Christmas Dinner and a Happy New Year!

Wishing you all the very best of the Season and a FABULOUS 2019!

After starting a massive cleanup of my crafting room, I decided I would attempt to get back into scrapbooking this year, which I have not attempted for a while! Inspired by the current (but not for much longer) CSI Challenge #268, (colours, Christmas theme, circles, vintage elements, christmas trees, journaling about Christmas) and the latest sketch at Sketches in Thyme. I challenged myself to complete this in a couple of hours - which is a real challenge for me as I have been a SLOW scrapper, and usually leave my creations a few days and play around with them before finally sticking everything down. This is also one of the reasons I let scrapbooking slide, so I thought I'd try and speed up the process!

It is basic - but DONE lol!

As you can see, the photo is from 2006, so keeping with tradition most of the papers used were from last decade too! (I told you it had been a while!) Using a combination of papers from Love Elise Noel Recipe Book, Crate Paper Sweet Branch Collection - Cherish, Websters Pages Your Life - Beautiful, Sweetwater One Wish and Making Memories Christmas Script, Word and Shape Stickers from October Afternoon Very Merry and Thickers Jewellery Box Letter Stickers, along with some Tim Holtz Distress Ink in Frayed Burlap.

Playing along with CSI Challenge #268

Sketches in Thyme #354

and Mix It Up Anything Goes (Optional Sentiment as Focus)

Paper Smooches Guest Designer - Go Fish...

Had so much fun playing with Paper Smooches stamps and dies with a sketch from Let's Get Sketchy!

Created the watercolour background behind the photo using teal Glimmermist and green Twinkling H2O, overstamped with Paper Smooches Happy Travels sentiment. Die cut Large Wood Sign, stamped with Happy Travels sentiment and die cut Happy Camper bear, also overstamped and fussy cut. Papers are a combination of Echo Park and Simple Stories, with American Crafts and Scenic Route chipboard alphabets for the title. 

Playing along with Shopping Our Stash "Anything but a Card" challenge too 
- although the stamps and dies are brand spanking new, the Scenic Route letters are so old the company is out of business!!
Playing along with Hanna and Friends "Everything Except the Card" too, as this Paper Smooches bear has to be one of the cutest bears I know!

Winnie & Walter Leading Lady - Week 4, Scrapping Fun!

Hi there Winnie and Walter friends and fans, so soon the month has flown by, and I have had a blast! Happy and sad to be bringing you my fourth and final installment of Winnie and Walter Leading Lady inspiration, but the best news is, not long to wait til the next fabulous Winnie and Walter new release!

For my final week, I thought I'd go back to my paper crafting origins and bring you some scrapbook layouts featuring Winnie and Walter.

SCRAPPING FUN!
First up, a layout about My Happy Place, featuring Winnie and Walter The Big, the Bold and the Happy, The Big, the Bold and Fun, The Big, the Bold and Blessings, and The Write Stuff: Picture Perfect stamps with The Big, the Bold and Seasons cut file. Layout inspired by Stuck Sketches September Anniversary Challenge (see below).

In this layout I focused on keeping my sets of three elements in a triangle, focused on the photo, for example three The Big, the Bold and Seasons cut file suns, three patterned paper circles, three asterisks, and each patterned paper/colour also appears three times in a triangle. The "my happy", "so many joyful memories" and "family time at the beach and date" are all created from a combination of Winnie and Walter stamps mentioned above. The base paper is Pink Paislee, with the other papers a combination of American Crafts, Bo Bunny and Simple Stories. The mis-matched "place" is covered with Simple Stories woodgrain paper, to tie in with the painted wooden beach huts.

Next up, a more CAS layout about my Autumn daughter, featuring Winnie and Walter Digital Elements A Tree for All Seasons tree and leaves, together with A Tree for All Seasons stamped leaves and small sentiment and The Big, The Bold and Seasons Autumn sentiment. Layout inspired by Creative Scrappers Sketch #277 and 1-2-3 Get Scrappy Lots of leaves, Brown background, Long title (see below).

The large A Tree for All Seasons tree was cut out in reverse from Pebbles patterned paper and a sheet of scrap paper. I used the scrap paper version as a guide for stamping the leaves on the kraft background. To achieve more of an Autumn effect with variations in the colour of the leaves, I stamped them in Momento Luxe Morocco, and rocked the stamp from side to side or top to bottom as I was stamping, rather than stamping straight down as I normally would. The fussy cut leaves are a base of watercolour paper with Luminarte paints, the smaller ones are overstamped in Momento Luxe Lilac Posies, and the larger one was fussy cut using the cut-file template from last weeks Season Shakers. The sentiments were also stamped in Momento Luxe Lilac Posies.



