Jillibean Soup | Thankful...

Hello Everyone!  I wanted to share with you today, a layout created for Jillibean Soup.  It's been a busy month during November and I've got an even busier month starting yesterday! So I took a moment to be thankful.  Thankful indeed, that these two boys got to play a glorious season of hockey and in their first season became members of the champion team.

"Thankful" 

products used: cs - American Crafts; pp - Jillibean Soup (Holly Berry Borscht, Cool as a Cucumber); alpha - Mix the Media stencil; other - Jillibean Soup: wood sprinkles, woodgrain stampables, note card, label sticker, wood veneer stars; white thread, yellow embroidery floss; tools - water colour paint, machine stitching.

I played around with watercolours this month.  The title and small die cut leaves were cut from normal cardstock after the water colours were applied. The title was traced from the Jillibean Soup Mix the Media "Thankful" stencil. Before I trimmed around the title, I hand stitched with coordinating embroidery floss.

The bright pops of orange against the wood plank patterned paper background really help highlight the texture on both the patterned paper and the die cut leaves.

The rest of the layout has layers of woodgrain, on woodgrain.  In the baggie I have included hidden journaling and the frame helps draw the eye to the collection of trinkets in the lower corner.

The larger leaves were traced from ones found in my garden and then carefully cut with a sharp knife.  I certainly had fun playing with a few simple techniques and no doubt will be trying them again sometime soon.  Thanks for visiting today...x



 

 



Sassy Scrapper | Project Life Week 42...

Hello Friends! Sorry I am a day late in posting but... up on the Sassy Scrappers blog this week is my Project Life Week 42 | October 13 - 19.  I love working with Heidi Swapp's September Skies collection!!

 

 

If you get a chance, please head on over to Sassy Scrappers and check out the details, including a mini tutorial on how to make a secret pocket in a pocket! ;)

 

Thanks for visiting me today..x

 

 

 



Bella Blvd | Project Life...

Hi Everyone!  I just wanted to share with you my Project Life spread | Week 39.  It is up on the Bella BLVD blog today with a few details as to how and why I chose to use the Candid Cards and Paper Pieces from several Bella collections.

 

"Week 39"

 

products used: pp - Bella Blvd; alpha - Bella Blvd (High Five Alphabets: Black-White); other - Bella Blvd: Candid Cards, Trinkets, Paper Pieces; Treasures & Text; Miniatures, Chipboard Icons;  Ciao Chip Elements: Stars & Hearts; tools - machine stitching, typewriter, photo flip pocket.

 

Of course, my Project Life is never complete without a weekly run-through of journaling.  But with this week being the start of the September school holidays, I had a high number of photos to include in my spread and no place to add my words.  The simplest solution is to add hidden journaling with a flip pocket.

 

 

Don't forget to visit Bella Blvd to check out what the team has been up to lately.  Thanks for visiting..x

 

 



Bella Blvd | How Much can a Koala Bare?

Hi Everyone! I just wanted to share with you my layout created for Bella Blvd, using the new Tiny Tots collection.

 

 "How Much Can A Koala Bare?"  

products used: cs - Kaisercraft; pp - Bella Blvd (Tiny Tots); alpha - Bella Blvd (Amorie); other - Bella Blvd: crochet heart, stickers; paper clip; tools - machine stitching, typewriter.

Alright. Before I start, I want to let you know that I know koalas aren't bears!  LOL!  But I couldn't help the play on words, especially if you knew the treatment this favourite toy gets in our home.  And I pretty much fell in love with this little fella as soon as I saw the samples for the new Tiny Tots collections!  Aussie fans will hopefully be ecstatic!

Cam adores his little friend.  His name is 2.2 (two two).  For this to make sense, you need to be four years old.  And when you are four, the number four (4) is your favourite number, therefore it make perfect sense to name your favourite toy 2.2 because 2+2=4.  Simple right?! *grin*

To keep all this journaling contained, I have added a paperclip to the back of a phrase sticker (Tiny Tots: Treasures & Text).  The sticker was then backed with white cardstock trimmed to the sticker size.  It now slips over the photo, preventing the journaling beneath from pushing the photo up and holds it all together.

