Where has spring gone???

Thought I'd post a bit of stuff I have been doing lately - it has been nearly a month!!
I made this Christmas card using Kaisercraft's Christmas Carnival range for Scrap-Pile

...and a pillow box with tag

and this 'scene' which is 6" x 12" on Kraft - using above paper range plus lots of crackle paint, dimensional magic, stickles and foam tape, and chipboard!

Another 6" x 12" layout on Kraft using the goodies I found with the Kaisercraft Q2 magazine, from the "Belle" range. a copy of an old photo of me (2 1/2) & baby brother in my grandfather's house .

ANd..yep...another photo of me at Renmark when I was 18 months or so, using Christmas Carnival and chipboard

THese are examples I did for an art journal-inspired layout for scrap-pile, using a variety of found and scrpbook paper, lots of mod podge, some ephemera and other bits and pieces, some decorative tape and glimmer mist

an ATC using A=Acetate, again for a little challenge I am hosting at Scrap-Pile - the A-Z of ATC's

and finally......I found this lovely wreath at a Vinnie's op shop (blank) and wanted to decorate it for spring so used a variety of Prima flowers & leaves and Tattered Angels Glimmer Chips, and a feather or two....unfortunately the weather has been most UN-spring like and has turned into the heat of summer :(

Not happy.......we have had nearly a week of 35 + (today 39 degrees) and I am OVER it......I hope don't jinx us but I feel like a good ol' ETSA blackout on the way :(

Everyone gets super grumpy at home especially Alexander.

Prima beauties!!!!!!

Oh my....the prima blog is always so inspiring and look what they have as their prima picks for this month!!!!!

Recents.....

This sketch was taken from the lates Scrapbook Trends magazine, adn was an opportunity to use up some of my old stash. Journalling reads: His hands are still chubby, his feet are still stubby...I love these cute bits"

Another play with glimmer mist and some of the Kaiser freebies that were in the Q! magazine. The photo was taken in 1984 (!!) of my brother & me swimming in my school pool in the summer holidays....ah..those were the days!!

I love the colours of the patterened papers in the above layout - some old Scenic Route and newer Graphic 45 papers, plus lots of other doodads I had around the place. I just made a list for the journalling of the great things that happened on birthday number 36, hence the title No 36.

And others.......

More layouts for your perusal

I made this for the Scrap-Pile October layout challenge from Karen. Criteria were:

"create a new layout with the theme of "Simply Fresh". Some ideas: lots of white, simple colour scheme, simple design, clean lines, not too heavy on embellishment, maybe limit your products to a single brand or range... These are just suggestions - remember you can interpret the theme in anyway you like. And the twist? I'd love to see some STITCHING - machine stitching or hand-stitching. "

This photo was taken of my first hold of my 4th niece, Misha in hospital at 3 days old, and is about that clucky feeling I always get when holding a newborn....the smells, the noises, the perfect skin......bliss :)

World Card-Making Day at Scrap-Pile

On Saturday, Scrap-Pile were doing their bit to celebrate World Card-Making Day, and the design team set some challenges. Here are the cards I made to complete these:

And my challenge: something old, something new, something borrowed & "for you" on the front:

Go here to find out more about the challenges.....

Cybercrop Time at Scrap-Pile!!

I have enjoyed participating in my first ever cybercrop for Scrap-Pile and today was able to finish off and upload my take on the 3 challenges that were set.



Here they are:
1) Leanne's challenge:
1. non-human photo subject 2. flowers ~ however many and whatever type you would like 3. bling ~ as much or as little as you like ~ so long as there is at least one!! 4. circles ~ at least 2

My favourite things to cook right now...
I think most of my layouts I have done since joining Scrap-Pile have been non-human ones !! But this stillhad me stumped until I came across the photo taken of the stove that I had tampered with ages ago, & then the journalling came after that. Criteria I met were: photo (food!); bling - the glitter stickers symbolising steam above the photo & in title; circles - in sticker strip and the 3 dots in title; flowers in journalling boxes and above title. I like how it turned out - TFL & great challenge Leanne

2) Karen's challenge:

"I'd love to see lots of green, AND at least three different kinds of flowers. " - and needed to use the sketch Karen designed which can be found at Scrap Pile

Spring has Sprung
Had great fun with this l/o - thanks Karen!I came across a transparency by Fancy Pants in my stash & it was almost the exact design of the sketch. The photo was of our 1st blossoms in our back garden & fitted the spring theme perfectly. To meet the criteria, I used flowers that were glimmermisted (acetate ones), a prima one and handcut ones from Cherry Arte patterned paper, & used a Heather Bailey journalling box. (writing underneath) Also part of the prima packaging as it had a nice scalloped edge TFL!



