Together | Show Us Your Stuff December Challenge

Hi everyone!
Time for another design team share from me, this time for Show Us Your Stuff. Sadly, after 3 years of being with SUYS, the time has come for me to step down, so this will be my last project for this team. I have had a fabulous few years with this challenge, and have made so many friends from my time there. But as they say, all good things must come to an end, so I am hoping my take on this month's challenge ends my time with a bang.

This month, the challenge is to use the following sketch + the word together. (I rotated the sketch for my layout.)

"Together"

I love this group photo from 80's night at scrap retreat (we only just managed to pull ourselves together and stop laughing to get this shot!)

I couldn't deny the presence of the bright, fluro colours in the photo, so decided to base my background on them. I started by swiping some pink and orange Dylusions paints across my cardstock, which picked up the pink and orange in the photo beautifully. I then drizzled some aqua Flutter Colour paint randomly over the top.

Once all my paint was dry, I grabbed for some awesome rubber stamps from Viva Las VegaStamps. These added depth, as well as some humour and character into my page. Next, I added some small torn pieces of washi tape.

Once I was happy with my background, I started to build some layers where I wanted my photo to go. I used strips cut from Everyday Etc cards from Flutterby Designs to form my layered photo mat, and I also used a quote cut from one of them as a secondary focal point of my page.

On top of the layered paper strips, I added some wood veneer stars (coloured black) and hand-dyed muslin (both from D-lish Scraps); and coloured thread for texture before adding my photo. Next, I added a flair button, purple snippet strips and some heart stickers (all from Flutterby Designs).

That's all from me today, thanks for stopping by. I hope you pop this challenge on your To Do List this month - there is an awesome prize up for grabs! I will be back again soon with another creation to share. Until then, happy scrapping! X

retrEAT | Show Us Your Stuff November Challenge!

Hi everyone!
Back again with another design team layout to share with you, this time for Show Us Your Stuff. This month's challenge at SUYS is "No People!" That's right, the challenge to is to create something that doesn't feature people. And as always, a handmade embellishment also has to be included.

Here is the layout I created, featuring some photos of the fabulous food from the Scrap & Chat retreat I attended back in July. (I am so looking forward to attending this retreat again next year and partly because I know the food will be amazing! hehe)

"retrEAT"

I dug into my stash and used up some older My Minds Eye papers for this layout - yay for stash busting! I also added some mixed media to my background, using stamps from Viva Las VegaStamps and some mists.

I used a mix of Thickers from my stash for my title (sadly, I don't use my Thickers stash nearly enough these days!) and highlighted my title with a handmade chevron from Charms Creations.

I used a ticket and some wood veneer pieces from Cocoa Vanilla Studio to help embellish my layout.

My journaling was a bit "tongue in cheek" to suit the queen stamp from Viva Las VegaStamps that I had used.

Thanks for popping in today so I could share this. And now it's YOUR turn! You have until the end of the month to upload your take on this challenge over on the Show Us Your Stuff blog to be in the running to win.
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

My Heroes | Show Us Your Stuff September Challenge

Hi again everyone!
Back today with another design team layout to share, this time for Show Us Your Stuff. This month's challenge is to use a sketch designed by Krisy Podolak, and to also include some mixed media. And as always, your project also needs to include a handmade embellishment.

Here is Krisy's sketch...

And here is what I created...

"My Heroes"

I just love this photo I snapped of my cheeky boys wearing their new "super hero" shirts with capes they got for their birthday; putting on their best tough faces.

I used a sheet of patterned paper from the Cocoa Vanilla Studio 'Made of Awesome' collection as the base for my layout. My mixed media background was created using a mix of Colour Blast 'Road Base' Colour Shimmer Spray; some of my new Viva Las VegaStamps and then topped off with some red Flutterby Designs Flutter Colour paint. I also added some small pieces of torn washi tape from D-lish Scraps.

My feature handmade embellishment was this cool flair button from Flutterby Designs, which I nested on some messy black cotton thread. (And how freakin' awesome is that cool drippy slime stamp too?)

I kept my embellishments relatively simple, as I didn't want to overwhelm the effect of the background. I used some die cut ephemera pieces, wood veneer, stickers, vellum stars and enamel dots - all from Cocoa Vanilla Studio.

The tiny alphas I used for my title were also from Cocoa Vanilla. I deliberately chose them so they would blend in with my layout, rather than stand out. Finally, I added some black splatters and some stamping and I was done.

I really enjoyed creating this layout! It was a great sketch to work with and perfect timing to give my new Viva Las VegaStamps a run. 

If you would like to join in with this month's challenge, you have until the end of the month to get your project linked up via the SUYS blog. Up for grabs for this month's winner is a fabulous prize pack from Krisy herself. In the meantime, make sure you support Krisy by popping over to her Popleopod blog and her popleopod Instagram to see her awesome projects and find links to her process videos too. 

