Deer and Fawn Designs April challenge

I have found a new blog site and challenge, thanks to a friend. It's called Deer and Fawn Designs, which also has an online shop, which can be found here. (So far I haven't gone shopping, but I am going to have to - lol).
Anyway, the challenge is a mixed media challenge, to use - sprays, stencil, at least one paint colour and a household item as a stamp.
Now I do like a bit of mixed media (lol - that's an understatement). So I just had to have a go at it.
I was actually challenged to find a household item to use as a stamp, and now that I've finished my layout, I can think of a few items. I did try my potato masher, but it just didn't cut it. In the end I used a cardboard tube and a plastic tube - I had saved them for something just like this. I had this photo of my nephew Lachlan blowing bubbles, and I thought the tubes would work well for stamping with - to represent bubbles, so this is how it all came about. I am quite pleases with the end result.
I used a Kaisercraft stencil with texture paste, then sprayed over that with Heidi Swapp colour shine, and Tattered Angels glimmermist. I stamped using the tubes with some colour shine and acrylic paint, and added some splatters of paint.
I have embellished using some journaling spots, flair button and enamel dots from D-lish Scraps and star embellishment from Charms Creations.
I had fun with this challenge, so thanks Deer and Fawn Designs.
Thanks for looking at my layout and any comments you may leave.  

Super Bubble

Scrapping with Charms Creations butterfly hearts

Charm from Charms Creations has created some absolutely gorgeous butterfly and heavenly heart embellishments. This is an example of one of the embellishments available in her store. You can find them here.

So on the facebook page there is also a challenge to use the new embellishments. It is a gorgeous challenge. Why not give it a go, and don't forget to upload it to the inspiration page. 

So here is my take on the challenge. Although I didn't use the quote  in my layout, I was inspired to use butterflies, and use the title in the script writing. I also chose the bright colours in the image on the right. 

This is a photo of a friend and his baby girl, taken back in 2009. I think the butterflies are a perfect embellishment for a baby layout, as are hearts. 

Baby girl

Have fun with the challenge. 

Scrap Around The World April Challenge

At Scrap Around the World this month, there is a really cool inspiration board to be inspired by:

I have had so much fun playing along with these challenges in the last couple of months, and this month was no different. I have enjoyed how much I can get really arty with these challenges, and letting my creativity just flow. 

For this challenge, I was inspired by the colours, and the image of the boat with the rope.

I had this photo, which was taken on a holiday in Merimbula back in 2009. I went walking one day. while my hubby and son went fishing, so I played with my camera and snapped some artistic style photos. This photo was perfect for this challenge. 

I sprayed the background with some Prima colour bloom spray, then went back with some Lindy's stamp gang spray. I added some texture with texture paste and stencils, and then some stamping. I obtained a new product on the weekend at a Scrapping expo, some Decoart metallic lustre. which I rubbed over the page in different areas, fun product. I chose a selection of co-ordinating patterned papers as a mat for my photo, and added twine and cotton behind the mat. A bit of muslin added to the bottom of the mat as well, to add a bit more fibre texture. The the mica flakes to top it off.

My embellishments include the book page chevron from Charms Creations, and some Scrapmatts chipboard, including the title. 

I really enjoyed getting arty with this layout and challenge.

Thanks for looking at my layout and for any comments you may leave. 

Once Upon a Time

Scrapping Outback April Challenge

This month at Scrapping Outback, the challenge is to use the following for inspiration:

The colours in this are lovely, even though purple, which I really am not fond of. This inspiration picture threw me, I fiddled with this one for a really long time, needing to set it aside for a whole week, and then come back to it. Even when I came back to it, I was still fiddling doing the same thing. In the end, I got rid of a couple of things I was trying to work with, that just didn't work on this, and went back to the basics. 

I chose to scrap this photo of myself as a 1 year old.

I used a TCW stencil with mist in the background, and then stamped with this really cool Carabelle stamp, which changed the whole background instantly. I used these old Crate paper papers, as they were the right colours, I had nothing else. I had this lovely acetate frame, which when added, again changed everything, and then it came together. All I needed then was the embellishment, and for this I chose a Charms Creations mini star, and journal it's, flair and flowers from  D-lish Scraps. The chipboard piece I have added is a small doily by 2 Crafty. 

