Friday 28 August 2015

Hello Summer (July Hip Kit)

Hello again!  Today I have a layout to share that I made when I was getting to the end of my July Hip Kit, and its about Sam.  I wanted to focus on using the Simple Stories Summer Vibe cut aparts, and that yellow star Elles Studio paper. 

I started with the band of yellow paper through the middle, then added the red strip, which I punched with my notebook edge punch.  Then it was just a case of adding the elements and photos, and stamping.  


The sentiment on the card is an old Studio Calico stamp, stamped with grey Prima Chalk ink - which stamps like a dream!


A close up of the chipboard embellishment and the card I used for my title.


I also made a video:



If you enjoy my videos please subscribe to my channel.  Thanks for looking!

Thursday 27 August 2015

Scrapping Everyday Photos with Kaisercraft's "A Touch of Gold" (Artfull Crafts)

Hello friends!  I was up on the Artfull Crafts blog yesterday discussing how to scrap everyday normal photos with a collection like Kaisercraft's new A Touch of Gold.  This collection is very much centred around Christmas and special occasions, but I choose to use it to scrap a photo of my Brielle sleeping.

I used white cardstock for my background, and stated with that lovely triangles paper.  When I have a paper I really love I make sure I feature it uncovered in a big block.  I layered my photo with some papers and a doily, and then built my layout from there.


Look for ways to be creative with your title.  I cut the word "LOVE" from one of the patterned papers, and then just added gold glitter foam thickers from my stash.


The "Love Peace Joy" is a Christmas sentiment, but also perfect for a sleeping baby!


Using my scallop border punch helped bridge the gap between the patterned paper and the cardstock.


You can purchase the collection in the online shop here.

Thanks for looking and enjoy the rest of your day!

Wednesday 26 August 2015

Summer & You (Stuck?! Sketches)

Hello!  Spring is nearly here and I'm so excited!  The nights are starting to stay light for longer, and today Brielle and I even dug up some of the garden!  She helped me with a little spade.

Today I'm sharing a layout I made for the latest sketch over at Stuck?! Sketches.  I've said it so many times, but Laura's sketches are so much fun, and I'm always inspired when I use them.  This one was no exception, and I took the opportunity to make my final layout with my July Hip Kit.  I had to pull in some extras, including the gorgeous black and white floral from Studio Calico.  This is all i had left of it, and I'd been hoarding it in my scrap bag for the perfect layout!

This layout features my beautiful Azaria at the Queenstown Gardens earlier in the year.  I just love that its a side profile of her looking at the pond with Sam.  I kept this layout very simple to focus on the photo and the floral paper.


This layout was also my last opportunity to use that beautiful ampersand.


I put Azaria's initials on the corner of the photo, and under it I added a feather that I cut with my Cuttlebug on adhesive woodgrain paper.


And here is the sketch:


Thanks for looking!



Tuesday 25 August 2015

Hugs with Missy (Sketchabilities)

Good evening, I've been scrapping but have been so busy to post on here!  Today I'm sharing a layout I made for the latest sketch over at Sketchabilities, and once again I loved the sketch inspiration.  I used my July Hip Kit (which I officially finished using today) and extra pieces from my stash, and scrapped a photo of Brielle with her Auntie Missy.  

I decided to play with mixed media for this one and used the packaging technique with water colour paints, texture paste through my favourite stencil (triangles from Happy Scatter), and finally India ink.  I cut the frame around my photo with a new die that I got from The Warehouse.  


Heres a close up of my banners and layered frames.  I loved adding texture with the white thread.


The yellow tag is from my stash, and I got so much satisfaction in using it up!


A close up of the cluster I created at the top left corner.  The cork hearts are from my June kit, and I love that they can mix into this layout.


Here is the awesome sketch, and once again I loved it so much that I stayed true to it:


Thanks for looking!

Wednesday 19 August 2015

My Little Secret, Big News!

Hello, I'm so excited to now share that I've been selected for the Clique Kits Varsity Design Team for 2015-2016!  I've secretly been watching Clique Kits since they first started, and I love how they are totally different from any other kit club.  Each month they choose a main collection and build their kit around it.  Their kits are gorgeous every month, and they always have amazing exclusives!

