Scrapbooking Top 50 December challenge

I decided to have a go at the challenge at Scrapbooking Top 50 this month, given it is a Christmas inspired challenge.

I loved the earthiness and rustic appeal of this moodboard. I had a photo of a Santa life art statue taken in the city, that I thought might be good for this challenge. However, I didn't have much in the way of wood inspired objects that would work. I altered a piece of music patterned paper with gesso, ink, stamping and crackle texture paste. I had a sheet of Kaisercraft stickers, a few years old now, and these worked well, so I took the inspiration for my layout from the flowers. I cut the stickers in half and layered them around the photo. I then found some wood veneer baubles and a star, and that gave me the wood element I was looking for. I think it turned out ok. 

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

Santa in the city

Kraft plus December challenge

So it is Boxing Day today, and after a hectic week at work, then preparing for Christmas, I have given myself today to scrap. No cooking, no cleaning, no chores - it's fend for yourself day today.
So I have managed to sneak in a layout for the Challenge at Kraft Plus. Here is the challenge:

I loved the sound of this challenge, until it came to doing it, lol. So I guess I really was challenged. I decided to scrap about my cat, Tess. She will lay down in many places around our home, usually wherever I am. She follows me around whenever I am at home. Even today she was sitting with me when I was scrapping, but then she wanted to steal my chair - this can be a constant game. In the photos I have used she is laying in a suitcase, on the lounge, and sitting behind an old sewing machine. These are but a few of the spots she chooses. 

I created a background with crackle texture paste and Ken Oliver colour bursts, then stamped over this. I added some cotton thread, and my photos, title, journaling and embellishing. I have embellished minimally, it doesn't need too much, in my opinion anyway. I used a Charms Creations heavenly heart with cat, and a flair and journal tag from Flutterby designs. 

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

She makes herself at home

Scrap The Girls December Challenge

Well it's nearly the end of the year, how did that happen?
We get so busy with Christmas preparations, we forget to take time out for our own things. I found time to sit and do this challenge though from Scrap The Girls. I looked at this challenge, and new I had a photo that would work. Here is the challenge:

My daughter turned 21 over 5 years ago. I have struggled to scrap her photos, given that the photos are mostly of scantily clad young ladies (Burlesque theme party) - geez I sound like a prude. I have never found the right inspiration but this challenge was perfect. I felt the need to go OTT with it, I think it worked, LOL. 

I stencilled the background with texture paste and added Ken Oliver colour burst powders to the wet paste. Once dry I then came back with some gold ferro paste. 

I have taken inspiration from the gold, and the flowers. I have overloaded the layout with flowers. I also added a Charms Creation super star and terrific tab. 

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

Burlesque

Stuck?!Sketches December 15 sketch challenge

Not far till Christmas now, but there is still hopefully a bit of time to squeeze in some scrapping.
So at Stuck?! Sketches we have a really nice sketch to round out the year, take a look:

It really couldn't be any easier for the mad season, so I hope you feel inspired enough to have a go at this sketch. 

I have created using a photo of my nephews and myself, taken at our family Christmas 2015. It is not often the whole family gets together for Christmas as we live in different states, but this year we had a bit of fun with camera, props and a frame. 

I dug out a few handmade items from my stash, from swaps with friends from years gone by, they worked well for this layout. I also added a Charms Creations super star to my layout, along with some flairs from D-lish Scraps. 

I am pretty pleased with this layout, it's a bit of fun, a little bit of over the top, but I figure Christmas is allowed to be.

Hohoho

Show Us Your Stuff December challenge

Well it's nearly Christmas. Are you ready? Or would you rather be creating?
At Show Us Your Stuff, we have an awesome sketch to finish off the year with. Lol, I designed the sketch, Lisette came up with the word, and Chloe drew it all together with her graphic skills.
Here is the sketch:

It really couldn't be simpler. All you have to do is ensure you have the word TOGETHER as part of the layout, and don't forget to add your handmade item. 

I scrapped a photo of myself and my nephews, I don't get to see them much, we live in different states. So last time I saw them, my brother took this photo. 

I used some Colour Blast colour paste as a base for my photo. I added a Charms Creations heavenly heart and terrific tab to embellish with, along with some flairs from Studio fourteen40, which are my handmade items. 

I love this photo, and I am pretty pleased with the outcome. 

I hope you join us for the final challenge for 2016. 

Together

Charms Creations guest designer at CSI

So it's December, and nearly Christmas, and everyone is crazy busy and feeling stressed. Why do we do this to ourselves for one day?
So with this in mind, those of us who are creative, and love to play with paper and other pretty stuff, need to take time out for ourselves to create.
How better to do that, then with challenges, they give you what you need to be creative with.
One of those is the challenges at CSI. Charms Creations is a sponsor for the challenges this month. So I have had a play along with the case file 219. Here is the challenge:

When it came to doing this, I had so many items I could have used for evidence, but I used burlap, ribbon, tags, metal, brads, stars and trees. One of my stars is a Charms Creations bookpage super star. My testimony is about Christmas, and I have also used the word cheer. I also used the sketch provided. 

I hope you give this challenge a go, a lot of fun. 

Christmas Cheer

Stuck?! Sketches December 1 challenge - DT share

Well, it's December, and you know what that means, anyway we won't go there.
We also have a new challenge for you to play along with at Stuck?! Sketches. Here is the sketch:

How awesome is this? You could use this for anything, and you will see that, if you check out what the design team have created. Great for general photos, great for Christmas (argh I said it). 

I chose to use photos of my great nephew, who recently turned 1. He is an awesome little guy, love him to bits. These photos are from his birthday. I continued the star theme, and used some super stars from Charms Creations, plus star washi tape, and glittery chipboard embellishments to give the feeling of shine. 

I hope you give this sketch challenge a go, it really is terrific. 

Love this