), Fiskars 'Threading Water' border punch.

I'm submitting my project at:
# One Stop Craft ~ Sentimental
# Papertake Weekly ~ Anything Goes

I also want to say thank you to Really Reasonable Ribbon for the lovely prize I received in the mail:

Thank you

Thank you to the lovely players in my little giveaway.  The correct answer was "Seven Little Australians" and if you've never read it, I totally recommend it you seek it out and read it at least once:



The winner, by random draw, is...  MERRY.  I'll be getting to the post office some time next week.


And another 'Thank you' - this is a little gift wrapper I made for one of my gym instructors:





I used:  Cherry Arte 'Party Days' and Cloud 9 ' Chocolate Swirl' papers, October Afternoon journalling sticker, Kaisercraft Tiny Alphabet stickers, Studio 18 rhinestones, Bumblebee Crafts flower, recycled twill ribbon

I'm submitting the gift wrapper for these challenges:
# Sarah Hurley Challenge ~ Punch It
Martha Stewart border punch and My Memories butterfly punch
# Scrapalicious ~ Anything but a card
# Crafty Cardmakers ~ Flutterbies

Anniversary Wishes

It's my wedding anniversary next week so the timing of this week's 'Anniversary' theme at C.R.A.F.T. Challenge was just perfect for me!  We don't usually exchange anniversary gifts, so I just made a woven heart "basket" (sans-handle) and filled it with my husband's current favourite lollies.  (And because there's lollies involved, he will even forgive the PINKness, I'm sure...)





The image is from our generous sponsor 2Cute Rubber Stamps (mine is the digi version). The kitten is printed on Basic Grey 'Two Scoops -Very Berry Sundae' paper and coloured with watercolour pencils. I used Basic Grey 'Stella Ruby' paper and pink Bazzill cardstock for the heart, and inked the edges with Colorbox fluid chalk. The flowers are Heidi Swapp (pink) and Bumblebee Crafts (lemon).

I first came across woven hearts like this many, many years ago at a Guide camp, when some Danish Girl Scouts taught me how to make them (they also made them with ribbon, which looked amazing).  They are very easy to make even without a template, but I must admit I had to do an internet search to refresh my memory about how to start them off.  There are hundreds of tutorials out there but one of my favourite finds was: http://mayamade.blogspot.com/2009/01/woven-hearts-modernizing-classic.html

I'm submitting my project at:
# Craft Your Passion ~ Anything Goes
# Stamping' for the Weekend ~ Paws for Thought
# Challenge up your Life ~ Anniversary

Fairytales

I had a lot of fun with this week's theme at C.R.A.F.T. Challenge, inspired by fairytales.  I made a card which features the 'Shoe' image from our sponsor, Glitterbabe's.   The prize this week is a $10 voucher to spend in Stef's shop.



Here's the inside (and the punch line...)



And of course I can't resist sharing a little detail shot, for a better look at the bling:



I used: Basic Grey 'Two Scoops - Very Berry Sundae' patterned paper, Glitz Designs gems, Kindy Glitz (pink), and a skerrick of pale pink ribbon from my stash. 

I'd like to enter my card in the following challenges:
# Less is More ~ Button or Ribbon
# Clear it Out Tuesdays ~ Anything Goes
# Top Tip Tuesday ~ Make it Girlie

My tip: If you don't own a digital editing program, it's easy to make your own sentiment using WordArt - you can mix up the fonts using multiple text boxes, then resize and move them around to suit the size and style of your card. I made my own sentiment for this card :)

Thank you!

29/09/2015 edit to add:   Playing along at the Paper Issues linky party with the theme of How 'bout them apples?  This is a blog post from 2011, with a card I made for one of J-girl's teachers, featuring a hand-sewn apple that I made.  (Please note: because this is a flashback - the giveaway is no longer current.)

*********

 

This week at C.R.A.F.T. Challenge our theme is "Thank you, Teacher".  I've gone shabby again - I'm still loving Kraft and book pages and stitching!

Click to enlarge

I used "Audrey's Books" from our sponsor, The Stamping Boutique - such a wonderful, versatile digital image.

I made the apple myself from some felt scraps, and hand-stitched the sentiment and accents.

I'm entering my card at:
# Kraft Journal ~ My Favourite Things
Two favourite things - hand stitching, and books. I love reading!
# Allsorts ~ Free & Easy
# Stamping Boutique ~ July

****  PS - To say "THANK YOU" to my blog visitors I'm having a little blog candy giveaway  ****

I will include some vintage goodies, some red ribbon as pictured and some handmade felt apples, similar to the one in the photograph.  No picture yet, because I'm still stitching madly to make a little set of matching embellishments for the winner.

To enter, please reply on this post with your best guess about the title of the top book in the picture! (The bottom one is 'Heidi' by Johanna Spyri.)  Hint:  The story was originally published in the 1890's...

You can post on your sidebar if you want, but it's not required.  And I will never ask anyone to become a blog follower - if you do, I want it to be entirely voluntary with no ulterior motives involved!  Every visitor is welcome to join in and your guess doesn't have to be correct in order to go into the draw :)   I will keep this open until 31st July.

Butterfly, butterfly

Gosh, Thursdays seem to come around so fast!  This week at CRAFT Challenge the theme is 'Butterflies' and I had lots of ideas about what to create.  In the end I decided on another shabby chic card; I'm really enjoying playing around with this style:





The fussy-cut images are from Floppy Latte Designs Butterfly Dreams set. I also used:  Kraft cardstock, Cuttlebug 'Daisy Design' EF, a motif from Pink Paislee 'Butterfly Garden' paper, Prima 'Essentials 9' flowers, Prairie Bird Boutique wrinkled ribbon.

I'm entering my card at:
# By the Cute and Girly ~ Things with wings
# Bows'n'Berries ~ Kraft
# Lollipops Crafts ~ Anything Goes
# Simon Says ~ Anything Goes