First Bath (Stuck?! Sketches)

Well hello!  For the past three days I've been under the weather with the flu, and after spending most of my time either lying on the floor while Brielle played, or sleeping in bed while she slept.  I finally felt well enough to make a page last night.  I decided to play along with the latest sketch over at Stuck?! Sketches.  I haven't played for a while, so it was so awesome to get right into it as I just love all of Laura's sketches!

This layout is made with my October Hip Kit.  I already have my November kit waiting, so I'm eager to progress with all the gorgeousness that is October's kit!  This layout is page one of a two pager (still in the making) about Brielle's first ever bath, which she had here at home by Shaun.  Things seemed to have changed a lot in the 5 years since I had my last baby, and now the midwives are all about delaying the first bath as soon as possible, which I totally agree with as they are born so clean and fresh!

I was inspired by Ashley Fowler (Hip Kit DT) who also used the chevron mask with gold spray.  I used Heidi Swap  Gold Colour Shine, and used to mist to make the large block in the back of the sketch.  The background woodgrain is Studio Calico, and all of the other papers and ephemera are Maggie Holmes Open Book (Crate Paper).  The cork embellishments are Elles Studio.

I've probably said it in another blog post, but I ADORE those gold glitter thicker words!  

I had a fantastic time using my new sewing machine on this one!

There are some many pieces of ephemera that I decided to make my own layered and stitched embellishments.  I left my threads long for extra interest and texture.

A tiny piece of journalling, because I still have three photos to scrap that will tell the majority of the story on the second page.

And here is the sketch.  When I saw this one I absolutely knew I had to play along.  Stuck?! is also doing a Guest DT call, so I'm linking up and trying out for that too.

Thanks for looking!  Enjoy the rest of your week, I know I will now that I'm on the mend :)

Two More Hip Kit Layouts

Good afternoon, well its been 4 seasons in one week here!  We've had sun, warmth, snow and now rain again!  Can you believe the Crown Range got closed with snow two days ago!  It's meant to be Summer here in case you're wondering, but such is life in an alpine resort!

Today I have my last September layout and first October layout, both made with my Hip Kits.  

The first layout was made with scraps, and was one of those "I'm really done with this kit, but this I can get one more page" layouts.  I decided to go all out with the gelatos in the kit, and then layered some banners from the top, and some of last of the embellishments.  The photo is Brielle in a cardigan knitted especially for her when I was still pregnant by someone very special to our family.  

The second layout is my first layout with my October kit, and what is amazing about this one is that I actually cut up the paper into an A4 (approximately 8 1/2 x 11).  I don't make many this size, but sometimes small photos need a smaller page to be able to shine.  This photo is Sam's first ever official school photo.  This is the first year our school has had them and I hope it's an annual event now, as they're so good to look back on.  

I started with the texture paste and star stencil, then layer my papers and goodies.  I finished up with dark blue Mr Hueys splatters.

And a close up of my layering.  That feather is fussy cut out of the Elles Studio paper.  In fact pretty much all of the main paper in this one is Elles Studio, with Maggie Holmes ephemera.

Happy scrapping!

Life (Hip Kit Club)

Hello, I'm very excited to announce that I've killed my September Hip Kit, and am now working my way through my October kit.  I'm very excited to report that I've learnt how to use my new sewing machine, so I was able to complete a couple of layouts today yay! 

This layout is Brielle's birth (C Section) captured by our anaesthetist (who just happened to be a photographer).  The photos are very full on and detailed, so I sewed a pocket to contain them.  I labelled them 1-10 in order, and then put the photo of the three of us as number 11 on the front of the pocket.  I love that I'm able to include them in her album, without full view.

I kept this layout very simple, with no mixed media so I could focus on the main photo and that gorgeous floral paper.  Sooo happy to be sewing on paper again!

The Special Delivery die cut is from last months Hip Kit, and I'm so glad I kept it for this page!

Thanks for looking!

Details (Lets Get Sketchy)

Hello!  Can you believe it's midway through November already?!  That means its time for our third week reveal over at Lets Get Sketchy!  This week we had a fun sketch by Jenessa Franco.

This layout is reflective, and is all about the song that I sung at the end of my pregnancy.  When I find a song I love I have to sing it all the time!  The song I sung was Oceans (where feet may fail) by Hillsong.  I especially loved to sing the chorus and bridge, so much so that once Brielle was born it would settle her, and she smiled for the first time when I was singing it.