Last but not least...

I am the first to admit I am a TOTAL novice at digital scrapbooking, but when Walter and Winnie have such gorgeous digital elements at such reasonable prices (you can even download the digital elements I used for FREE!), how could I resist giving it a go. I am so glad I did, as this A4 sized layout took me all of 5 minutes to create in Word (yes, that's how much of a novice I am LOL!), and being digital it you can print it out any size you wish! The background, glitter buck and two sentiments are all from the Winnie and Walter The Daily Grind Collection Vol. 1: Holiday Mint Add-On.

Kinda makes me wish it was Christmas already!

Remember, it's your last week to leave a comment here on my blog to be in the running for a fabulous Winnie and Walter $30 gift voucher.

Layout # 1 Inspired by Love to Scrap Anything Goes
and Stuck Sketches September Anniversary Challenge
and Simon Says Stamp Anything Goes.

Layout # 2 Inspired by Creative Scrappers Sketch #277 and 

1-2-3 Get Scrappy Lots of leaves, Brown background, Long title.

This made me SMILE

I {heart} Scrappy Canary 3...

So happy to be a Guest Designer this month at what was Polly!Scrap Kits, recently evolved to become Scrappy Canary, still the same fabulous Australian kit club, now with a new name.

I was only asked to do two projects, but I had so many fabulous ideas working with this kit, I couldn't help myself! To demonstrate the amazing versatility of Scrappy Canary kits, I created a total of two 12x12 layouts and 6 cards with the June Pocket kit - Tea and Toast, and there is still spare! I loved this kit so much especially the exclusive acrylic sentiment from Wilna Furstenburg, so much fun!

I had a sneak peek of three of my projects last week, and here are a couple more...

I so love this layout!  Super quick, and fabulously complimented by the elements from the Scrappy Canary Tea and Toast pocket kit. The background 12x12 is Pink Paislee Color Wash paper, but you can just as easily create a similar effect with paintbrush as watercolour inks or paints. Every other element in this layout is from the Scrappy Canary Tea and Toast kit or store. The 6x6 sheet of MME Wood Necessities was cut to fit behind the photos, and I love how the black and grey tones match perfectly with the black and white photo.  Two of the 6x4 Echo Park pocket cards were also cut to fit behind the photos, with the arrows drawing your eyes to the colour photo.  This gorgeous Jilly Bean sentiment was perfect for this layout, and the yellow "Right Now" fussy cut from another of the Echo Park cards provides a perfect pop of colour. All that needed to be added was the cut "This Happened" puffy sticker and "Snap" Jilly Bean card (which contains the hidden journaling and story behind the tiger tears in this photo!), together with the "Press Pause, Rewind and Play" circles and ampersand from Heidi Swap, also purchased from Scrappy Canary.

"Just my type", another card I love! The typewriter was fussy cut from one of the 3x4 Echo Park pocket cards and added to one of the 6x6 sheets of MME Wood Necessities. The sentiment was stamped using My Favourite Things Typewritten, and added an acrylic red heart from the Scrappy Canary Tea and Toast pocket kit.

You can hop on over to the Scrappy Canary blog to see all the projects I created from one Tea and Toast pocket kit!

Celebrating with Curtain Call Anything Goes Challenge too!

I {heart} Scrappy Canary ...

ETA. Playing along with the Moxie Fab World Clicking Cameras Challenge!

I applied late last year to be part of the Polly!Scrap Kits card design team, although Ruth decided not to go ahead with a Card Designer on the DT, she asked if I'd like to join in the fun as a Guest Designer for July, and I jumped at the chance!  In the meantime Polly!Scrap Kits has evolved into Scrappy Canary, with Mandy, still the same fabulous Australian kit club, now with a new name.

There is a monthly kit released on the 15th of each month, and Scrappy Canary often include exclusive products like stamps, letterpress or wood veneers. The June Pocket kit - Tea and Toast, was no exception with a gorgeous scripty sentiment exclusive from Wilna Furstenburg.

The Scrappy Canary blog is here and the store re-opens on the 15th of July, with the VIP Lounge open 24/7.

I was only asked to do two projects, but I had so many fabulous ideas working with this kit, I couldn't help myself! To demonstrate the amazing versatility of Scrappy Canary kits, I created a total of two 12x12 layouts and 6 cards with the June Pocket kit - Tea and Toast, and there is still spare! I loved this kit so much especially the exclusive acrylic sentiment from Wilna Furstenburg, so much fun!

First up a more feminine layout and card!

