Monday 31 October 2011

Purple Pumpkin October Sketch {Bountiful Girl Layout}




I was rather impressed with myself managing to 
get all my DT assignments completed before the 
weekend which meant I had time to PLAY 
yesterday and get this another layout done!
I really had a scrapbooking itch to scratch and 
was looking for something EASY and APPEALING 
- the stress-free variety of scrapbooking!


I had these lovely photos sitting on my desk and 
realised that they would work perfectly with this 
month's delightfully simple sketch from Purple Pumpkin. 

*** I placed my first order with Purple Pumpkin a 
couple of weeks ago but it hasn't yet arrived so I 
couldn't include any Purple Pumpkin
yumminess on my page this time!***


I keep seeing all these gorgeous Fall layouts 
online and, being in the Southern Hemisphere 
it is not Fall for us here, but rather Spring.
I NEVER have any Fall photos to scrap 
because we don't have any Autumn at all, 
well not one with a noticeable change in the trees!



I am able to buy these beautiful skeleton leaves 
locally and cheaply so I tried to create a 
"Fall Looking" layout with a big cluster of them, 
mixed together with a big bunch of flowers, 
to indicate a "Bountiful Bouquet" to match my
youngest daughter's "BIG" personality!


Now that my printer is back I am now hooked 
on hand-writing on my layouts :)
So I guess my printer breaking down was a Kismet 
- a blessing in disguise!


 I do need it though as I print my all my own 
photos so I am still very happy to have it back!

----------------------------------------------------------

Supplies List for "Bountiful Girl" Layout

Floral paper - Crate Paper Neighborhood - Garden
Pink Paper - Crate Paper Cottage Collection - Coco
Yellow print & reverse-side (blue dot) - Crate Paper - 
Neighborhood Collection - Together
Red/Pink Spot Print - Crate Paper Neighborhood 
Collection - Visit
Punch - EK Success 
Alphas - Pink Paislee "Fascinating"
Gesso - Paper Plus
Red-framed sticker & yellow paper-clip - 
Making Memories Vintage Findings
Lace-flower & other - Prima
Felt flower - Chatterbox
Roses & skeleton leaves - LSS
Journaling Pen - Creative Memories





Sunday 30 October 2011

Sketchabilities Sketch 58 {Reflect} Layout






So it's time for another great sketch from Sketchabilities!


I decided to use these lovely photos of my son 
"chilling" on the lawn so used a rose background 
paper as I wanted it to look like he was literally
 lying in a flower patch!


I am ploughing through my Studio Calico kits from the first 6 months of this year!


Isn't that background paper just delightful?  
I can't wait to be through my January - June kits 
so that I can subscribe again next year!  
(yes - I won't allow myself any more this year 
until I am finished what I have - it's a new rule!)


I journaled around the perimeter of my design using a 
quote from Charles Dickens 
"Reflect upon your blessings, 
of which every man has plenty - 
not upon your past misfortunes, 
of which all men have some"


At 13 my son is very much into wanting to 
be what he isn't and achieve unrealistic goals, 
so I want for him to just learn to be 
happy with what he has & think about that!


I raised the smaller circle on some 3D board 
as an embellishment in it's own right.


I'm not a huge fan of circles myself so I 
rather cut rings using my circle cutter & 
I really love the effect they've created 
as they are now like frames, 
framing my photos.

You have 2 weeks from today to link up your 
creations so why not play along & be inspired 
by another wonderful sketch from Karan?

Supplies List for "Reflect" Layout

Backing paper - Basketfull by Studio Calico
Blue Rose paper - Blue Cottage by Crate Paper
Yellow paper with red dots - Blue Cottage by Crate Paper (B side)
Buttons - My Mind's Eye Lost & Found
Alphas - Thickers {Fabric Chipboard Letter Stickers} 
Doll - Black by American Crafts
Journaling pen - Artline 200 Fine 0.4 Shachihata





Saturday 29 October 2011

A Forgotten card, a Sneak and what I'm seeing right now {in my mind and IRL!}


 I am busy Spring Cleaning!  
(Only because we have a guest arriving...
would much rather be scrapbooking and that's the truth!) 
No Autumn/Fall here for us - never is actually - 
as most of our plants are evergreen  -{I get a
bit sick of seeing everything green all the time!}

A soon-to-be-revealed layout using the 
GORGEOUS Crate Paper FARMHOUSE collection!  
It was SO LUSH I couldn't say no to ANY OF IT!!


My latest celebrity crush - Garret Hedlund - from 
"Country Strong" - oooh - sure you will all agree that 
he is just as lush as CP Farmhouse?!


Well in all honesty there are not too many celebrity types 
around where I live {lots of tanned surfer boys though - wink!} 
It is actually far more likely for me to come 
across a monkey than a celebrity!!

Now that Winter is over {Thank God - it was awful...} 
the Vervet Monkeys are out and about in full force 
again and they are a joy to watch 
(as long as you keep your kitchen windows closed 
- or you will find your fruitbowl empty!!)