This is a huge honour and a dream come true for me. I'm so excited about getting to know the other lovely and talented ladies on the team!  


My term starts in October, so stay tuned for some creations from me!
Have an awesome week!

Tuesday 18 August 2015

Tasty Treats (Lets Get Sketchy)

Hello!  Its time for our third week reveal over at Lets Get Sketchy.  This week we had a sketch by the lovely Bev Code to work with.  I used my July Hip Kit, and these two photos of Sam, Azaria and cousin Lilly on Boxing Day last year were perfect for the sketch.  Because the photos feature eating dinner, the food embellishments from my Hip Kit were perfect.

I used this gorgeous Crate Paper Poolside background and I cut a two circles out of it with my Creative Memories cutter.  I used the packaging technique with my watercolours on white cardstock behind.  


I hand cut triangle banners for below the photo.


I was happy to get that drink chipboard on the page!


And hooray for using that "tasty treats" chipboard title and Dear Lizzy washi tape from last month's kit.


And here is the sketch, as you can see I decided to pull my elements closer:


I also made a process video:



Thanks for looking, head on over to the blog to check out the rest of the DT reveals and play along!
Be blessed friends

A Touch Of Gold Layouts - Artfull Crafts

Good morning, today I have two layouts made with Kaisercraft's new A Touch of Gold collection for  Artfull Crafts.  This collection is described as "embracing all things gold", and is elegantly paired with black and white. 

My first layout features Brielle with her first baby doll, given to her by friends for Christmas.  I loved using this paper for my background, and decorated with printed garland with hand stitching and sequins.


Gold Colourshine was the perfect finishing touch!


I used the Collectable die cuts as features.


My second layout is about friend's that announced their engagement in Church one Sunday morning, and I captured the moment!  I cut down the photo to fit the die cut frame, and added a gold doily from Studio Calico.  The epoxy circles are made with clear epoxy stickers and punched circles from patterned paper.


I combined two of my favourite papers, and then made the banner by punching holes in the die cuts.


Even the negative space from the punch out star was used.


You can purchase the collection in the online shop here.
Thanks for looking

Monday 17 August 2015

Father & Son (Child Free Friday #8)

Good morning!  I'm getting excited here because its nearly Spring, which has got to be one of my favourite months of the year.  I had my 8th Child Free Friday video up on Saturday (I was late).  It's another wedding reception photo, and features my Father-in-Law and his Dad.  

I had found an old partially used Paper Bakery kit when I was tidying up my scrap space.  Its a spring themed kit, and I probably didn't use it because it would have been Autumn her in NZ.  I added some extra embellishments.  Because my photo was so dark the kit was perfect and I played with mixed media (water colours, texture paste and ink).  I wanted to feature my favourite paper in the kit behind my photo, so kept it big.  I used an Authentique ledger paper for my background.


I even stamped my title with some new letter stamps from The Warehouse (NZ), they were literally about $7 and stamp like a dream!  The ampersand is from an old Studio Calico stamp set.


I placed the Elle's Studio cut-aparts down the side and machine stitched them  down.  I popped up the right side of each with pop dots.  


Here is my process video:


I hope you enjoyed.  I'll be back later today!

Sunday 16 August 2015

The Crafty Maven Getaway - Scraplift Saturday

Good evening!  Yesterday I had my first video up on The Crafty Maven Getaway YouTube Channel . The Crafty Maven is a channel started by the lovely and very talented Hannah Lemieux, who had an idea for a channel just like the old Two Peas in a Bucket, with videos 7 days a week.  She put the idea out to us on the nicolejones911 Facebook Page, and a group of us responded saying we were keen.  The channel features a weekly inspiration piece, daily videos and a different theme each day.  I was on for my first video for Scraplift Saturday, and paired up with the very talented Lina Monaco.  

We chose to scrap lift Melanie Blackburn, and you can find her blog here.  The inspiration piece for this week is below, and my starting point was the colours, which lead me to a paper designed by Ashley Goldberg for Studio Calico.  Then I went into my scrap bag and pulled mint green, pink and red papers.  The navy in Azaria's top was perfect too.  My layout is about Azaria and her first missing tooth.


I hand cut my tittle letters, I've been wanting to do that for a while now, but keep forgetting!


