Bella Blvd | Be Sweet...

I do like to have a rainbow on my layouts every now and then.. What's your favourite go to design?

This layout was created for Bella Blvd using their new Squeeze the Day collection.

"Be Sweet"

I've also teamed it up with some acrylic words. Check out the details here on the Bella Blvd blog. Thanks for visiting..x

Jillibean Soup | Sweet Dreamer...

Hello Friends! It's been another busy week around here and already the weekend is almost upon us! Today I wanted to share my layout that's up on the Jillibean Soup blog. I've been playing with the new Sew Sweet Sunshine Soup collection and might have taken it in a slightly different direction to what it is initially meant to help document! *grin* However, having said that, now that I look at my layout once again, I really haven't lost the craftiness element of its intention, but merely tweaked it! LOL!

 

"Sweet Dreamer"

 

products used: cs - American Crafts; pp - Jillibean Soup (Sew Sweet Sunshine Soup); alpha - Jillibean Soup alphabeans; other - Jillibean Soup: mini placemats, wood sprinkles, stickers, labels, die cut cork, bakers twine, pompom garland, happy hues, enamel stars; other - machine stitching, typewriter.

 

 

My goal was to create a textural dream catcher using the Sew Sweet Sunshine Soup mini placemats.  The heart and embroidery hoop die cuts were the perfect shape and size to be layered against my 4x6 photo.

 

The colour palette of the dream catcher came about by accident. At first if was a solid colour of yellow and I changed my mind and wanted it to be more of an aqua shade, so once the first layer was dry, I painted directly over it again with the second colour. I still wasn't completely happy with the choices I made and after playing with the shapes, moving them about on my page (for what seems like ages!!!) I accidently flipped it to the reverse side and liked what I saw!  Definitely an happy accident! 

 

 

To achieve the dream catcher look, the mini placemats were first adhered to the patterned paper background before I added evenly spaced holes with a paper piercer. It was just a simple matter to then stitch randomly between the holes with the yellow embroidery thread.

 

The rest of the dream catcher threads were created from homemade twine tassels and pompom garlands.

 

I hope you get the chance to visit the Jillibean Soup blog and check out the inspiration from the other design team girls.  It's totally worth your while!  Thanks for visiting..x

 

 



Jillibean Soup | Cards...

Hey there! Just popping in briefly today as it's time to share my Jillibean Soup cards for the month!  This month I've created two monotone cards in red and orange!  I also had the chance to play with some of the Happy Hues paints! Such fun!

 

"celebrate"

 

products used: cs - American Crafts; pp - Jillibean Soup (Soup Staples II); other - Jillibean Soup: happy hues (red), clear stamps (Summer Red Raspberry), pea pod parts.

 

 

 

"Let's Celebrate"

 

products used: cs - American Crafts; pp - Jillibean Soup (Soup Staples II); other - Jillibean Soup: clear stamps (birthday), party playground - cake toppers, Mini Placemat; Hero Arts ombre ink.

 

 

Thanks for visiting.  Come back tomorrow to check out my "Art from the Heart" project that was created using more Jillibean Soup...x

 

 

 



Bella Blvd | Just Add Color...

Hi Everyone! Today I wanted to share with you the amazing versatility of Bella Blvd's Just Add Color collection.  I have had so much fun creating this layout, fussy cutting and breaking out the watercolour paints!

 

"Star"

 

products used: cs - Bazzill, American Crafts; pp - Bella Blvd (Color Chaos, Just Add Color); alpha - Bella Blvd; other - Bella Blvd: stickers, enamel doodads, word strips (Little Bits); watercolour paint; tools - machine stitching.

 

 

You see, the new double-sided collection allows you to add a great deal more personality to your pages! One side comes with glorious colours, cute sayings and bold graphics, while the other side shares images and outlines of shapes.  This is where the fun part begins!

 

You can use these shape and theme outlines to highlight a photo/s with any colour of your choosing, simply by colouring them in yourself with your choice of medium! How easy is that!

 

 

I needed to the photo of my son (the one in yellow) to stand apart from the colours of the opposing team. This can be quite difficult sometimes, especially when documenting sporting events!  The stars were colour matched to the photo with a little premixing of watercolours directly on the palette. Before fussy cutting them out, I also added a some gentle splashes of black and teal paint to the blank stars.  I also wasn't bothered about staying in the lines. In fact it was quite a deliberate choice on my part.  I figure outdoor sports are generally messy (well at least the ones my sons play!!!) and the overall look of my layout could handle it.  *grin*

 

 

The word sticker strips, otherwise known as Bella Blvd Little Bits, were another fun addition to this page.  I love how I could convey the story of our Saturdays, with several well placed and colour coordinated sayings!

 

 

Another fun and somewhat subtle feature on my page is the layering of the Color Chaos Strandz patterned paper.  In the photo above you will be able to see miniature hockey sticks along side of my photo.  It is just a small detail, but one that helps share the story.

 

 

Thanks for joining me here today.  If you would like to see more of the Just Add Color collection, head on over to Bella Blvd and check out the talent from our other CT members...x

 

 

 



Jillibean Soup | Happy..

Hey Everyone!  Have you seen the gorgeous new Happy Hues from Jillibean Soup?  I am loving the new paint products that are now available.  The colours... OMGosh!  *swoon*

 

 

This month, a challenge was issued to the Jillibean Soup DT to play with these gorgeous paints.  I chose subtle and just had to add a few paint splatters to my layout.

 

"Happy"

 

products used: cs - American Crafts; pp - Jillibean Soup (Summer Red Raspberry Soup); alpha - Jillibean Soup Beanboards (Yellow Yam); other - Jillibean Soup: die cuts, wood sprinkles, mini placemat, happy hues; tools - machine stitching, typewriter.

Head on over to the Jillibean Soup blog and check out what some of the other DT members created as part of the challenge.  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

 

 

 

Hampton Art | You are no. 1...

Hi Everyone! I've been playing around with stamps a lot lately, thanks mostly to the wonderful DT opportunity at Hampton Art.  Most of the time, I have no clear idea what I am going to create until I have those stamps on paper.  But sometimes I have an idea stuck in my head and I play until I see the result on paper to match.  *grin*

This card I am sharing today was a little bit like that... an experiment!  LOL!  A simple-in-design experiment!

 

"You are No.1"



products used: stamps: Hampton Art for Echo Park - "About a Boy" (SC0526); "Scoot" (SC0528)
ink: Archival Ink (jet black); VersaMark (watermark).
 
other - cardstock, acrylic paint, clear embossing powder, post-it notes, soft paint brush.

 

I am just getting the hang of this embossing business too!  LOL!  Yes.  I know I am late to the party.  But I can now say I am have quite a bit of fun with it.  However, the next tool on my wish list to purchase will be a heat gun.  *grin*  Currently I am still hovering my cardstock over the toaster just to melt the embossing powder!!! 

For the full tutorial, please visit here.  But it is fairly simple and I am sure you can work it out from the photos...x

Thanks so much for visiting...x