So on this layout I journaled the story and included the lyrics.  Such a beautiful song recorded for her.  I used my October Hip Kit, which is full of gorgeous Maggie Holmes Open Book by Crate Paper, and Elles Studio.  Crate Paper products are awesome for distressing the edges, which I did with my scissors.  I choose to scrapbook just one  4 x 6 photo, and added the tag for the "third element".  Absolutely adore those gold thicker phrases!

And here is the sketch:

Bless you!

September Hip Kit Layouts Part 1

Hello!  Today I'm sharing two layouts I made with my September Hip Kit.  I haven't shared these yet, and I have two more to share once I've worked out how to use my new sewing machine.

This first layout is made with my favourite paper in the whole kit, from Crate Paper Notes & Things. I cut it along the central lines, then placed it back together with a gap.  The photo is of Brielle at 3 days old when we transferred back up to our small local hospital.  It was such a blessing as my original midwife (from first two babies) was rostered on and looked after us.

My second layout is of Sam and his cake at his 4th birthday.  I really wanted to play with the triangle dies and feature them.  I used some gesso to tone down the blue cardstock, then layered the triangles with some embellishments.

Thanks for looking!

Clean & Simple Christmas Cards (Artfull Crafts)

Good morning!  Can you believe we're into Christmas crafts over at Artfull Crafts already!  Today I'm on the blog with three simple cards that I made with some new product that Liz is carrying in the store.  Simple cards are definitely my style, as card making is second to scrapbooking.

The first two cards are made with the Simple Stories DIY Christmas Collection. This collection is perfect for my style of cards, as its all about starting with a foundation and then adding layers embellishments.  You can find the collection in the shop here.

This card was made by layering some patterned paper, a card foundation on pop dots, and then a chipboard tag tied with tinsel.

I made this card in record time.  I love the background paper as it's appropriate for a Summer Christmas.  I added the banner piece, then the chipboard button.

My final card is made with the Teresa Collins Candy Cane collection, which you can find in the shop here.  This collection has a gorgeous piece of paper with cute hand-drawn trees which I had to fussy cut out and use.  I layered them over a piece of paper, and added the glitter ribbon to ground them, and a red star on the middle tree.  This card is definitely my favourite of the three!

Thanks for looking, and make sure you check the Artfull Crafts blog each day for more Christmas crafts and projects.

Last Day (Lets Get Sketchy)

Hello again!  Its the first week reveal for November over at Lets Get Sketchy!  Can you believe its not long until Christmas now!!

This week we had an awesome sketch by Brenshevia, and I loved it because it had three photo spots.

I chose to scrap these three photos from Azaria's last day at Childcare.  They always have a final mat time in which the leaving child is presented with a gift, and parents are invited.  Of course I had to capture the moment (in between tears!).  This is Azaria with her favourite teacher.  I used my September Hip Kit.

And here is the sketch:

Make sure you head over to the blog, and then play along!

Lets Get Sketchy "Get Inspired" Magazine!

Hello, well I'm very excited to tell you that the 5th edition of Get Inspired is now live, and you can find the link here.

I have the following three layouts in my section, and all are made with a Hip Kit.

The first one is about Azaria at 5, what she's up to, her favourite things, food, friends, tv etc.  It has lots of Shimelle and Crate Paper Notes & Things.  I've been doing these types of pages for the kids every year and I think it'll be great to look back on them in years to come. 

My second page is about Brielle and her love for blankets.  Even now at nearly 7 months the best way to settle her at bed time is to give her a blanket to snuggle.  Of course I pull it off her face all the time, but she pulls it back up.  No concerns about this baby kicking her blankets off!  I absolutely love that Crate Paper paper and had to feature it as a background.  More Shimelle and Notes & Things on this one.

For my third layout I scrapped this photo of my girls.  Black polka dots on white are so classic, and I really wanted the photo to be the focuss of this page.

This issue our featured manufacturer is Pink Paislee, and I scrapped this photo of Sam and Brielle with the Switchboard collection.  I used a mask and gesso to for the hearts, then layered my hearts and puffy stickers.  I die cut the "Love" with my Cuttlebug.  It was great to get a photo of Sam scrapped amongst all the girly photos!

Check out the magazine, it's fabulous!