Zombie | Viva Las VegaStamps October Challenge!

Hi everyone!
There's something highly unusual going on today - I am actually playing along with a challenge! When I saw the October mood board challenge for Viva Las VegaStamps I just couldn't resist. I have so many cool stamps in my stash from VLVS that were perfect for the board.

First, here's a look at the board that inspired me...

And here is what I came up with...

"Zombie"

I was inspired my many elements of the board - the "demonic" theme; the black+white+one colour scheme; the stars (I actually have the same star stamp but chose not to use it in favour of my more gruesome ones); the vertical stripes and a bit of a dark, grungey feel.

I used a photo of Brielle taken on Halloween 2014, when I dressed her as a zombie to go trick or treating. (Personally, I think it was my finest year, and way more fun to do than the ninja she wanted to be last year!)

Here are some close-ups so you can see the details. (All the stamps used on this project are from Viva Las VegaStamps.)

I used Colour Blast Colour Shimmer Dust (Candy) to create the "blood" dripping down from the top of the page.
The "blood splatters" around the page were created with Flutterby Designs Flutter Colour paint.

The wood veneer pieces (the frame, which I cut in half and inked grey) and the stars (which were coloured black are all from D-lish Scraps. (As was the tissue paper, black punchinella and coloured wire used in the layers under my photo.)

The handmade black and red cross embellishment is from Charms Creations and I thought it was the perfect fit for this page! I also added some red Snippet Strips from Flutterby Designs.

Here's a better look at all those luscious layers...

Thanks for stopping by today so I could share this. If you have any Viva Las VegaStamps in your stash, make sure you have a go at this month's challenge. (And if you don't have, make sure you hit the store HERE and check them out!)
Til next time, happy scrapping! X

Eat St | Flutterby Designs

Hi everyone!
Popping in today to share my most recent Flutterby Designs project, and this time it's a pocket page spread. For all of those who live in south-east Queensland, you have most likely already heard of the Eat Street Markets that run on Friday and Saturday nights in Brisbane. But for you those of you that haven't, it's been described as the "ultimate foodie extravaganza" - a boutique market that features a fabulous variety of international street food vendors.

*LANGUAGE WARNING*

The following images contain language that may be offensive to some. 

The same language may be amusing to others.

I will leave it to you to decide which one you are.

I often use this style of scrapping to document events as it provides the opportunity to include lots of photos.
Here's a look at the whole spread...

As you can see, it's quite busy, with lots of colour; fun elements; and plenty of photos and journaling - just the way I like it!

Here's a closer look at each side...

I used a variety of Everyday Etc cards as the focus for these pages; even cutting some of them up to use as embellishments. I also used Blackboard Sticky Quotes; Snippet Strips; flair button; enamel dots; wood veneer; rainbow heart stickers; "You've Got This" stencil; and photo cut out tabs.

Here's a few close-ups...

 #wewereHERE wood veneer

ABSOFUCKINLUTELY flair button

I do all my own stunts Blackboard Sticky Quote

Thanks for stopping by today so I could share this with you. I hope this has inspired you to get your own Flutterby stash out and get creative! (And if you don't have any stash yet - get on it! You can find the store HERE)
Til next time, happy scrapping! X

Wish | Cocoa Vanilla Studio

Hi everyone!
Popping in with another design team share for Cocoa Vanilla Studio today, but this one with a bit of a twist. This month Cocoa Vanilla are sponsoring the challenge at Creative Scrappers, so our design team were invited to play along too. We were sent a fabulous sketch designed by Kristine Davidson and asked to create a layout inspired by the sketch. (You can find the sketch and challenge details on the Creative Scrappers blog HERE)
Here is my layout...

"Wish"

I used the new release Make a Wish collection for this layout. (I know I have used it quite a bit lately, but it's so fun and easy to use - I am loving it!)

I started with a sheet of the gorgeous dainty floral print Daydream paper as the base for my layout, which I topped with a piece of the pink watercolour print from Hip Hooray. I then created a mat for my photos using the pink polka dot Party Mix paper, which I complimented with some extra pieces cut from the Fresh Cut floral paper. I also added a paper doily and a tab from the accessory sticker sheet into the layers under my photos.

As I had altered the sketch and decided to work with only two photos, I used the oh yeah piece from the cut apart Party Mix paper to fill the remaining space alongside my photos. Below that, I placed a tag from the die cut ephemera pack, which I tied with some cotton twine and used for my journaling. This was layered with a wood veneer birthday cake, and a couple of stars from the ephemera pack. To add to the fun feel of this layout, I also added a party hat from the wood veneer pack above one of the photos.

To tie in with the wood elements I had already used, and to also help balance my design; I used the wish word from the wood veneer pack as my layout title and then some phrase stickers from the accessory sticker sheet to support it. I also embellished directly onto my photos - using a large star die cut and a word banner sticker.