Til next time, happy scrapping! X

Wish | Show Us Your Stuff August Challenge

Hi everyone!
Popping in with another of my design team shares for you today, this one for Show Us Your Stuff. This is yet another layout I created whilst away on retreat, and was for this month's SUYS challenge that was designed by Anita Rodway...

It's probably important to remember that what some people would consider "ugly" paper differs from others. I found some reeeally old Kaisercraft papers in my stash that I deemed ugly, only to have a few people at retreat tell me they didn't think they were that bad. Well they were definitely the oldest thing I had, so I went with that.

And here's what I created...

As you can see I used lots of mediums on this page to transform my ugly papers. That's the beauty of mixed media - you can take something that you don't like and turn it into something you are happy with!

Included in my layered mediums were my fave Flutterby Designs Flutter Colour paints and my fave Colour Blast Colour Paste (steel). The Colour Paste was applied through a Dusty Attic stencil available from D-lish Scraps.

I also used lots of embellishments from D-lish Scraps including washi tapes (which I tore into small pieces and added to my background layers); resin flowers (from a previously released Just Add Paper kit); and sequins. I added extra texture behind my photo using crumpled printed tissue paper and gauze.

For my main embellishment cluster, I used a Charms Creations DIY heart, which I altered to match my layout by painting it with mist and then added some stamping over the top. I layered it with a D-lish Scraps dip dye printed tag, tied with twine; and a D-lish Scraps flair button, which I nested on some cotton thread.

The black foam arrows are from Burdy's Embellies; and you can also see some stamping I added to the background using a grid stamp and one of my roller phrase stamps.

I was really happy with how this one came out, and especially with the fact that I used some paper that was never going to see the light of day again otherwise! This is a great challenge to get you using up some of that old stash that you look at now and think "why?"
Entries for this challenge are open until the end of the month, and with a fabulous prize from Flutterby Designs up for grabs, what are you waiting for?
Happy scrapping! X

Show Us Your Stuff July Challenge!

Hi everyone!
Just popping into share my latest design team layout for the month, and this one is for Show Us Your Stuff. Seeing as it's currently winter here in Australia, July's challenge is a gorgeous winter-inspired colour challenge that looks like this...

Besides being inspired by the colours (which I LOVED, as I am loving grey at the moment); I also took inspiration from the image and created this mixed media layout (with another photo of me on it!)

It's been a little while since I got really messy and this one just came together so well! I was so busy creating it I didn't even sit down (I usually sit when I scrap). But I was so busy digging out different supplies and running back and forth to my heat gun, I just pushed my chair aside and stood up to complete it.

To create the background for this layout, I started with white cardstock, an old hexagonal print stencil and some Colour Blast Colour Shimmer Spray (Stormy Weather). I then added some Colour Blast Colour Paste (Steel) using my Flutterby Designs Stargazed stencil and a few splatters of blue watercolour paint.

Next I added some small elements of texture to my background by adhering some torn pieces of paper doily and some crumpled spots of silver tissue paper. (I like the way the tissue paper looks like large paint spots at first glance.)
 
Next, I used more stencils (a Dusty Attic Distressed Grid stencil from D-lish Scraps and a Gabrielle Pollacco one by the Crafters Workshop). This time, instead of using paste or ink, I used Faber-Castell fineliner Pitt pens and watercolour graphite pencils to draw on some of the designs around my layout. I also used the pencils to do some freehand doodling, which I then blended out using a waterbrush.

With my background layers in place it was time to start layering around my photo. I first added a crumpled piece of silver tissue paper and an old 6x4" grid print pocket page card to mat my photo. I also added some shredded up gauze for extra texture.

I then grabbed a dip dye printed tag and a length of navy & white twine (both from D-lish Scraps), and tied the twine onto the tag; which was then tucked under the edge of my photo. On top of the tag, I layered a heart from Charms Creations; some messy cotton thread and a flair button I had left from a previous D-lish Scraps Just Add Paper kit. (I couldn't forget the handmade items because Show Us Your Stuff is a challenge all about showcasing handmade embellishments!)

To help balance my overall design, I added a couple of D-lish Scraps wood veneer snowflakes (which I coloured white with my trusty Posca pen); some stamping with grey ink; and a few scattered D-lish Dots enamels. The final element was my title, which I simply printed onto cardstock, cut it out and then stuck it on.

Thanks for stopping by today, I hope I haven't bored anyone with a too detailed description of my process? (I often like to read how other people do things or the materials they use though, so I thought I would share in case anyone was wondering.)