In the end, I was very happy with the way this layout turned out, much better than when I started it.

Thanks for looking at my layout, and any comments you may leave.

Hey Baby

White With 1 April Challenge - Sand

The April challenge at White with 1, is to use the colour sand with white:

I had a few thoughts running through my head that could be used for this challenge, but funnily enough none of those came out on the layout. 

I chose this photo of my hot air balloon ride for the challenge, and then it all started evolving from there. I used a Scrap FX stencil with texture paste for the background, then sprayed it with Lindy's stamp gang mist, to create an almost ombre effect to the cardstock. I then stamped over the background with a Prima Stamp. I built up layers of Basic Grey patterned paper, with some vintage magazine paper, some of which I used a Couture Creations die on. Then the embellishments, including a Charms Creations map marker. I guess I have varying shades of sand on here.

Thanks for looking at my layout, and any comments you may leave.

Flying High

123 April Challenge

This month at 123 challenge blog, the challenge is to use the following as inspiration:

Initially when I looked at this, I was stumped, I don't do a lot with bright pink to start with, so I felt a little bewildered. I looked through my photos, and found this photo of my son, and thought it would be perfect to meet the criteria. 

I used a Kaszazz stencil to create the grid pattern in the background with texture paste. I sprayed with some dylusions ink, and stamped using a funky prima drips stamp in the blue ink. I used LOL as an extra part to my title, in the foam thickers. 

I have included a Charms Creations star, a release from March, as an accent to tie the blue and pink together. I have made a little mirror out of a small chipboard frame and some aluminium foil. I think it all worked, lol. 

Thanks for looking at my layout, and any comments you may leave. 

Mirror Mirror

Off the Rails Scrapbooking April Challenge

This month at Off the Rails Scrapbooking the challenge is to be inspired by this mood board:

 

or there is this version:

I chose to use the one with the pink for my layout. I used a photo of my one of my daughters long term friends, Leah. Leah had taken this selfie, which I asked if I could scrap, she was obliging and said yes. 

I loved how the challenge colours were able to be picked up in the photo, so the 2 could work well. 

I tried a few different backgrounds, but the black cardstock worked best for this layout. I misted a little and did a bit of stencilling with texture paste and added some glitter. 

The leaves were cut with a Tim Holtz die and some glitter card and fantasy film (really old stuff from my stash). The patterned papers are also really old stuff. I thought I may as well keep going with the old, and added the sequin trim which was from a friends' mothers unwanted stash. The sequin bow from D-lish Scraps finished it all off. 

I showed the layout to Leah last night, I think she liked it, lol, 

Thanks for looking at my layout, and for any comments you may leave. 

Smile

Overcoming Scrappers Block - scrapping with Charms Creations

So on Easter Monday afternoon, I sat down to do some scrapping, chores were done, family were happy, I had some time to do what I wanted to do. I looked at the current array of challenges for April and decided on one to do. I gathered my photo, got some papers out, decorated some cardstock, and then for the next 2.5 hours I shuffled the same papers around and achieved nothing except for a case of major frustration - argh - SCRAPPERS BLOCK.
The inspiration was not firing at all. I'm not sure why I couldn't do it, whether it was because I was a bit tired, I wasn't inspired by the challenge, whether I had too much going through my head, trying to achieve too much? Who knows? Maybe all of the above.
So I set it aside, and thought about just looking at something that wasn't challenge related, and that could be just a bit of fun. I found a photo of my mother from when they were visiting Melbourne at Christmas time. We had a day out at the Yarra Valley and visited the chocolaterie, which is awesome and a must visit when in Melbourne.
Anyway, I pulled out some Kraft cardstock and some Charms Creations, and I knew what I was going to do. These new arrows were the embellishments that inspired me to create my layout:

To my surprise, this all started to come together really quickly. I sprayed the cardstock with with Dylusions inks, and gathered some patterned papers that would compliment the photo. I was inspired by a recent class I did at E2C retreat with Kim Price, where she does a lot of layering of papers, to create my photo mat. I gathered a few more embellishments, all of this taking about half an hour. Then it was dinner time and the end of creating for the day. 3 days later I finally finished the layout, which took me about another hour and a half all up. Isn't it amazing how taking a break from something actually allows the mojo to flow again. 