To finish off my layout, I added a few sparkles enamel dots dotted around the page, and some stamping using a happy birthday phrase stamp.

Thanks for stopping by today. Don't forget if you would like to play along with this challenge and be in with a chance of winning yourself a Cocoa Vanilla prize, you can visit the Creative Scrappers blog HERE for all the details. (We would love to see you all joining in with some Cocoa Vanilla creations!)

Til next time, happy scrapping! X

Hello | Show Us Your Stuff October Challenge

Hi everyone!
Popping in today to share my take on this month's challenge for Show Us Your Stuff. This month the challenge has been designed by the very talented Leanne Jago and is a fabulous mood board that looks like this...

All of the images featured in the mood board are artworks created by Leanne herself. Aren't they amazing? I was inspired by the blue and green colours that feature; the use of paint; and also by the theme of animals to create this layout...

"Hello"

I had so much fun creating the background for this layout using lots of layers of paint (Dylusions and Flutter Colour paints); stencils (including some of the fabulous mini stencils from Flutterby Designs) and stamps from Viva Las VegaStamps.

Here's a closer look at some of those layers. It took a bit of patience and work with the heat gun to make sure each one was dry before I applied the next. I am really happy I did though, I love being able to see the colour separation between each one...and no mud!

I used one of my Amy Tan Thickers words for my title, which I paired with a Flutterby Designs snippet strip.

Under my photos are some layers I added for extra texture - a coloured paper doily and some punchinella (both from D-lish Scraps). The flair button and resin stars are both from Cocoa Vanilla Studio; and more snippet strips from Flutterby Designs.

Some handwritten journaling, a little bit more stamping and some enamel dots finished off my layout.

I hope you will play along with us this month! You have until midnight, 31st October to get your entries in. We have an amazing prize up for grabs from Art by Leanne Jago. You can pop over to the Show Us Your Stuff blog for the full challenge and prize details.
Til next time, happy scrapping! X

Stay Curious | Scrap the Girls Guest Designer

Hi everyone!
I was recently contacted by my friend Krisy Podolak, who is the owner of the Scrap the Girls challenge, asking if I would join this month's challenge as a guest designer. Being a long time follower and participant (as time allows) of the STG challenge, and a friend and fan of Krisy herself, of course I said yes! (You can read the post on the Scrap the Girls blog HERE)

So this was the challenge that Krisy sent me...

A stunning board, I am sure you will agree, but one that sent me into a minor tailspin when I saw the PURPLE! Long-time followers of my blog will already know I freely admit it isn't my favourite colour to scrap with. In fact, it probably doesn't even make my top 10! haha

But let it be known that I am never one to shy away from a challenge, so I went to my stash and had a think about it and this is what I came up with...

And you know what? I am actually really happy with the purple on this layout! I did it using a Colour Blast Colour Shimmer Dust (Violet) and I really like the rich tone of it. I mixed the dust with water and then applied it with a brush as a watercolour. Cool huh?

After I had the purple down as my base, I went to town adding layers to my mixed media creation.

Included in my layers was joint tape; torn strips of washi; stamping - including some Tim Holtz and Viva Las VegaStamps with both black and grey inks; and some splattered white Flutter Colour paint from Flutterby Designs.

Next, I created the layers for my photo mat. This is where I wanted to bring in the subtle green and more of the grey. I used a piece of patterned paper as the base; then added some tissue paper, paper doily, dip dye printed tag tied with twine, flair button and pieces of a wood veneer frame (all from D-lish Scraps). I also added some gauze for extra texture.

I wanted to add some words to my layout, but didn't want a big title to overwhelm my page; so I used some Snippet Strips from Flutterby Designs to help convey my theme. I placed the stay curious one on my feature photo to act as my layout title. I added the Charms Creations butterfly heart to the corner of my secondary photo to act as my feature embellishment.

To help balance my layout I added some Cocoa Vanilla Studio wood veneer pieces to the left of my photos, and then my handwritten journaling. To finish, I added some stamped phrases; a few small splatters of Heidi Swapp Seafoam Color Shine to tie the green into my background, and a few splatters of black as well for extra depth.

Thanks for stopping by today so I could share this. If you are a purple fan, or even if you aren't but you like a challenge, make sure you enter this month's challenge at Scrap the Girls

Be Bold | Flutterby Designs

Hi everyone! Just popping in to share my latest design team project for Flutterby Designs with you all. Today I have a 12x12" mixed media layout that features a photo of my cheeky boys showing me their "tattoos" that they had drawn on each other with textas.

I was inspired to create a messy mixed media background for this layout to fit with the "art" theme of my photo. I also wanted to draw in the paint splotch design from the Everyday Etc card (from the No Excuses range) that I chosen to use as the feature behind my photo.