All the details and rules for this challenge can be found HERE on the Show Us Your Stuff blog. Entries are open until 31st July and I would love to see some familiar faces play along!
Til next time, happy scrapping! X

Show Us Your Stuff June Challenge

Hi everyone!
Wow! What a busy month it has been so far!
Last weekend I was lucky enough to spend four days at the Brisbane Scrapbook and Papercraft Expo working for Cocoa Vanilla Studio. It was so lovely to meet so many of my online scrappy friends in the flesh and I exchanged many hugs in the time I was there. One of the things I love most about this craft is it has brought me so many treasured friends. I am sorry to those I missed, I will put you down for a rain-checked hug for next year! ;)

Here are a couple of my favourite photos from the weekend...

(The Cocoa Vanilla expo team from left to right - 

Zoe Pearn; me; Tarrah McLean; Raquel Bowman; Amy Little and Mandy Miles)

(Zoe & I at the stand just before they let the crowds in on day one)

Now, I better get onto this month's challenge for Show Us Your Stuff. This one has been (deviously) developed by team member Janet Bott, and it looks likes this...

And here is my take on it...

I used lots of my abandoned items on this layout - coloured cardstock; flat paper flowers, pearls, rhinestones, buttons, a pin, twine, tulle...and the colour purple! (OK, technically that's not an abandoned item, but I don't use that one often! haha) 

I also went a bit AWOL on the sketch after I rotated it and started sticking things down, but if you look hard enough you will see I did start with good intentions. (Let's face it, sticking to sketches isn't my strong point!)

For my handmade item/s I used a Flutterby Designs flair button; Charms Creations heart; Burdy's Embellies chevies; and my own die cut glitter frames.

I am fairly happy with how this layout turned out, especially with the fact I used so many items that I had neglected for so long. Why don't you dig deep in your own stash and see what you can find that you've abandoned? You might surprise yourself with how you could make it useful again!
And if you do, be sure to enter the Show Us Your Stuff challenge. Entries are open until 30th June and there is a prize from The Resin Rainbow up for grabs! 
Happy scrapping! X

Show Us Your Stuff May Challenge!

Hi all!
Just popping in quickly to share my take on the May challenge at Show Us Your Stuff. This month's challenge has been designed by DT member Amanda Hartmann, and looks like this...

And here is what I came up with...

"2 Love"

With a subject like 'Poetry & Hearts' I couldn't go past the opportunity to create a love-filled layout featuring a photo of myself and my partner (from way back in 2005). I used lots of Crate Paper goodies on this one - papers, ephemera, chipboard frame.

I included the poetry by printing a portion of one I liked onto a manila tag, so I could incorporate it into my layers.

As well as patterned papers, you can see that I also included some torn music paper and a lace paper doily from D-lish Scraps. The title was cut with a die using glitter cardstock.

To make sure I had the handmade criteria covered, I included a D-lish Scraps flair (this one was from a Just Add Paper kit) and I also punched some hearts from the same gold glitter cardstock as the title.

I just love using frames and this striped chipboard one from Crate Paper was one of my faves. I topped it with an ombre heart which was from a Crate Paper ephemera pack.
To finish my layout I added some stamping and a few splashes of Heidi Swapp gold Color Shine.

I am really happy with how this one came out, and especially happy that I went back and scrapped this photo that is so special to me. I hope you have this month's Show Us Your Stuff challenge on your list, there is an awesome prize from Charms Creations up for grabs for the lucky winner. Entries close 31st May.
Til next time, happy scrapping! X

Show Us Your Stuff April Challenge!

Hi everyone! Just popping in to share my Design Team layout for this month's challenge at Show Us Your Stuff. This month's challenge has been designed by the lovely Deena Otway from our DT and looks like this...

Confession time: Although I have a reasonable amount of stamps in my stash, I am not usually much of a stamper. *hangs head in shame* So this challenge was the perfect push I needed to drag some of them out and get them dirty. I decided that seeing as I was going to be making a mess with my stamps, I may as go the whole way and drag out my paints as well.

Besides using traditional stamps on my layout, I also used my stencils to "stamp" by turning them over and stamping off the excess paint elsewhere on my layout.

Here is what I created...

I used a bit of a random mix of embellishments on this layout. Wood veneers are by Cocoa Vanilla Studio, Heidi Swapp and Amy Tan.

Die cut ephemera is by Cocoa Vanilla Studio.

To cover the handmade criteria, I used a Charms Creations star and a Cocoa Vanilla Studio flair. The Freckled Fawn geo tag paper clip and red tissue paper are from D-lish Scraps. The stamps are a mix of Amy Tan, Glitz Designs, Studio Calico and Crate Paper. (And a date stamp from my newsagent as well.)

So there you have it! My (messy) take on this month's challenge at Show Us Your Stuff. I hope you will join us and show us what you can do with stamps. Remember that you are not limited to traditional layouts for this challenge - we welcome all crafters! So cards, art journal spreads, pocket pages, canvases and off the page items are also welcome! Entries need to be linked up via the SUYS blog by midnight, 30th April.
Happy scrapping!