Kraft Plus May challenge

This month at Kraft Plus, the challenge is to think outside the square, or rectangle, lol - and use your photo in some other shape:

I had some ideas in my head for this challenge, but they didn't really come to fruition as well as I had hoped. I wanted to die cut my photos into my title using large alpha dies, but of course too big for the page. So thinking further outside the box so to speak, I cut the H out of the 4 x 4 inch die, and the rest out of smaller dies, to give me both the title of the page and also the photos in a different dynamic. I am still not sure if it worked or not, but I think you get the idea of what it's all meant to be about. 

I created the background with my gelli plate, added a lovely chipboard palm tree, and voila - Hawaii was born. This page will become the front page of my album.

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

Hawaii

Stuck?! Sketches! May 15 challenge

So the mid month challenge is now available at Stuck?!Sketches!, and this sketch is awesome:

I have used a photo from a recent family wedding for this layout. I also created the background using my recently purchased gelli plate, which I am very much in love with. 

With the flower clusters, I took inspiration from the brides headpiece, full of flowers, so I just went a little crazy clustering them. I also die cut some doilies to tuck in behind the clusters, and have die cut the title. 

I do hope you join us for the challenge this mid month. 

Stuck?! Sketches! May 1 challenge

I am not sure where this year is going, May already. Time for the new months challenge at Stuck?!Sketches! Here is the sketch:

I really found this one a challenge, sketches for me a usually a great starting point, but I sat over this one for a long time to get it to work for me. I used some photos of my nephew with a bunch of balloons. I wanted the layout to be fun, so I used the colourful background. I used a My favourite things die to cut the circles. and added some circle chipboard. I continued with the circle elements with a Charms Creations O embellishment, and some Funky Flairs Studio flairs. 

Party

I hope you join us for the challenge. 

White with 1 May challenge DT share

So it's time for a new challenge at White With 1, and here is the challenge, deep black and a moodboard:

Now I had the perfect photo for this moodboard, a photo of a girlfriends grand-daughter, Addison. We went for a visit to a garden last year, and there was a giant chess game, Addison decided to play it by herself, so I very much took inspiration from the chess pieces. This layout fell together really well for me, I ordinarily struggle with black and white. 

With the use of the checkerboard stencil for the background, I was able to create a "chess board". The rest of the embellishing was with die cuts and flowers. I also added a Charms Creations diamond embellishment (no longer available). 

I hope you join us for this challenge.

Check Mate

Show Us Your Stuff May challenge

Time for a new monthly challenge at Show Us Your Stuff, and this is the challenge I have created, so I hope you like it.

The idea behind this moodboard was to invoke feelings of happiness, with maybe a bit of fun with it. 

I used a photo of great niece and nephew, taken at a recent family wedding. They enjoyed a big squishy hug together, so I took inspiration from the photo of the boy with the dog. I also took inspiration from the colours. 

My background was a joint effort, created at a recent retreat. I sat at a table with the very talented Fiona Paltridge. Fiona and I were interested in purchasing the same gelli plate, of which there was only 1, so I allowed her to purchase it, I purchased another one later when available. Fiona very generously allowed me to use her brand new gelli plate, but this was the first time I had used one, so I had loads of fun creating with it. On this piece, I started with some paint, Fiona came along and added a bit more to it, I added a few pieces of paper she had gelli plated, but discarded. Fiona then stitched on it. I added the stamps. The background was so much fun to create, with one of my very favourite mixed media artists and friend. 

The embellishing includes a Charms Creations emoji, which was just perfect. 

I hope we see you join in on this challenge.

Be Happy

Scrap the Girls May challenge DT share

So it's time for a new challenge at Scrap the Girls:

How beautiful is this moodboard? Just in time for mothers day as well. 

I have used a photo taken recently of myself, my mother and my daughter. My mother lives in another state, so I don't get to see her often, this is so hard. My parents visited us recently, we went out on a few adventures, this one my daughter joined us on. Melanie is great at taking selfies, so we lined up and she took this photo of the 3 of us, enjoying the gardens at Werribee Mansion. How lovely it is to visit a garden with your own mother. 

I created the background with my gelli plate (my new favourite tool). I added some stamping and some texture paste, which picked up some of the colour from the background printing. My embellishing includes a Charms Creations hessian heavenly heart, and a Funky Flairs Studio flair. 

I hope you join us for the challenge.

The little things