In the end along with the Charms arrows, I included one of the new mini hearts. I love how these embellishments have helped me to create a fun and quirky layout, that didn't require a lot of overthinking. I carried over the arrow theme with the other arrows in the stickers and flair. 

So next time you get scrappers block, put aside what you are doing, and try just playing and having fun. 

Happy scrapping. 

One 4 Me

Kraft + April Challenge- retro recipe

This month at Kraft +, the challenge is to use the following recipe to inspire your creation:

Wow, again endless possibilities with this challenge, and the colours are right up my alley. I loved creating my layout for this challenge. 

I chose a photo of nephew Kalden, taken on Christmas night, at our family dinner. He wasn't quite two, but he was trying to match it with the bigger boys who were running around all night. He was terribly cute, so I just had to snap some photos of him. I managed to get a couple, pity he didn't look right at the camera, but he was just too busy to pose, lol. 

I have followed the recipe, I've included all the ingredients - silver is the star sequins and the square paper clips, 3 tags, stamping on the white tag - Heidi Swapp stamp, and Kaisercraft under the papers. Small amount of red washi tape, polka dots on the patterned paper and the cotton. I journaled around the border. I also included a Charms Creations star, to finish it all off. 

Thanks for the challenge Kraft + team. 

Thanks for looking at my layout and any comments you may leave. 

Kalden... cute as

Happy Easter with Charms Creations - Mini Easter Bags

Hi Everyone, this week being Easter week, we are celebrating at Charms Creations, with a blog hop. 

There is lots of fun stuff happening on the blog this week, so make sure you check in every day. There is a prize up for grabs at the end of the week. Don't forget to collect your words. 

Easter for my family usually means a relaxing weekend, maybe some time to do projects at home such as gardening, finishing off something that has already been started, catching up with family, maybe a picnic or a drive. This year, I'm hoping to get a couple of scrapping layouts created, with so many cool challenges around. 

The Easter bunny still comes to visit, even though my kids are adults now, they still want some eggs. There are 2 little people in our family though, who do get a little extra visit from the bunny, nephews Jareth and Kaldon. 

So instead of the boring old presentation of eggs and bunnies in commercial packaging, I have created some mini Easter bags to present them in. 

I found these cute bags, bunnies and chicks whilst out shopping recently, at the homewares store - Bed, Bath and Table. 

So I had a plan to use these for the goodies for the boys. I thought about how to enhance them rather than leaving them plain, and Charms' Creations came to mind along with the bunnies and chicks. These are some of the bits from my stash that I thought I might work with. 

I tried a couple of different ones, but in the end went with the arrows. 

So here are the bags from this:

To this:

A simple project, but something a little special other than ordinary commercial packaging. 

Happy Easter, and happy creating. 

xxx Sandra

D-lish Scraps April Inspiration Board Challenge

Once again, Amanda has created another awesome inspiration board for the D-lish Scraps blog challenge, which I am sure you will agree.

How pretty is Aztec Dreams? I really hope you have a go with this inspiration board, there are endless layout styles you could create.

I chose a photo of my wonderful aunt and uncle, who have just celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary. I think the colours in the board worked well for my photo, and I loved the style of the sketch. The D-lish Scraps products  that can be found in store, used on my layout include - Monochromatic journal tags, resin bird, flowers - mini and mid sized roses, pastel petals and asters, resin flowers, cardstock words, Scrap Fx chipboard feathers.  

Believe in Love

Show Us Your Stuff April Challenge

Wow, can you believe it's April already, where has the time gone?
Anyway, I would like to share my layout for the design team for Show Us Your Stuff April challenge. If you like pastels, you will love this. If you want to scrap some really pretty pages, you will love this. If you want to scrap Easter, you will love this. A gorgeous mood board.

I didn't have any Easter photos to scrap for this, but I did have a pretty photo, of my daughter Melanie, when she was a flower girl, a while ago now. The pastels suited this photo, as did the flower images. 

I created a base on my patterned paper with a TCW stencil and texture paste, some stamping, and then the layers from there. My handmade items include a Charms Creations heart, a flair button from D-lish Scraps, and a die cut birdcage using a Tim Holtz die. 

Cherish the Moment