July scrapping

This month has been a good one on the scrapping front... I've done more layouts in the last week that in the past few months... feels good to be creative again. Unfortunately I can't show you the layouts just yet.... but they will be revealed during August.... so keep coming back to see my blog. For now, here are a few of the pages that I have completed:

This is an old Scrapkits page that I changed the colours on totally... It was really good to do a multi-photo layout again, with flaps... take a look at how many photos I got on this one layout.... 48!!! I think this must be a new record even for me.

Next up is are three Jowilna inspired layouts

For this last one I made my own stamp for my tag.... I just gathered all the flower stamps that I have and put them onto an acrylic block that would fit my tag. It's good to stretch oneself to thinking how to make something instead of always needing to go out and buy more supplies. Recon I need to do this a bit more often.

I have three more pages on my table just needing a few finishing touches. Hopefully I can get to them during this week.

Lady Pattern Paper & Art Elements - a good combination

It's not often that I fall totally in love with a brand that I need to use it as soon as I get it... well the Lady Pattern Paper basic essentials (and the new kraft essential ones) are definitely ones that I love. I totally love the versatility of these papers and how bright they are.

These photos are from Jowilna's Art Elements day back in May.... it was a truly fun day that deserved a layout.

I used a sketch from Scrapbook Generation for my page and added in stickers and technique pieces for extra effect.

Scrapbook Challenges - Sketch 491 + Pattern Challenge

Look at that... it's the last Monday of July already... wow.... and just when we thought witer was nearly over it arrived with another fierce cold front... brrrrr and wet. We can't actually complain about the winter this year as it's only been two days of really cold weather each month. So this is July's batch. We've really had some awesome sunny days so it's nice to have the soft rain again.... I just don't like cold AND wet weather. At least it does make nice scrapping weather...hehe. I was productive this afternoon and managed to get 5 pages virtually finished...just a title or two and some stitching to be done.

So,on to this week's fun combined challenge...

For my layout I turned to a stash of Cards that I had and cut them up for the little bits on my page... just an arbitrary layout recording a "new" look for me (ok it's old as this was back in 2013!)... and I got to add in some tiny polka dots too for the pattern challenge.

Remember to create a page and link it up on the blog.... check out the inspiration there too.

Scrapbook Challenges - Sketch 490 + Journalling Challenge

This week's layout and challenge are up....

My layout is using photos from a trip Keith, my hubby, took to Canada last year to visit his family. They had a morning out in the lovely town of Paris. As neither of us are likely to get  to the actual city of Paris in France, I thought I'd may as well use the Eiffel Tower sticker from a travel collection on the page... sort of tongue-in-cheek!

This week there is a journalling challenge as well.

Remember you can create one or two layouts and stand a chance of being the lucky draw winner for this month. Check out more inspiration on the blog.

A fun page

Here is a technique page that I did a few month's back but haven't yet posted... oops..

For this one I did a whole host of embossing resist on the small cards using various embossing folders as my stamps. Here's how:

1. First up I stamped the pattern with watermark ink, then applied clear embossing powder and heated them.
2. Next I applied various distress inks to my craft sheet, misted them with water and then dipped each piece into various colours and left them to dry. Each piece turned out differently.... like the cracked eggs I was hoping to mimic.
3. Cut each piece to size and finished off my layout.

This is a very effective technique that can be done with any stamps (or embossing folders as in my case!). Why not give it a try.

Scrapbook Challenges - Sketch 489 + Title Challenge

My layout for this week's sketch is all about a trip my Mom and I took last year... a week away from family and work... literally and escape. 

I used a sheet of the new Sea Breeze collection from Couture Creations for my background... added a stamped compass in the top right corner (more on how I created my stamp coming up in August!) I also cut afew tags to tuck under my photo. Here is a closer peak at the stamping on my layout

This is the fabulous sketch we worked with this week...

As well as an added bonus of a Title Challenge... using a #hashtag which is all the rage at the moment.

So you can do one or two layouts or even combine them,like I've done... but take up the challenge and have fun. More inspiration can be found on the blog.

A whole host of June creations

During last month I did manage to scrap quite a bit... my motivation arrived and I got down and busy. Here is what I produced:

All these pages are designs by Jowilna with a few adaptations by myself as I don't always have the exact stuff to make the techniques or layouts.... but that's the great thing about Jow's classes... they work with whatever photos and stash you have on hand.

Secret Scrapbook Event - in photos

We weren't allowed to share anything about the event as it was all a BIG SECRET until Sunday the 19th of June... and then I just got a little busy... anyways, here are just a few photos of my weekend away last month... lovely scrapping with some fun friends:

Getting my hands on my own Go Cut & Emboss machine from Couture Creations... thanks so much for my new toy.

The crazy girls at Table 5.... without you I wouldn't have lasted the full two days. 

From top left.... Vanessa, Lindsey (aka Gillian), Kim, Shirley, Tanja and me.

Us crazy girls with Jow and Nabila

and last but definitely not least.... the Couture Creation Girls... Kerrie Gurney who is the Design Team Coordinator and Jowilna and myself who will be guest designers over the next few months.

A big thank you to Cariena Basson and her whole team from Scrapbook Studio in Jeffery's Bay, as well as to TheWholesaler. An even bigger thank you to Couture Creations and Ultimate Crafts in Australia for their sponsorship of this event and all our lovely spoils.