BLOG CANDY AND LAYOUT TO SHARE!!!

Hi everyone!! Just stopping by to share a layout I created for the Once upon A Sketch April challenge, but before I get started how about some blog candy?? Originally I was only going to do a little giveaway, but it didn't look like much so I just kept adding to it until it looked right. Next thing I know I have this huge prize to give away, over 250 Australian dollars worth of amazing scrapbooking supplies!!  I will draw a winner using random.org in a few weeks time. To be eligible for this amazing prize you must be a follower of my blog (The 'join this site' button is broken, to become a member just click the little twin squares right next to it. It is a button for the same thing. This is also written in the sidebar right above it) and leave a comment here on this post to let me know you would like to win!! This is open to everyone no matter where you are in the world and includes postage of the prize to you. Best of luck to each and everyone of you!!

 The prize (Sorry, I know it's not the best photo, and that some things have slid behind others making them hard to see):

Here is this months sketch at OUAS:

 

And here is my interpretation:

'I Adore Your Smile'

 As you can see I have chosen to use the 2 photo's this time, something I rarely do, even when following a sketch. 

The background was created following my usual routine, gesso, texture paste, watercolors, stamping and my fave Prima stencil. I have trimmed 1cm from all around the edge and pasted it onto another sheet of white card stock. I love the subtle effect the white on white gives. I have also doodled a border using a black marker.

Some details:

Some of my gorgeous new Prima flowers, all from various collections!! They all work so well together!!

For my title i have used some AdornIt Carolee's Creation alpha stickers, along with the chipboard word 'adore' which has been covered with a coat of black acrylic paint.

The chipboard arrow on the right was given the same treatment as the title, whilst the barbed wire running beneath the photo was painted white with gesso.

The chipboard frames beneath the photo I made myself. I made the polaroid frame first, cutting it from a sheet of chipboard, and covering it with chunky gold glitter. The other two frames were cut from the same sheet, then embossed with white UTEE, followed by a fine gold embossing powder. As I was melting the gold, it bubbled and ran leaving the pattern you now see on the frames.

As always my layouts have lots of layers and dimension. I love these metal keyholes from Prima, they are the perfect finishing touch for any page!!

As you can see I have written my journaling directly onto the page. 

The peg has also been covered with chunky gold glitter to match the frame behind the photo.

That's all I have to share with you today.... Jet has just finished his lunch and I need to go and clean up the mess he is certain to have made!! Don't forget, to be eligible to win this fab prize you must be a follower of my blog, and leave me a comment here on this post. Best of luck to all of you! 

Thanks for stopping by. I will stop by again later in the week with more to share!! Have a great weekend!!

LOVE THIS!

Hi! I hope you all had a wonderful Easter!! I sure did, though all that chocolate made my Son a little hyper and it was 10 before he would go to sleep!!! Thankfully he is only allowed to eat that much chocolate 1 day per year, the rest of the time its just little bits here and there. Besides Easter is just not the same if you don't eat lots of chocolate!! Anyway, I figured I would stop by and quickly share with you all a layout I made a couple of weeks ago. 

'Love This'

I really love how this page turned out, even though the background is quite different from anything I normally create. It was entirely an accident that it turned out this way. I had just finished painting it and already it looked horrible, and the Jet came and smudged the watercolors around the edges of the page, particularly the corners, making it look even worse! I was planning to throw it out and start again, but a few hours later I was looking for something in my stash and I placed a mask on top of my layout, not intentionally, just to move it out of the way of what I was looking for. When I actually noticed what mask it was and how it was on the page, an idea began to form. I wasn't really sure of how it would all turn out, but I figured it was ruined anyway, so I would be no worse off than before if it didn't work. Obviously it was a success, and I couldn't be happier!!

Some details:

 Lots of textures and dimension as always!

The rope beneath the flowers, was actually used to attach the price tag to some clothes I brought for jet a few months ago. I'm glad I did not throw it out!!

 The little metal piece beneath the papers there is actually the metal clip from a broken peg!!

It's surprising just how many odd bits and pieces you might have just lying around your house that look fantastic on layouts, cards, ect.

How cute are these little wooden mustaches from Bo Bunny?

 The little speech bubble is from Studio Calico.... I really liked the hand on it pointing towards my photo!!

The Roman Numerals and the wood veneer flower are from Prima, whilst the resin flower is from Kaisercraft, and the gear cog from Tim Holtz.

 

As you can see I have chosen to use the little Studio calico wood veneer as my title.

I have added a couple of little chipboard arrows simply painted white with gesso.

As always, my pages would not be complete without lots of gorgeous Prima flowers!!

Before I go, I just wanted to let you all know that I have decided to have a little giveaway for my followers... I will post all the details, including a photo of the prize, here on my blog on Friday. Until then, have a wonderful week!! Thanx for stopping by! Hugs!!

PRIMA BAP AND EXCITING NEWS!!!