 

If you would like to see some more inspiration using the new releases over at Bella Blvd, please visit the blog this week!  So much goodness over there!  Thanks for visiting..x

 

 

Bella Blvd | Pinterest Inspiration...

Hello Sweet Friends!  Today I am sharing with you my unusual take on Bella Blvd's Pinterest Inspiration this week.

"Big & Small" 

 

products used: cs - Kaisercraft; pp - Bella Blvd: Scattered Sprinkles, Freestyle Sophisticates; Alpha - Bella Blvd; other - Bella Blvd: stickers, crochet hearts; black paint; tools - typewriter. 

I think I went a little left of centre with this layout.  I took inspiration from the colours, like I usually do, but this time I took it one step further!  I wanted to replicate the long thin strips of paper, similar to the technique used to create the paper blooms.

I followed that up by layering with 'extra', thin, long strips of text from the Scattered Sprinkles sticker sheet.

The title and text are all about my eldest and youngest.  There is a nine year age gap between the two and sometimes they don't see eye to eye.  And then sometimes... well, they can't get enough of each other.  I love recording the different bonds each of my kids have with their siblings.  It changes so many times but there is always that subsequent undercurrent of sweetness and love towards each other.  *grin* Fingers crossed that it stays this way!!

And most of you know that I can't create a layout without journaling.  This time I've added a tab sticker (from the same sticker sheet mentioned above) to some white cardstock and simply slipped it under the photo.

 

I hope you will venture over to Bella Blvd if you get the chance and check out the other DT members takes on the Pinterest photo.  Thanks so much for visiting here today..x

 

 

 

Jillibean Soup | My Whole Heart...

Hi Everyone!  Today I want to share with you a layout challenge we were given as designers over at Jillibean Soup.  Jill challenged us to use the silhouette files (especially created to match up with the awesome Jillibean Soup product) or use the mini/large place mats on a layout.  What a fun challenge!!

I chose to work with the mini placemats!  They are super cute.  This is what I came up with.

 

 

"My Whole Heart"

products used: cs - Kaisercraft; pp - Jillibean Soup; alpha - Jillibean Soup; other - Jillibean Soup: wood sprinkles, mini placemat, woodgrain bag (stampables), wooden flag, stickers; tools - typewriter, machine stitching.

I have placed a wood grain, mini bag from the stampables collection, behind the placemat.  Inside the bag I have hidden my journaling.  To allow it to sit neatly behind the place mat, I've simply trimmed the top edge of the bag.

The wood sprinkles were my next indulgence on this layout!  You may have seen this sneak from a few weeks ago. *grin* 

I added a little 'orange-coloured' detail in the bottom corner and layered it with a wood flag.

Finally I added my title using both the navy beanboards and the white alphabeans.  I must admit, having the grid patterned paper made my job of lining up the letters, much, much easier! LOL!

Don't forget to head on over to the Jillibean Soup blog and check out what the other DT members created! And while you are there, check and see if you are a winner of the NSD Jillibean Soup blog hop!  Congratulations to Kaitlynne Roil, who was randomly selected from the many entries on my blog post.  She has won the four packets of clear stamps.  Thanks to everyone who played along..x

Thanks for visiting..x

 

Sassy Scrapper | Project Life...

Hello Everyone!  Today I am sharing my Project Life Week 15 over at the Sassy Scrapper blog.

 

 

 products used: Sassy Scrapper May Project Life Kit.

 

Please come on over and say hi! And check out how I use the pre-made journaling cards to full advantage. *grin*  Thanks for visiting..x

 

 

 



Bella Blvd | Project Life...

Hi Everyone!  Today I am sharing my Project Life spread created for Bella Blvd.  This week I am covering "Week 13" and so far, so good, I am up to date with my album for 2014!! yay!