I am actually also "Spring-Cleaning" my computer 'desktop' 
as it's all getting a bit overwhelming on there at the moment 
and soon I won't be able to see my daughter's gorgeous 
face anymore for all the folders!!

{Not favouritism - she is my screen-saver because 
she lives away from home at university!}

I came across this card that I had created way back in June 
{I think it's safe to say I missed that challenge deadline :)} 
but anyway...sometimess ome things slip through the cracks
of my crazy life!

So here it is - all Echo Park "For the Record" -
my favourite Echo Park collection to date.


Friday 28 October 2011

She Laughs Without Fear of the Future...



I have been scrapping away lately but all DT work
that I can't reveal yet so today I'm sharing a
little something I made for a very dear friend
that is in need of some encouragement right now...


 I scrapped in A4 format {8.5 x 11inches} 
for the VERY FIRST TIME!


I saved the image from everyone's favourite
"new" site - Pinterest!

I printed the scripture onto photo paper then 
overlaid it with a Webster's Pages transparency.


 Sprayed some gauze and a couple of doilies with 
glimmer mist and inked up a Tim Holtz Idea-ology tag.


Used a funky cerise Etsy doily that I cut in half 
(it works!  It doesn't fray!?!)
and laid the image on a piece of box cardboard 
that I ripped the top layer off to reveal the 
corrugated central layer, which I inked up.


 Added a Making Memories Vintage Findings clock 
{signifying that everything always gets better in time}.


I aimed to create texture that isn't too bulky for
the album to be used so went with fabric, 
metal and corrugated board.


Used the packaging too (there on the right) and some 
lovely embossed cardstock - very OLD - 
from a Wedding collection :)



I love the Proverb - I live by it in this 
chaotic continent of Africa!  I am now going blog-hopping!!  
My computer (and my new laptop) have both been 
behaving temperamentally with me this week and my 
browsing time has been cut short trying 
{successfully - YAY!} to repair them, so I hope to
catch up with all my bloggy friends soon!

TGIF - Enjoy!!




Thursday 27 October 2011

Colour Combos Galore Reveal 212 Card & a Once Upon a Sketch Reminder!





*** Before I begin just a reminder that you only 
have a few days left - until the end of the month - 
to get your Once Upon a Sketch entry in for a 
chance to win some awesome prizes & gain some 
great exposure!***

Our entries have been less than usual 
this month, what with so much going on in people's lives 
at this busy time of the year so the odds 
are in your favour!

You need to journal about an 
embarressing moment or trait and it makes for a
 really fun layout (you can check mine out here).

When I was putting together my layout for Colour Combos 
Galore Combo 212 (see previous post) I decided to try 
my hand at a card seeing as I had the right coloured 
supplies already out on my counter.


I have some lovely big square envelopes so just cut 
my papers to size & layered up some elements and 
that was that!


Supplies List for "Happy Birthday" Soiree Card

Cardstock - Bazzill
Lime print - Pink Paislee Soiree
Black border sticker & all envelope stickers - 
Echo Park "For the Record"
Die-cut elements - Pink Paislee "Soiree"
Butterfly stick-pin - Jillibean Soup
Resin bloom - Pebbles
Red woodgrain paper - Studio Calico 
promotional card




Wednesday 26 October 2011

Colour Combos Galore {Apple of his Eye} Layout





As a lot of people know, Color Combos Galore
 has lain dormant for a month now, the last
reveal going up on Thursday 29th September.  
I have given up waiting so am blogging my layout
now, as all our desperate pleas to contact the site
owner have been ignored thus far .


My PC is on the blink this morning and the internet
has seized up on me countless today - very frustrating
and now all my blog-hopping time is gone
as I have a couple of layouts I need to work on now.


Did you know that there is a fantastic colour resource 
site called Purbang, where you can input the HEX codes 
provided by some of the colour sites and they come up 
nice & big so that matching your papers is way easier?  
If not go here & take a look!


The Designer's Challenge that week was to use 
anything time or clock related so I added in 
that Making Memories clock and the title 
"She has ALWAYS BEEN the apple of his eye" 
relates to how Chelsea's dad has loved her 
so much since she was born :)


I love the challenge of hunting down the perfect 
stash for a Colour Challenge 
& the results are always very effective!


It's also a great way to use up older stash 
as what's important at these sites is that you 
adhere to the Colour Palette and has nothing to do 
with using the latest & greatest stash to qualify!


I got to use up some older Sassafras papers 
& some CHA Summer2011 Pink Paislee ones.


I inked the edges of the mauvey-grey 
with lime to add a touch more of that colour.


I managed to layer up quite a few interesting
textures {above} using some border stickers.