Hey everyone, back again to share my most recent creation for this month's Build A Page sketch challenge over at Prima, but before I get started I have some exciting news I wish to announce. Firstly I am having a huge giveaway, over 250 Australian dollars in prizes, check out this post for your chance to win. Secondly, as you all know by now, I am a big fan of the challenge site CSI.... There case-files are amazing and always push me to explore my talents further, whether it be using colors i don't like to use, journaling which I don't always do, or using new and exciting products or techniques on my work.... The list is almost endless. This gives me great pleasure to say then, that I have been asked to join their fabulous Design Team!! As you can probably tell this has been the cause of much excitement for me.... My first design team!! I wish to thank Debbi for asking me to join and for her belief in me. I also wish to congratulate the other new team members, along with those already on the team who are staying. I look forward to having this opportunity to work with you all!! 

I'm very excited to be sharing this layout with you today as my local store just received a delivery of new Prima!! For the first time ever it only a couple of months after the release not 6!! Prima does not last long at my store, usually selling out within a week of arriving and some things within a day or two. Yet even though I don't visit my local store all that regularly I always happen to go in there either as they are unpacking the latest Prima delivery or the very next morning.... I feel very blessed because this means I never miss out!! However it does usually leave me broke for a few weeks after... or a few months!!

This month's sketch:

 

I really loved this sketch, though I have only used one photo, adding some embellishment clusters on either side to represent the other two.

 Here is my take:

'Blissful Moments'

As you can see I have used a single photo instead of three, replacing the two to either side with embellishment clusters. 

The background was created using my normal routine, gesso, texture paste and my Prima netting mask, watercolor paints, however this time I also stamped circles onto the background using gesso and a couple of lids. Originally I had planned to leave it at that, but then I got the idea of making messy cotton circles and gluing them down. I wasn't entirely sure about them at first, however as soon as I had finished the page, I knew I had made a good choice... It looks fantastic!!

Close-ups:

I have used paper's from both the Stationer's Desk and Cartographer Collections. I actually only used one sheet of paper from each, making use of the patterns of both sides of each sheet!! I have used foam tape between each sheet of paper for added dimension, placing a circle of raw twine on the topmost sheet, before adding some calico, my photo, and some ivory waxed twine. The edges of all my paper's were randomly painted with thick blobs of gesso. I have also done this with the photo, although this time completely covering the edges.

 

I cut the title from the packaging that my canvas alpha's came in (Which sadly appear to have vanished!) I placed it right on the edge, using foam tape to lift it off the page. The little acetate heart underneath was cut from the packing to an old clear stamp set, I'm not sure who by, as I have had them for about 6 years, although I am surprised I never thought to cut this out before.

Here you can see the amazing effects the masking and watercolors give to the background, along with the stamped and cotton circles.

The black metal fame is from the engraver collection, I have had it sitting there for so long, and because of it's shape (kind of like a light bulb), I never thought i would actually use it. However turned sideways, and partially under the paper with a flower in it, it looks amazing.

As always, my layouts would not be complete without a variety of gorgeous Prima flowers. I have added some of Ingvild Bolme's metal keyholes, and Finn's mechanicals for added interest. I have added the barbed wire chipboard, painted white with gesso to tie the whole page together. 

The arrows were cut from the same sheet of Cartographer paper that I have used in my layers, edged with gesso and mounted on foam tape for dimension. The two flags were also made this way.

The flowers that Prima released this time are  amongst some of my faves. They are all so beautiful! Beneath the big black flower I have added the small grey one and some rope.

I must admit though that the Ingvild Bolme lamp is one of my fave things about this page!!

This layout is definitely amongst my faves!! Thanks Prima for such an inspiring sketch to work with!! I hope you like it!! That's all from me today, though I will be back again soon with more to share!! Thanks for stopping by! Xoxox.

CATCH-UP SHARES!!!

Hiya!! I hope everyone has had a good weekend. I'm sorry it has been a while since I last posted.... It seems no matter how hard I try, something always happens, causing me to fall further and further behind in my posts!! Jet and I have both been quite sick these past couple of weeks. As I'm sure many of you know when you have the flu and also a child that does, you don't feel like doing much other than resting, and making sure your child is okay and comfortable. I'm still not 100%, however I an far better than I was and this means I am finally able to start catching up with my blog posts, and my scrapbooking!!

I have a couple things I'd like to share with you today. First up is my most recent creation for CSI, case-file 115. This was a very beautiful feminine palette, that I knew would be perfect for a photo of my nieces Alyssa and Kayla. After all, why not create a layout of two beautiful little girls for a challenge inspired by an image of a girl?

Here is an image of the case:

 

For the evidence I have used:

Hearts: The white Ingvild Bolme heart gear on the lower left hand side of the photo.

 Grid/Mesh: I have used a grid stamp on the background and my Prima netting mask, which is basically a grid on an angle.

Boats: I have used a small wood veneer boat to the left of the page.

Flowers: As always lots and lots of gorgeous Prima flowers!!