 

"Week 13"

products used: pp - Bella Blvd (Family Forever, Lucky Starz); alpha - Bella Blvd; other - Bella Blvd: stickers, candid cards, paper pieces, crochet hearts, flags, designer tape; tools - machine stitching, date stamp, typewriter.

My title pocket was created by fussy cutting some of the awesome inspiration words (reverse side of Lucky Starz - Surf N Turf) and then stitched down onto a Family Forever Candid Card.  The Candid Cards are perfect for PL and they certainly make the process of creating much faster!

 

On the second page of my spread I've created a secret journaling folder and an extra place to keep special memories.

 

 The hidden journaling was created using the "you is kind..." card (3"x4") from Lucky Starz, trimmed and then hinged to a larger Candid Card (4"x6") from the same collection with designer tape. The back of the hinged card is then covered with a journaling card, trimmed to the same size. The rest of the pocket card is then embellished as desired.

 

I just adore this self portrait drawn by my youngest!  And he used the perfect colours too! LOL!  I love it when a plan comes together! *grin*

If you would like to see some more details, please head on over to Bella Blvd.  Thanks for visiting...x

ps - Bella Blvd is about to have its 2014 Warehouse Box Sale!!!  If you would LOVE to get your hands on some gorgeous product, visit here!!!

 

 

 

Bella Blvd | Pinterest Inspiration...

 

Hello Friends!  Happy Friday!  Today I have a Bella Blvd layout to share with you and it all started with some paperclips!!!

 

 

Every now and then the design team are challenged with an image found on Pinterest.  Laura does a fabulous job at sourcing these images and I always have fun with the ones I am assigned to.  This one however, had me scratching my head a little!  LOL!! But I have to admit, with a some thinking outside the box, I have come to really like the finished product.  *grin*

I think it was the paperclips that had me umming and ah-ing.  But I knew I was drawn to the notebook paper and the green polka dots.  The red?... Yeah, I left that in the Inspiration photo! LOL!

 

 

"Awesome Trouble"

 

products used: pp - Bella Blvd (Max, Lucky Starz, Family Forever); other - Bella Blvd: stickers, arrow stickers, die-cuts; paperclips, date stamp; tools - typewriter, hand stitching.

 

The title was fussy cut from the photo mat paper (Max: That's my Boy) and then hand stitched back on top of it.  I kind of like the camouflage look it creates.

The banner on the paperclip is taken from the Inspiration photo, as are the circles on the page.  These circles are meant to represent the circles on the paperclips from the top part of the Inspiration picture.

I've also created a little pocket under the photo layers to house my journaling.  This photo of my son and his two best mates, is priceless.  Do you know how hard it is to take a photo of just one eleven year old boy, never mind three of them???  *ahem... - I had them pinned up against a wall in the photo!!!*

And of course, no boyish layout created with the Max collection, should ever be without these awesome paper pieces!  That army guy is a fave!!!   LOL!

 

Head on over to the Bella Blvd blog for more takes on the Pinterest Challenge.  Thanks for visiting..x

 

 

 

Bella Blvd | Crafty Love...

Hello Friends!  Today I am sharing a LO created for Bella Blvd and the design team's Monday Challenge.  This week we had to incorporate 6 photos onto our layouts.  :)

 

 

"Crafty Love"

products used: cs - Kaiercraft; pp - Bella Blvd (max, lucky starz, family forever); alphas - Bella Blvd; other - Bella Blvd: feathers, stickers, Max paper pieces; Heidi Swapp colorshine (navy).

Sure.  At first glance I didn't meet the requirements of this challenge, right?!  Here's a closer look... *grin*

 

 

Scrapping in the smaller size often only allows me to use one or two photos per layout.. that and the fact that I do like to have a little white space on my layout somewhere! LOL!  So my simple solution was to create a mini file folder/flap/hidden space to add extra elements.  In this case it was my photos.  So instead o 6 photos on my layout I actually have 9.  phew! This challenge had me stepping outside the box somewhat!

 

 

If you would like to see how I created this LO, with a basic step by step guide to hide your own photos on a layout, please head on over to Bella Blvd.  Thanks so much for visiting...x