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

Archiscraps Jully challenge

So this is a new challenge site that I found after seeing a link for it from another blog that I follow - Scrapping Outback - who are sponsors for the July challenge. The challenge at Archiscraps is to scrap our pets. I don't do a lot of pet layouts, but did have a cute photo of our cat Tess, that I wanted to scrap, so this was the perfect challenge.
I started by spreading gesso over Kraft cardstock, then spread a variety of paints over the gesso. I added some texture paste through stencils, and some stamping, then some mica flakes to create this background. I matted the photo over a doily, project life cards, and a variety of patterned papers. Then I added transparency over the photo. I embellished simply with a D-lish Scraps flair, some recycled Making Memories ribbon slides that had the slide part removed and they just became flowers. I also had this wood veneer cat from Corbett Creations that topped it all off.
I am so happy with the result of this layout.
Thanks for looking and for any comments you may leave.

Tess