Rub-ons/Stamps: As mentioned above I have stamped my background.

Pen work: I have used a black pen to draw a freehand border around the outside of the page.

Mixed-media background: I have created a mixed-media background using a combination of gesso, texture paste, masking, stamping, mist, acrylic ink, and watercolor paints.

My testimony was inspired by the Free-write prompt, and also includes the inspiration words dreamy (I have used dream) and imagine.

My journaling says:

  ' You two are the sweetest little girls I know, and while I'm not technically your Aunt, even though that is what you call me, I consider you my nieces and I love you both very much. You are so lucky to have each other, I was never fortunate enough to have a sister to share my hopes with, to dream about the future with. You are still so young and there is a whole world out there waiting for you. You can have everything you imagine, as long as you never give up hope. I know that at the moment you are too young to really understand much of what I am saying, but as you get older you will. Just remember to look after each other, trust each other, and love each other, the bond you share as sisters is not something that can ever be forgotten or replaced. I look forward to watching you grow from the beautiful little girls, and darling sisters you are now, into the amazing young women and best of friends I know you will one day become.'

'Darling Sisters'

  

Some close-ups for you:

 

 As always, I have used lots of gorgeous Prima on here, flowers, wood-icons, newsprint frames, and junkyard findings. All the chipboard I have used is from Dusty Attic, the frame has been painted white with gesso. The butterflies were given the same treatment, followed by a light touch of watercolor.

Lots of layers and dimension.

The layers beneath the photo consist of many different sheets of paper from various brands, calico, some embellishments, and lots of foam tape.

The little sailing boat, and camera veneers are from Studio Calico.

Once again I have framed my photo with twine, both waxed and baker's twine.

The little banner was made using scraps of paper left over from those used in the layers.

As I have always done, I left the title until the very last moment. After some consideration I decided I had no choice other than to place it at the bottom of the page, as it looked wrong anywhere else. Though I must admit, it wasn't until after I have drawn a border around the page that I was truly happy with the placement.

 One reason I use watercolor so much is the beautiful effects it can create, but sadly it is also very unpredictable and does not always do what you want it to. This time however it turned out perfectly. I really love this background, and this section in particular. I wanted it to be a feature on the page, though I will admit, balancing the page and leaving this section uncovered wasn't as easy as it may seem.

This is definitely one of the best girly pages I have created in a long time!!

Next up I have a layout to share with you that is very, very special to me, as my Son helped my to create the background by splattering watercolors, and spraying mists. But the main reason it is precious to me is because it has his actual hand-print on it. The idea to put his handprint onto a layout happened quite by accident. I was working on the background with Jet and he decided to stick his hand in some paint I had just mixed. I didn't think much of it then, just took him inside to wash the paint off. It was when I was drying his hands that I began to wonder how a layout would look with his actual hand-print on it. I figured it couldn't hurt to try so I took him back outside, and this time helped him cover his hands in paint, before placing it onto the page.

'Look At Me!'

 I have used papers and embellishments from a huge range of brands including Prima (of course), MME, Studio Calico, Kaisercraft, Basic Grey, Collections Elements, Dusty Attic, AC, The Crafter's Workshop, and My Little Yellow Bicycle. Not to mention the variety of mixed-media products used to create the background.

Details:

I have randomly painted the edges of all the paper layers, and my photo, with a thick coat of gesso to add texture and dimension.

 The small green embellishment that says 'Smile' is actually a dimensional sticker from a kids sticker book, that I found in the local 2 dollar shop. I'm continually amazed by the things you can use to scrapbook, many of which are found in the most unlikely of places.

Some gorgeous Prima flowers!! My layouts just wouldn't be complete without them!

It's a little hard to see because of the color, but the peg says, 'More of This'. 

MME brads, Prima flowers, and some Studio Calico flair!!

As you can probably tell, this layout is not as bulky as I usually make them..... Yes it still has a lot of dimesion, just not as much!!

As you can see I have tucked some small embellishments (Studio Calico wood veneers, Prima Roman Numeral's and some flowers) in amongst my paper layer's, along with some black lace around my flowers.

Jet's hand-print! I would have preferred it to be a little further up the page, just a few centimeters, but trying to get a 2 year old to place his paint covered hand where you want it is a little difficult.... at least it ended up on the paper and not Mom's outdoor dining table!!

More flair badge's!! I really love these at the moment, though sometimes I struggle to find a place for them on a layout!!

I really love the effect on this chipboard arrow. It was covered with a thick coat of Ranger Liquid pearls, and while it was still wet I laid a piece of plastic on top, only for a few seconds, and when I lifted it of it created all these ridges. I then sprayed it with some mist. I will definitely have to try this again, maybe on my background next time!!

That's it from me today as it is almost midnight and I need some sleep! Thankfully I'm not as sick as I was so hopefully now I can finally start to catch up on my blogging instead of just falling further and further behind..... I have so much to share still!! I hope you have all had a wonderful week and that you have a great weekend!! See you soon!! Xoxox