 To create my background, I used several different colours of Flutter Colour paint. I wanted the paint to splatter easily, so I watered it down slightly to make it thinner. Then I set about applying each colour by splattering and flicking it onto my page using a paint brush. In order to make sure I didn't make "mud", I dried each colour thoroughly before applying the next one. After it was dry I also added some stamping with black ink to give the background more depth and character.

 As I already mentioned, I used an Everyday Etc card from the No Excuses range behind my photo. I also used another card from the same range to fussy cut my Be Bold title from. As there was no purple on my background, I wanted to add some purple elements to help tie in with colours in the title. So I used one of the coordinating No Excuses Filler Cards and cut it up to add the purple I needed.

Next, I added a flair button (from set #229), which I nested on some messy black cotton thread; and one of the Blackboard Sticky Quotes below my photo. I also added a couple of Snippet Strips around my page.

I then added a few Confetti Circles wood veneer pieces, which I coloured black with my trusty Posca pen and some neon enamel dots.

A few splatters of purple mist and some quick journaling and I was finished.

Thanks for stopping by so I could share this page with you. I will be back soon with another project to share. Until then, happy scrapping! X

Sweet | Cocoa Vanilla Studio

Hi everyone! I am here today to share my latest layout for Cocoa Vanilla Studio using the beautiful Love Always collection. I have had this photo of Brielle and Kaden asleep together for a while, and when I printed it the other day in black and white I knew it would be perfect for this range.

"Sweet"

I decided to keep this layout to a largely neutral colour scheme with just a touch of blue. I started with the Lovely Things paper as my background, adding a circle of the Bouquet paper over the top. I wanted to add a subtle splash of colour to it, so I used one of my Faber-Castell gelatos to add a watercolour effect.

I then created a layered mat for my photo using pieces of the Twin Set and Note to Self papers, as well as a paper doily. I also added a horizontal strip of the Note to Self paper, to help draw the viewer's eye through the photo.

I highlighted my photo further by adding some chipboard sticker photo corners to two of the diagonally opposite corners. I then used these as points of reference as to where I would place my embellishments. In the small cluster above and to the left of my photo, I layered together - a small tag from the Bits n Pieces pack; pieces from the die cut ephemera pack; and some sparkles enamel dots.

Directly to the right of my photo, I added the beautiful quote from the die cut ephemera pack. This needed very few supporting embellishments as the piece was decorative enough on its own, so I just added another enamel dot and a small die cut butterfly nearby.

At the bottom right corner of my photo was my final embellishment cluster. For this one I layered together - a bingo card sticker from the accessory sticker sheet; die cut ephemera pieces; a chipboard sticker star and I also popped another sparkly enamel dot nearby.

To complete my layout I added my title directly to my photo. I used the sweet word from the wood veneer pack. I first coloured it white all over using my Posca pen; then I used the same gelato I had used on the background to add some color to the lower half of the word. I highlighted the title with a die cut arrow, which I placed to look as though my son was holding it in his hand.

Thanks for stopping by today so I could share this layout with you. If you are looking to purchase your own stash of the Love Always collection, please check the Cocoa Vanilla stockists list to find your nearest retailer; or alternatively, it is also available in the Cocoa Vanilla online store. (It has now been fully re-stocked after some items had sold out.)

Til next time, happy scrapping! X

Fairy Bread Friday | Scrap the Boys October Challenge

Hi everyone!
First of the month (can you believe it's OCTOBER?) means it's time to share the first of my design team projects. This month I am starting with the Scrap the Boys challenge, and this month it's a fabulous sketch challenge to play along with.

Here's the sketch...

And here is my take on it...

"Fairy Bread Friday"

I created this layout using the brand new Make a Wish collection from Cocoa Vanilla Studio which was perfect for scrapping these photos of my boys and our little Friday lunch ritual. (Who says you can't use pink on a boys layout?)

Did I mention I really love this range? It's so bright and happy! And although it is actually birthday themed, it's very versatile and can be used for all sorts of projects. There are a fabulous mix of patterned papers in this collection (and lucky for me it includes another woodgrain!)

Of course the embellishments in this collection are equally delicious - I used die cut ephemera, accessory stickers, chipboard stickers, puffy stickers and wood veneer pieces on this layout. (The enamel dots I used were actually some I had left over from the Hello Lovely collection.)

And I can't forget the gorgeous alpha stickers I used either - I do love a mixed pattern alpha! Underneath the title you can see a couple of the phrase stickers from the accessory sticker sheet.

That's all from me today. Remember that you have until the end of the month to link up your take on this month's sketch via the Scrap the Boys blog to be in the running for a prize!
Happy scrapping! X