A fun embellishment cluster, using a flair badge, Epiphany Crafts star, enamel star and wood veneer feather.


More wood veneer, a star and gold Colourshine.


Here is the inspiration piece for this week, I was totally inspired by the colours:


And here is Melanie's layout that we lifted:


Here is my video:


Make sure you subscribe to the channel to see new videos everyday from such lovely ladies who are all passionate about scrapbooking and making videos.

Have a blessed Sunday

Saturday 15 August 2015

Photo-Bomb Samuel! - July Hip Kit

Good morning!  I'm making my way through my July Hip Kit and my aim is to be done before my August kit arrives!  I'm making very good progress because the last several months I've been one kit behind.  Today I'm sharing a layout I made featuring a typical photo of Sam at the moment - he either pulls a face or photo bombs!!

I wanted to add stitching to this layout, so I hand stitched a partial frame and a little border strip.  I was so stoked to get that retro diving girl into the layout too, so I made her dive into the paddling pool!


I made a process video:


Thanks for looking!

Friday 14 August 2015

Hip Scan - Using Scraps (June Hip Kit)

Good evening, its Friday night and I'm spending a bit of time showing my blog some love (as opposed to watching YouTube)!  I just wanted to share this layout that I made with the very end scraps from my June Hip Kit.  I was literally down to strips of paper, two tags, and a couple of embellishments.  I decided to go with an A4 sized layout, and this photo of Brielle getting her hip scanned at 8 weeks was perfect.


I used paper strips below my photo, and placed my title on top.


I made the "B" embellishment with a frame, my favourite paper, and a chipboard thicker.


Hooray!  I got that floral tag used up, finally!


Here is my process video:


Thanks for looking!

Thursday 13 August 2015

Enjoy the Simple Life (Stuck?! Sketches)

Hello again!  August is flying by and I'm here today sharing a layout I made for the latest sketch over at Stuck?! Sketches.  I used my July Hip Kit again because it was perfect for the photo of Shaun and Brielle.  

This layout started with that gorgeous stripe by Fancy Pants, and then I knew that I wanted to hand stitch the circles on the sketch.  I had put a filter over my photo in PicMonkey, and the other papers suited the design perfectly.  I did my misting and stamping before I stitched, and I used a really old Studio Calico stamp for the "+" sign.  I kept my embellishment to a minimum on this one.


The chipboard is from Crate Paper's Poolside collection, and I added some leaves cut with my favourite Stampin' Up die on my Cuttlebug.


That Simple Stories Summer Vibes cut apart was perfect for my title.


This months kit had October Afternoon Pop Drops, which are perfect because they include enamel shapes too!


And here is Laura's fantastic sketch:


Thanks for looking!

Wednesday 12 August 2015

Hello Bump (Child Free Friday #7)

Hello again!  Last Friday I shared my 7th Child Free Friday process video.  I cheated a little this time and scrapped a photo of me pregnant with Azaria (she's now 6)!  She's in the photo but not!!  I used my July Hip Kit (which I'm powering through).  The colours in this kit are so summery and delicious, and perfect for my abundance of Summer photos from earlier this year!


I'm trying to be more creative because I didn't get the embellishment add on for July.


Here is my video:


Bless you and have a great day!

Tuesday 11 August 2015

Della & B (Sketchabilities)

Hello!  Its been a few days since I posted, but I have lots to share, so will spread them out over the next several days.  Today I want to share the layout that I created for the Sketch #144 over at Skechabilities.  As always I had a blast creating with their sketch.

This layout is a photo of our niece Della-May with Brielle, taken on Boxing Day last year.  Its such a sweet couple of photos, and Della was very taken with Brielle.  I used my July Hip Kit, which is perfect for Summer photos.  I'm really into using a patterned paper background for this kit, which is perfect because I got the patterned paper add on.  This background was perfect for the packaging technique with Heidi Swapp Colourshine for a little texture behind the layers.  The sketch showed three smaller photos, but I adapted it for two larger.


Two things I love - layers and journalling to tell the story behind the photo.


The diamond chipboard pieces are from the Crate Paper Kiss Kiss line, which came in an older kit.  I love that they add extra embellishment to this layout!


And here is the amazing sketch:


I loved playing along with this one!