And finally 3) Mel's card challenge:
- to make a long small card I have been making they are 14cm x 5 1/2cm with white flowers and a butterfly with embossing on the card.

many thanks
I liked the size of this card. Embossed swirls on light green c/st, used 2 white Kaiser flowers with a Kaiser brad in centre and butterfly punched from watercolour paper coloured with twinkling H2O's, foam-mounted above flower. Rub-on sentiment - can't remember manufacturer?!TFL ;-) and thanks for the challenge Mel

So.....everyone have a go at the challenges - it is all about having fun & you never know - you could be the one to win a shopping voucher! you have until midnight tomorrow night (Monday) to upload.

Enjoy the rest of your Sunday :-)

rummage

I discovered these old Design Original papers that I had never used & thought they suited the 'vintage' 'retro' look I was searching for, to describe the fact that oneof my favourite time wasters is to look through old bric-a-brac shops in search of that special treasure I must have - usually old jewellery, ephemera, magazines etc. I also used a journalling sheet from Making Memories and some of that yummy peeled paint Stickles that can be found at Scrap Pile

Scrap Pile Layouts & Card !!

I had a great time using my DT September kit from Scrap Pile, which featured the gorgeous G.C.D.Studios "Paris Nights" line of papers, some different coloured mesh, some "Bella" journalling tags and some of the new Stickles colours. I thought the shimmery off-black paper suited the amazing signage outside the NGV, of the Dali exhibition called "Liquid Desire" that I saw a couple of weeks ago. I have always loved the combination of black, red and white. This layout tries to capture some of the symbolism that features in Dali's works, including the ants (a photo silhouetted and raised with foam dots), the red lips (an old MAking Memories foam stamp), and the red roses highlighted with Xmas Red Stickles glitter for all things Spanish - ole! The red mesh was the perfect photo mat - messy & tactile!

These papers were the perfect fit for a subject I always love to scrap about - my adventures in Paris in 1993 when I lived in France. I have always loved these photos of the HUGE French flag suspended in the Arc de Triomphe on Bastille Day, and they were the splash of colour the layout needed to contrast with the subdued vintage colours of the paper. The fleur de lys, a favourite personal French symbol, featured with some old rubons and a chipboard fleur covered in bronze crackle paint.

And finally, I made a card with other products from my kit, including the gorgeous Bazzill dotted swiss cardstock, some black mesh, red polkadot ribbon and a couple of journalling tags from "Bella". I still have heaps of product left over so I hope to make another few cards plus a layout or 2 with what remains!

Thanks for looking ;-)

It is spring! Yay!!

and so I thought i'd whip up a quick layout to celebrate the coming of spring . The photo was taken around my 30th birthday, in 2004 in the front garden of our old family home.When I was a child, I would always know it was nearly my birthday when the prunus blossoms appeared. Here was Ellie's 1st experience of the blossom, with Granny and Grandpa, in the same front garden.

Inspired Blueprints Sketch 29

I made this for the Inspired Blueprints challenge blog - it came together really quickly. I used some Autumn leaves patterned paper as the star background, stamping, grungeboard and inked the chipboard title. Xander was such a cutey - you forget how little they once were ;-)

Card Challenge for Scrap Pile

Mel's card challenge for this month was to use 6 different patterned papers on a boys card. Here is my take on it!
I distressed and inked 6 papers from the Collage Press "Camden" line, layered them and added some twill, stamped with Happy Birthday in StazOn ink, and used some felt and chipboard stars.
I love the colours of this line - a rich red with baby blues and creamy browns.
Thanks for looking.
You will also find it along with some other amazing creations here !

A Big Woohoo!!!

Well it was a complete surprise for me but the lovely Gill from Scrap-Pile asked me to be on the Design Team. I am soo excited and can't wait to start. I have been welcomed very warmly and can see I will get to know some lovely genuine people across the country who call the 'pile home.
Thanks so much for the opportunity Gill!! Please visit this fantastic shop and forum, you will be pleasantly surprised www.scrap-pile.com.au

Out of the Hat Challenge

I made this layout for the Out of the Hat challenge, and it was very spontaneous , based purely on what was going on in the evening....namely, my very fussy son!! I caught him in the bathroom soon after serving up dinner and this was the result. 100% for originality I say!!

I uses twinkling H2O's to colour in the Prima Paintables paper and distressed the layout by roughing up all edges and using distress crackle paint. I had a spare photo printed on watercolour paper that I decided to incorporate into the layout by laying it over the original (it had partly transferred onto the packing tape)

I quite liked the effect!

