Off The Rails - Challenge 2!

The second challenge is now up at Off the Rails, and this time the challenge is..."Free For All!" Yep, that's right, it's open to ANYTHING! You can create a card, layout, mixed media project...whatever you like! FUN!!!

I was initially going to do a mixed media canvas, but this photo kept calling me, so I HAD to use it and went with a LO instead...

I used Heidi Swapp "Sugar Chic" papers, some of which I fussy cut and layered using mounting tape, and found some old Prima flowers in my stash to include...

And what's a girly LO without butterflies, right? I just love them! This time I used a couple of chipboard ones that I painted with gesso, inked lightly and then sprayed with iridescent gold mist to give them shimmer (as always, hard to show in the pics!)...

I do hope you will let your creativity run wild and play along with this challenge at Off the Rails! There's a great prize up for grabs from Dusty Attic to be won. :)

Week 8 - Final Monopoly Challenge!

I did it!!! I managed to complete my final layout for the Scrapbooking Top 50 Monopoly Challenge! (Even if it was hard finding time to get them done over the past 2 weeks.) For my final challenge I landed on "Splatter Street" which was to use a photo larger than 6 x 4" (I used a 5 x 7"), and include washi tape and splatters.

Here is what I came up with...

I loved working with this vibrant green, it was perfect for adding some other bright colour accents. I also used one of my favourite things - transparency, and even dragged out some old rub-ons...

Love these shiny Thickers...

And of course, I HAD to include a little Lovelybug goodness...

Off the Rails - first challenge!

Just a reminder to let everyone know that the first challenge is now up at Off the Rails! If you haven't already done so, make sure you pop over and check out this BRAND NEW challenge blog & the awesome international DT representing it. Be sure to become a follower so you don't miss anything, (and check out Off the Rails on all the social media platforms too!) I will be joining in the second challenge with the rest of the DT, but in the meantime I hope you all play along with challenge one!

I am a Guest DT & Sponsor!

This month I have accepted a Guest DT spot over at Scrapbooking Top 50 to do one of the December - January monthly challenges. I will also be providing the prize - some scrappy goodies from my own Lovelybug Bits n Bobs. I took on the quote challenge, and my challenge was to come up with something a bit festive, but that could also be used for a non-Christmas LO. In the end, I decided to use a quote from one of my favourite Christmas movies...

And here is my LO...

{Published in Scrapbooking Memories Vol 17 No 4}

(As you can see, I decided to go the NON Christmas route!)

This LO was inspired by an online workshop by Gwénaëlle Scharlipp in the Pop & Colours series being run by Studio Shirel and I loved getting my hands dirty putting it together! (I am pretty happy with the result too.)

Given that Lovelybug Bits n Bobs is the sponsor for this challenge, I HAD to include a Lovelybug button. This bird one was perfect...

To create the background I adhered a doiley and small scraps of paper to my base sheet, smeared with Gesso, and then built layers over the top using stencils, mists, inks, stamps, pen, gelatos, washi tape and finally, embellishments. You can see how using the gelatos has highlighted the texture of the doiley here...

This was the perfect quote for my little man Hunter, who LOVES a camera (and makes the perfect selfie partner in crime! hehe)...

I do hope you will join in my challenge, which is open right through until January 31st (plenty of time over the silly season!). You can find the challenge HERE

Monopoly Week 7!

I can't believe that it's almost over! (Or more to the point, that I made it this far! hehe) Only one challenge now remains in the Scrapbooking Top 50 Monopoly game, and I have really enjoyed them all. It was the best kickstart to my mojo I could have asked for, and Vicki, Sarah and Chloe have done a fantastic job organising it all.

So, Week 7 was Quote Week, and I landed on "Bling Chest", which allowed me the choice of challenges, with the extra criteria of bling. I chose the "Lovers Lane" challenge, which was to use hearts and the quote provided.

Here is my LO...

This quote was perfect for a LO of my princess, as I tell her this all the time...

(Not the greatest of pics sorry, as sunny Qld is not quite living up to it's reputation today!)

Some Exciting Scrappy News!

Finally I can share my little piece of scrappy news - I have been asked to join the Design Team for a brand new challenge blog - Off the Rails Scrapbooking.

"Off the Rails Scrapbooking blog is no ordinary blog, we are here to challenge you. When designing a card, a layout or a mixed media project think outside the square, go where you have never gone before. Go Off the Rails! We have an amazing Design Team that come from all over the world and are here to inspire you.
Our challenges are posted Friday and run for 2 weeks and every second Friday a new challenge will be posted."

I am so excited to be joining this team alongside some very talented scrappers! Please pop over and follow the new blog HERE and join us when the very first challenge goes live on the 29th November!

Monopoly Week 6!

Not much in the way of scrappy time this week thanks to life getting in the way (in fact it took me 3 sittings to get the time to finish this LO), but I am glad I am still managing to stay on track in the Scrapbooking Top 50 Monopoly game.

Week 6 saw me land on "Chance", so I had my choice of the challenges on offer. I chose "Flower Thoroughfare", which was flowers, punching & resin. I also had to include a polaroid frame or film strip.

Here is my take on it...

It was good dusting off some of my punches again (and yes, there really was dust on them!), and I always enjoy rifling through my flower stash. Love this wild rose from D-lish Scraps...

I layered a resin flower over a resin frame and topped it with a punched butterfly (I NEVER get tired of this MS punch!)...

I am hoping that the kids will soon be well again and things settle down enough for me to get more than 1 LO done this week... *crosses fingers*

Monopoly Week 5!

