Scrap Affairs - Sketch challenge

In Issue 51 of Scrap Affairs there was a sketch challenge issued by Laura Whitaker.I have been following her for a few years so couldn't not do the sketch. Here is my layout:

I used lots of old stash on this page and added in a few extras from the sketch. Am very chuffed with how it turned out. Now to hold thumbs on winning (hint hint!).

You can see Laura's original sketch and layout on her blog.

Lets Get Sketchy Guest Designer Application

I read about applying to be a guest designer for Lets Get Sketchy back in December and then found the perfect photo for the layout that was required. I scrapped it, took it's photos and then left it stewing on my pc till after the deadline of submission... silly me. I didn't realise I had missed the deadline till I sat down to submit. Oh well,guess I just chalk it up to another page done and leave it at that.

I did manage to use quite a few bits from my leftover stash and also a set of diecuts that I found when I was having my clearout. Amazing what you find when you're not looking for it!

January scrapping

Every year I make it a goal to do a page a day.... not physically every day but the aim is 365 pages in a year. Yes I have yet to hit this target, but some years I have come pretty close. Maybe one year I will actually surprise myself and get there.

So in this line of thinking, today is the 12th of January and so far this month I have scrapped 7 doubles and 4 singles which equates to 18 pages. So guess I am ahead of the game for now... yippee.

I won't bombard you with them all in this post, but here are a few for now:

Both these layouts are Jowilna Nolte originals but with major twists from me...ie not the usual white backgrounds, using my stash and even flipping left/right pages around.

A funny (and hard lesson) learnt on completing the double layout is to make sure you have enough dimensional glaze in the bottle before you start doing your title....hehehe yip you guessed it, I ran out halfway! Had to go buy a refill and then could only get a big bottle of the stuff (which I hate using too!). Guess I won't have to buy more for a loooonnnnnggg time.

December singles

I mentioned in my last post about doing a few singles in amongst that horde of doubles... well here they are:

This first one goes with my batch of pinterest inspired pages using my scraps... it sat on my desk for a while as I needed to print the small photo and cut the title. Eventually managed to get them done.

This layout is another one that was an amalgamation of inspiration from pinterest and an idea that I had rattling in my brain for years. In my tidying up that I did in Oct/November I came across this family chipboard album that I had bought to put on a page. I decided there was no better time to use it instead of just hording it... so a layout was made.

As this chipboard album is quite thick, I had to find ways to keep the pages from drooping when it is put into an album. I found some magnets which I added to a few of the pages and hopefully they will hold the book together. Each letter flips open and has photos on both sides. The pics were taken on my Mom's birthday in 2015 when the family was all together.

Bumper scrapping in December

Wow it's the 1st of the New Year... a whole new slate lies ahead of us and the adventure awaits.

But still I look back on last month and reflect on a bumper month of scrapping... I did class 5 times in December and managed to get 8 doubles and a single done. Yes not a major amount as compared to some previous months, but a great deal when you think that I did sewing and baking too, plus read 3 books.

So feast your eyes here on some creativity done (or finished) in December...

All these layouts are Jowilna Nolte originals with a my own special twist... yip I tend to add my own uniqueness to my layouts too even when doing a class... be it extra photos, changing the embellishments, leaving off the stitching (opps sorry Jow!), and even using my own stash.

Jow's classes are super relaxing and stress free... my kind of scrap therapy. I definitely hope to do a lot more of this in 2017.

My year's tally of layouts completed in 2016 was 62 doubles and 108 singles. That's a total of 170 layouts. I am super chuffed that I managed to do that many. It equates to 232 pages. This is the most I've scrapped in one year since 2013... guess it was a good year on the scrapping front. Now to get some filing done!

Looking for a new creative outlet

I am busy looking for a new Creative Design Team to be a part of. It's not easy putting yourself out there and hoping to get picked just on the strength of a few layouts being submitted, but what the heck, if you don't try you won't succeed. So here goes....

These are a few of the teams that I am vying for:

1. Let's Get Sketchy - Guest Designer

2. Colourful Creations

3. Cocoa Vanilla

So let's see what happens in the New Year.... holding thumbs!

Scraplift of a friend

A few weeks back I saw a layout by Lee-Anne Thornton and absolutely loved it... so decided it had to be scraplifted...this is my page.

I also used a diecut file from JustNick on my page. I had planned to cut it out of pattern paper but it didn't work... grrr. So after a few trials I cut it out of white cardstock and then ran a rainbow inkpad over it and outlined the letters in black.

Thanks for the inspiration Lee-Anne and JustNick.

My Mentor

Over the last few years I've taken a few classes from Jowilna Nolte and have learnt a whole host of techniques and wonderful stuff. I count Jow as a very good (and dear) friend as well as my scrapping mentor. When I grow up I would love to be a scrapper like her. Yes I do realise that I have my own style and I am happy with it... it's just something to aspire too.

In September a group of us took a roadtrip together to Kloof to spend the weekend scrapping at ShortCuts Kloof. As a momento of the weekend we got Jow to sign the wall... these are the pics I took and my layout to remember this special lady and moment.

For my page I scraplifted a layout I saw in Pinterest. I used a whole bunch of strips which I glued to a strip of cardstock and then diecut a whole bunch of starts... a super easy and effective technique.

Thanks Jow for all your teaching and friendship.

Destash scrapping

I decide that it's time to do some major de-stashing... I've sorted through my vast scrapping supplies and whittled out some stash to sell.

Part of this de-stashing was some mini albums that I did at various classes or events over the years. These have been sitting in a box for years just gathering dust so it was definitely time to de-stash.

I emptied the albums and recycled the papers and embellishment into a useful pile and a rubbish pile. I then decided to actually USE the papers, and so made the following three layouts.

I sure hope that I have motivated you to do some de-stashing and scrapping too.

Winners - Creative Scrappers Sketch Book

Thanks to everyone who left a comment on my previous post about the sketch book.... all 11 of you. Wow I don't think I have EVER had that many comments on a blog post... hehehe.

Anyway, I printed them all out, cut them up. Folded and then shook them up. I then picked one.... and the winner is....

TILLA

Congratulations. I will contact you with instructions to claim your prize.