Inspiration for this layout from Sketchabilities

The 6x6 MME Papers and 6x4 pocket cards were perfect for layering behind my photo, with the 3x4 pocket cards perfect for the offset cluster. I fussy cut the title from one of the 6x4 pocket cards, used some of the pocket cards to back the Jilly Bean camera outline, added the cute "Love You" puffy sticker, cork arrows and fussy cut the polaroid camera to add to my clusters, and little white hearts to add to my title. The base layer black cardstock and 12x12 Pink Paislee Color Wash paper are the only items not from the Scrappy Canary Tea and Toast pocket kit. 

"Birthday Note" This card is one of my favourite, created by stamping and fussy cutting one of the 3x4 pocket cards with this cute butterfly from Altenew, layered on one of the 6x6 MME Wood Necessities sheets, together with "Note" cut from another of the kit pocket cards and "Birthday" sentiment from Walter and Winnie. All papers are from the Scrappy Canary Tea and Toast pocket kit. 

If you want to see my other 5 cards and layout you'll need to scoot on over to the Scrappy Canary blog next week, or you can hop on by and take a look at the fabulous challenges they have on right now...

Playing along with Sketchabilities and Seize the Birthday (Stripes!), 
and Just Us Girls Woodgrain Trend too!

Stuck?! Out...

Couldn't resist playing along with this months Stuck?! Sketches with this gorgeous sketch, and fabulous prizes from Scrapbook Circle and Polly Scrap Kits.  What better photo to scrap for a Stuck?! Sketch, than a pirate with his tongue Stuck?! out LOL!

This is another of my PhD (Project half Done) projects - another set of photo, papers and embellishments which have been gathering dust for about 7 years. It's been so long since I distressed papers that I forgot I needed to wet the edges first! Papers are a combination of Junkitz by Teresa Collins, Rusty Pickle and Scenic Route, with the textured skulls by Tim Holtz and a Hambly rub-on pirate ship.  The lovely Sam came to the rescue with the perfect Scrapware chipboard title.  The skulls and title were inked in Momento Ink Wedding Dress then covered in white metal melts and heat embossed.

Playing along with All Crafts Challenge Anything but a Card and
Love to Scrap Anything Goes too!

A PhD in Sketchabilities...

I had put this photo, papers and chipboard together about seven years ago - so this definitely classified as a Project half Done (aka PhD)! Getting back into the swing of scrapbooking is more difficult than I thought, but made a whole lot easier with fabulous sketch challenge sites like Sketchabilities!  How can you go wrong with this fortnights fabulous sketch...

Inspired by the single cloud above DS head, with a selection of (very old) papers from Basic Grey, Fancy Pants and papers and embellishments from Sassafrass Lass, I added the Pink Paislee wooden letters, Lil Inkers Stitched Polaroid die cut frames, texture pasted some clouds and added splatter to bring the layout into this decade LOL! 

Still feel a bit squeaky scrapbooking wise, but glad to have another PhD completed!
Playing along with All Crafts Challenge Anything but a Card too!

A-very Beautiful Life...

I have been wanting to get back into scrapbooking for ages, and as I'm working a short week this week, thought this was the perfect opportunity to combine Sketchabilities Sketch Challenge, Frosted Designs Clear or Sheer Challenge and Avery Elle's Water Colour Challenge.

Pink Paislee Color Wash pad is a great base for Avery Elle's Water Colour Challenge. This gorgeous Avery Elle Petal and Stems flower was stamped on Color Wash paper in Versamark Watermark and clear embossed. These cool Avery Elle Petal and Stems leaves were die cut from a variety of papers from Studio Calico and Pink Paislee, together with coloured vellum, another sheer element. The Avery Elle Simply Tags die cut tag, word strips, Life sentiment and pink scallops were cut from Pink Paislee Color Wash papers, while the wooden scallops were cut from American Crafts paper.  The paper layers were all adhered in place before stamping this beautiful Avery Elle Love Notes sentiment in Wet Cement Hero Arts ink and little Avery Elle Love Notes hearts randomly stamped in Spun Sugar Distress Ink. The final sheer element, sequins from my stash and the Studio Calico wood veneer butterfly (playing along with Little Red Wagon's Wood Veneer Challenge) were adhered last.

 

This made me smile...

Love Always FUSION...