Supplies List for "Apple of his Eye" Layout

Red cardstock - Bazzill
Grey cardstock - Bazzill
Red apple paper - Sassafras
Green paper - Pink Paislee/House of 3
White elastic - Crate Paper "Neighbourhood" 
Green Crepe Paper Lace stickers - 
Little Yellow Bicycle 
Staples & Metal Title Plaque - stash
Brown & Red Alphas - Lily Bee Picket Fence
Clock face & pearl clusters - Making Memories - 
Vintage Findings
Scallop Border Sticker - Sassafras
Circular Element - Pink Paislee Soiree 
Tree Sticker - Echo Park "Summertime"
Red & black alphas - Echo Park "For the Record"
Green alphas - Thickers - American Crafts "Sunrise"
Red resin flower - Pebbles
Inks - Clover by Mr Huey (Studio Calico)
Orange Sherbet (Maya Mists)
Colourbox - Lime Pastel




Tuesday 25 October 2011

Bird is the Word {Wish} Layout






There's a new word up at Bird is the Word 
and it's WISH!  How EASY is that to incorporate 
into a layout?!  Easy-peasy so play along for a 
chance to win the latest kit from Tidbitz in Time
and snag yourself a Winner's Badge if 
your layout is judges as one of the top 5!


These days I am just feeling the need to pare 
everything down for a more "slick" look - 
I'm growing a bit weary of layouts that are 
just "too" busy & I am also really conscious 
(since I've been sorting all my pages out into
 new albums) of the practical aspect of getting
 all these pages into a viewable format & 
having the albums hold at least 20 pages!


Do you know the song this line comes from?  
Airplanes by B.O.B and Hayley Williams.  
My kids are crazy about it right now 
(even though it isn't that new!).
I thought the sentiment was perfect 
for the photograph & the way 
my son is feeling right now!


These Tim Holtz tags were just ideal obviously!


Finally I used one of my Maya Road 
plastic doilies & am LOVING the look!


Still no printer so I am forced into a 
hand-journaling phase!Can't stand it any longer
 & am going to have to buy a new printer 
this weekend if mine is still not repaired :(...


Supplies List for "Wish" Layout

Black Cardstock - American Crafts
Circle Print - Cosmo Cricket - 
Social Club - Swingin'
Chevron Print - 
Packaging - My Mind's Eye
Yellow Buttons - My Mind's Eye
Tickets - Tim Holtz Idea-ology
Black Doily - Maya Road
Alphas - Webster's Pages - 
Storytellers - Lullaby
Thickers - American Crafts 
Chipboard Stickers "Typo"

***Please can anyone who knows the 
manufacturer of the Chevron print 
please let me know so I can add it to 
my supplies list (the arrow design) 
thank you!***





Monday 24 October 2011

October Page Kits for Scrapbook Kits with Jules {now Scrapbook Kits with a Difference}





I still haven't got to sharing the photos of the
2 page-kits I created with the stash sent to me
 by Jules from Scrapbook Kits with a Difference.  



       Here is the first page I designed for Jules' kit 
club in Australia and I had to write step-by-step 
instructions too {which obviously I can't share with you} 
but if you like the look of my page you can go here 
and buy the kit and make one just like it!  
{Minus my cute kid of course LOL!}  
Just substitute with your cute kid or fur-baby 
& you are good to go :)



 Practically everything required for your page is
supplied within the kit to make it easy for you!



In each kit I try to do something "different" to encourage
scrapbookers to try something new - like
journaling around the elements for example.



 And using inks around the elements for some extra 
dimension & to draw more attention to the text.



I layered up all the chipboard elements around 
the edge too to frame the photographs.



 I used the "pop" stickers to add some dimension
to the paper by adding them on top of the flowers
for a 3D effect.



 I fussy-cut around the floral images on the paper 
& tucked the photos in for a seamless look.



To underline the title I cut the chipboard bookplate
 in half & threaded the eyelets with twine
a couple of times. 


I enjoyed the challenge of working with product 
that I hadn't selected myself and coming up with
a page that would be simple enough for
others to replicate.
---------------------------------------------



 For this page I used a Picasa photo-collage
but the same effect could be achieved by 
matting a selection of photographs together.



 I added some strip-journaling 
{just before my printer went on vacation...}

 

 I did some faux-stitching and some doodling of
leaves around the flowers
{even coloured them in with a pencil!}



 There were a lot of goodies here so I made 
a frame with all the doodads around the edge.



 Mixing up colour & black & white photos 
in a collage always looks more effective.



 That photo above is one of the cutest of all time!



 I made a frame around the cardstock 
- added the collage in the centre - 
then embellished around it - 
so it was a very simple design.



 If you are interested in the concept of buying
pre-designed page kits (perhaps as a gift for a newbie
scrapper friend to encourage them along) then
head on over to  Scrapbook Kits with a Difference,
click on the "Shop Online" icon and you can
browse through the kit store.



And don't forget that EVERY MONTH we have
a SKETCH CHALLENGE and an 
INSPIRATION CHALLENGE too
{they are easy to find - right at the top of the sidebar!}
due in at the end ofevery month with prizes shipped 
anywhere in the world!!

E mail your entries to scrapbookkitswithjules@gmail.com - 
they'll be showcased on the blog and you'll have a 
chance to win a limited edition kit!