TFL!!

Work done for the Pencil Lines sketch challenge, a Darkroom Door Wilderness ATC swap, and a handmade embellishment challenge

The layout above was for the Pencil Lines challenge #149- a chance to use Ellie's 1st school photos that I had forgotten!

THe 9 ATC's above were part of a swap I am participating in by Darkroom Door, for their Wilderness line of stamping and papercrafting products. My 1st swap ever, which I sent off today

Finally, this layout was for the How Much is Too Much challenge, but I forgot to submit it, mainly because I left it too long to adhere everything and it was gathering dust! Oh well, I am pleased with how it turned out - I used some old muslin bandage stuff to make the fabric flowers, and then sprayed them with glimmer mist and maya rd mists. Some rare typed journalling also - I just wanted it in keeping with the page, and I think I can actually write a lot more when I type, compared to my handwriting...lol.

Mmmmmm

“If there is anything that we wish to change in the child, we should first examine it and see whether it is not something that could better be changed in ourselves.” - C.G. Jung

So true......on this fine Saturday morning- the start of a super-busy weekend. Pause. Breathe.

Wooohooo! I feature in Basic Grey's gallery!

What lovely news to brighten my day. I got an email from Basic Grey today saying that I have had the layout that I submitted to their gallery accepted & it now features on ther website! I knew I loved Istanbul .......go see it here, then click on the pic to enlarge it. It is this one below:

Recent Comings and Goings

I feel like going in my own cage after accompanying 3 classes of grade 1/2's to the zoo today. Exhausted to say the least. I managed to take some ok photos and I think I will make a mini album for Eleanor to share with her class.

My favourite was the most magnificent peacock who had just finished its display when I took this. The photo doesn't display how luminescent the feathers were in the sunlight!!

I found a new blog that sounds interesting

Over here at Practical Scrappers, you can get ideas on using up your stash - sounds good to me!!
I'm going to have a go at this weeks challenge which is to use at least 3 stickers on a layout....and don't I have lots of those oh yes sirree ;)

August Puzzle Sketches

Over at Puzzle Sketches. I thought I'd have a go at making a layout (also from a photo based in Turkey) that included the following elements: a bow, dotty paper, 3 paperclips. A funny photo from a loooong time ago ;) I also included some very old rubons behind the title, and a few spatters of glimmer mist (can't get enough of it at the moment!) - which you can hardly see in the photo.

Pencil Lines sketch 147

I love the colours......showing the pink of the famous mosque that I have visited twice! Once in '84 then in '93. Fabulous city. I mixed Basic Grey Marrakech papers/stickers with some Little Yellow Bicycle and K & Company papers, adn these fab letter stickers from the little-known company, "Dove of the East".

Challenge#32 for Art Pieces

I haven't made an ATC for ages- I don't know why really because they are enjoyable and FAST! I discovered this challenge blog and it revived my mojo forATC's - and here is my contribution: a glimmer misted and doodled butterfly with rubons over it and doodles around the border. It really sparkles in real life. TFL!

Color Combo #130

This color combo was challenging for me!!! I immediately thought of this large flower that I had painted with twinkling waters ages ago (from Prima Paintables) and adapted the colours somewhat. I used Maya Rd silver/greymist with a butterfly mask for the background. I also twirled some Maya Rd plastic butterfly ribbon around some light grey ribbon I coloured with pastel as the butterfly 'trail'. I made the flower centre out of ribbon, and sprayed the whole page with a radiant rain spray that is beautiful but very subtle, called ultraviolet.I was then stuck on the subject for the page. But it didn't take long....last night was very trying and I was really at the end of my tether with...well everything.

And thus....

Sorry for the poor photos, taken at night on my iphone, but at least you can see the sparkle!

3 Generations - for Moxie Fab Bag Lady Challenge

3 Generations, originally uploaded by blaacraft/busybel.

This layout "3 Generations" was inspired primarily by the colours of the "Bright and Breezy" tote by Sundance. I immediately thought of the "Oasis" papers I have been hoarding by SEI. I also decided to add the knotted tomboy stich 'bracket' at left, inspired by the "Flower Power"bag, also by Sundance. The photo was taken @ 1975 , and the colours also are similar to my mother's headscarf.
The stamped babushka dolls have been sprayed with copper glimmer mist and reminded me of the Russian-style embroidery on my mother's blue top. TFL!

3 Generations closeup

3 Generations closeup, originally uploaded by blaacraft/busybel.