WOW, this week has been a bit of a roller coaster, with both kiddies heading off in opposite directions for their first day at new high schools, and hearing of the sudden and unexpected death of one of my school classmates. In the words of the famous Darnell, Life Is Too Short folks, so kick up your heels and give someone special an extra hug today :)

Anyhoo, I can't wait to see what this weeks FUSION inspiration brings - will you be inspired by this FAB sketch, or this gorgeous photo - or BOTH?!?   This fortnight I was inspired by a combination of both the sketch, which I flipped up-side-down and used as the basis for the panel on the left of my page, and the photo with its combination of colours, hearts theme, polka dots and music. Created using a combination of papers from MME and October Afternoon, combined with Making Memories sparkly alphabet stickers, Heidi Swapp and Tim Holtz hearts, red beads, silver ribbon and black staples used to create "kisses" to secure my papers together.

We'd LOVE you to join in the fun...

How to play:

1. Play with just the sketch challenge.

2. Play with just the inspiration photo challenge.

3. Or you can create FUSION by combining BOTH challenges into one card.

4. Use the challenge graphic and link back to Fusion in your post.

5. Please read the other considerations on the Rules Page before playing along.

Drop by for some more fabulous DT inspiration here:

Betty J - Cathy Weber - Dannielle Robeson - Deepti
Geri Freeman - Julia Aston - Katie Brooks - Kelly Griglione
Kimberly Wiener - Lynn Mangan - Michelle Lupton
Michelle Williams - Sindhu - Stephanie Severin

Don't forget to check FUSION Mr Linky to see how much time is left to play!! 

Also playing along with The Pink Elephant Love Challenge and Color Me Creative too!

This made me smile...

Happy New FUSION...

FABULOUS New Year to one & all, with a new team and new day for the FUSION Challenge!! This fortnight I thought I'd get a head start on scrapbooking for 2014, perhaps I'll make some headway with the 30,000 or so photos I have LOL! 

Inspired by the colours, shapes, layers and textures of the FUSION inspiration photo. Combining Scenic Route chipboard words, Jillybean corrugated alphas, Cosmo Cricket, Scenic Route and Sassafras Lass papers, Martha Stewart decorative punches and a truckload of Prima flowers and butterflies.  

We'd LOVE you to join in the fun...

How to play:

1. Play with just the sketch challenge.

2. Play with just the inspiration photo challenge.

3. Or you can create FUSION by combining BOTH challenges into one card.

4. Use the challenge graphic and link back to Fusion in your post.

5. Please read the other considerations on the Rules Page before playing along.

Drop by for some more fabulous DT inspiration here:

Betty J
Cathy Weber 
Dannielle Robeson
Deepti
Geri Freeman
Julia Aston
Katie Brooks
Kelly Griglione
Kimberly Wiener

Lynn Mangan

Michelle Lupton
Michelle Williams

Sindhu

Stephanie Severin

Check Mr Linky to see how much time is left to play!! 

FUSION... Design Team Call

Hello Crafters! Surprise!!! 

FUSION is back with a special extra long Christmas challenge and 
we are excited to be holding an open Design Team Call! 

When the decision was made to close down FUSION last month, Lesley never imagined the number of emails and messages she would receive, asking to keep it open!! Well, after thinking long and hard about it, she decided to reopen FUSION in January, 2014. Yippee!

But FUSION needs some more designers!!! FUSION is looking for 5 new designers to join the team. The design team designs for 2-3 challenges per month (fortnightly Challenge cycles) and leaves comments for the players. Hop on over to the FUSION blog for details on how YOU can apply, entry is open until December 17th.

If you want to play along with our special Christmas FUSION (and with such amazing inspiration - how could you resist?!?) you can join in over on the FUSION blog until January 1st.

Hop along and visit the fabulous DTs blogs for more inspiration!

Kelly Griglione

Lynn Mangan

Geri Freeman
Lesley Croghan

Playing along with Artful Delight December Sketch (flipped upside-down)
and Scrapping Everyday Miracles Christmas Challenge too.

PS You Make My Heart Melt...

Don't forget the Paper Smooches September Release Blog Hop begins TODAY!

I was inspired by the Paper Smooches Sparks Picture Perfect Challenge of frames to actually scrapbook a photo to be framed!

Love Paper Smooches stamps and dies on scrapbooking pages too.  I created this page with a combination of Warm Hearts trees & sentiment, Freezy Fellas and Swanky Snowdudes snowmen and Flag Tag dies cuts. Papers are Prima North Pole, with MFT snowflake diecuts and crinkle cut (corrugated) alpha from Jillibean Designs.

In case you are wondering this is my DS, although he's not quite so little anymore!!  I have a TONNE of photos for when the scrapping bug strikes again LOL!

Playing along with Little Red Wagons Pretty Polka Dots

Based on this Sketchabilities Sketch

Paper Smooches Sparks Picture Perfect

If you are interested, you can see some of my other scrapbooking pages here.

This made me smile...