Over half way in the Scrapbooking Top 50 Monopoly game, and I am still LOVING the challenges! (And managing to keep up to date too!) This week (Sketches Week) saw me land on "Circular Quay". The challenge requirements were to use the sketch provided and also include twine. (I did "tweak" the sketch a little.)

Here is my take on it...

I love that I got a chance to scrap these photos of the boys - just another example of how very different in personality they are!

The cute little cupcake button is one I had been hoarding in my stash from My Little Bit of Whimsy. (Such a shame it has now closed!) The little flags I whipped up with toothpicks and washi tape to add to the "celebration" feel of the LO.

SFS October Quote Challenge

With the return of my mojo, I needed another challenge and when I saw the October Quote Challenge at Scrapbooking From Scratch, I knew I had the perfect pic for it! The quote was "be the reason someone smiles today".

Here is my LO...

(I initially tried to go for a clean & simple style with this LO, but it just didn't sit well with me, so I had to grunge it up a bit with some doodling, splatters & staples...LOL)

The big spotty fabric button is one of my own Lovelybug bits n Bobs buttons, and the cute little flag I found in my stash from Chloe at Rainbow Splendour...

Wow, another challenge done - I really am on a roll now! :)

Monopoly Week 4!

Week 4 (Techniques Week) in Scrapbooking Top 50's Monopoly, and I scored "Background Boulevard" for my challenge. The criteria were to create a LO with a background that really stands out, and to include leaves.

Here is my take on it...

{Layout published in Scrapbooking Memories Vol 16 No 11}

I used a variety of techniques to create my background - masking & misting; masking & texture paste (with glitter sprinkled over paste whilst wet); stamping; splattering; and stencilling & doodling using gelatos. (Pretty sure that was enough techniques! LOL)

Here is a closer look at some of my background...

For the leaves criteria, I stamped some leaves directly onto the background, and also included some fussy cut leaves in my embellishment clusters...

Really enjoying these challenges so far - can't wait for the next one! :)

Monopoly Week 3!

Week 3 (Colour Week) in the Scrapbooking Top 50 "Monopoly" game, saw me land on "Chance", so I was able to choose from all the other challenges. I chose "Complimentary Close" which (as the name implies), is all about the use of complimentary colours. I chose blue & orange, as I thought this would be the perfect CHANCE to get another boy LO under my belt. The criteria also called for the use of tags and a polaroid frame or film strip.

Here's what I came up with...

I cut my own tags for this LO, and also included a Lovelybug Bits & Bobs star fabric button...

For the filmstrips, I used my TH filmstrip stamp on acetate...

This LO seemed to come together quite quickly - hopefully that means I am getting the hang of the "boy" thing???

SBT50 Monopoly Week 2!

My week 2 roll in Scrapbooking Top 50's "Monopoly" game that is currently underway earned me a trip down the "Freestyle Freeway". This challenge was RIGHT up my alley! (I definitely felt the mojo return on this one!) The criteria for this challenge were to create a bright page with doodling; unusual journaling technique; and doilies.

Here is my LO...

I took my inspiration from the cake in the photo for the colours of this LO, and had a lot of fun creating a mixed media background.

You can just see one of the paper doilies I used (amongst my many other layers) to add depth & texture to the LO...

And no mistaking the presence of bright colours & doodling...

I am so looking forward to the next challenge in this game already...bring it on!!! For anyone still keen to join in, it's not too late, pop over to the forum and check out all the details HERE

I Dusted Off the Mojo!

I decided that the only way I was going to get creative was if I MADE myself do it (and perhaps with a little nudge from some friends too! hehe) So along came the perfect opportunity to motivate me and dip my toe back into the scrappy waters - the Scrapbooking Top 50 Monopoly Challenge! Although the game has officially started, IT'S NOT TO LATE TO JOIN IN!!! There are heaps of great prizes up for grabs (including a grand prize worth $200!) and the challenges also promise to be great.

Soooo...first up is the "GO" Challenge, which gets you onto the "Go" space on the board. You have to create a LO with the letters GO as the start of a word in your title or subtitle, and include a "game" item such as a ticket, playing card, etc.

Here's what I came up with (first LO in over 18 months and the first one of my boys - I felt SO rusty!)...

I used the word "gorgeous" and included a bingo card (you can see it peeking out from under the pp). I also used one of my own Lovelybug Bits n Bobs fabric buttons...

The next challenge (Week 1) is all about trends. The challenge varies, depending on what number you "rolled" on the board. I landed on "Bling Chest" which meant I could choose any of the other Week 1 challenges, plus include bling on my LO. I chose "Glitter Lane" and the criteria were paints, glitter & stars.

Here is my LO...

There is lots of sparkle & shine on this LO thanks to metallic paint, glimmermist, kindy glitz & sequins (so hard to show in a photo!)...

Now I have 2 challenges done, I am itching for more! LOL (I hope this mojo sticks around!) X

I'm back!!!

HELLO!!! After a looong extended break I am finally back! After moving house, my pregnancy, and sudden premature birth of my twin boys last year, the time (and desire) to create simply vanished. Now however, I am happy to report that the time seems right to dust off my mojo and get creative again.

For those who don't already know, Hunter & Kaden were born at 28 weeks gestation weighing 790g (1pd 11oz) and 1216g (2pd 12 oz) respectively. It was 4 days before I got my first cuddle, and 17 days before I was allowed to cuddle them both together. We spent almost 11 weeks in hospital, starting off in NICU (Neonatal Intensive Care Unit), then graduating to Special Care before being released 12 days prior to their due date on Father's Day last year.

Here are a few pics from our journey...

Turning 1...

And here they are recently...

Back with a creative share soon! X