Exciting News!!! (Sizzix)

Hello lovely friends!  I'm so excited that I can share some amazing news with you!  As of this week I can reveal that I'm designing for Sizzix as a Creative Blogger.  It's been my dream for the past couple of years to design for a manufacturer, and as a long time fan of manual die cutting, I'm thrilled to be working with Sizzix to promote their stunning products. 

If you follow me on Instagram you'll already know that I received some goodies this week including a Big Shot Plus and some gorgeous dies.  I just can't wait to get creating.  I'll be sharing my creations here on my blog, as well as my Instagram and YouTube channel.  I'll always provide a link to the die that I'm using, so do make sure you head on over to Sizzix and check out their products.  

I've already created my first project, which is a card for a wedding I attended yesterday of some lovely friends from church.  I needed to make a simple and elegant card, and the Thinlits From my Heart die was perfect.  I cut it in white American Crafts cardstock, and popped it up on dimensional adhesive.

I also used this stunning stamp from Honey Bee Stamps for the sentiment on my card.  Machine stitching around the edge of the patterned paper finished off my card, and I gently lifted the edges for dimension.

Here is a photo of my little darling Brielle (22 months) who attended the wedding with me!

Thanks for looking!

Clique Kits February Pep Rally

Hello!  Welcome to the February Clique Kits Blog Share! You would have come here from Erica's beautiful blog, and if you didn't make sure you start at the Clique Kits blog so you don't miss out on any inspiration.

I'm so excited because today we're sharing projects made with the gorgeous February Clique Kit "Hot Mess" featuring the Shine collection by Maggie Holmes for Crate Paper, and of course amazing exclusives designed to coordinate.  

I've been working though this kit very solidly throughout the month, and being on blog duty certainly helped!  I made two layouts for this blog share, and for the first one I wanted to focus on using one of the Just Nick exclusive cut files I hadn't used yet.  My layout is about my sister who visited us in 2012 (she lives in London).  

I still have lots of the zebra ribbon left, so loved adding some to the chipboard tag.

I added the XOXO cut file onto the bottom left corner of my layout.

My second layout is about Brielle on her first birthday, and when I saw the calendar paper I knew I had to use it for this page.  I started with backing some parts of the heart die cut with papers and sequins, and then built my design around the frame photo.

I popped up the chipboard banner on pop dots for extra dimension.

I cut the April card from the 6x6 paper pad, and the pink splatters are the mini Hot Pink Colour Shine I got in my kit.

Of course I had to use the crown for my princess!

 Thanks so much for looking!  Next on your hop is Candace's lovely blog.

And here is the line up:
Clique Kits https://cliquekits.wordpress.com/
Gia Lau https://giaaloha.wordpress.com/
Erica Thompson https://ericarosecreates.wordpress.com/
Melissa Vining http://yesterday2day4ever.blogspot.co.nz
*Candace Pearce http://findingeverydayperfection.com/
*Leeann Pearce http://thepaintbrushgoesspottie.blogspot.com.au/
*Carolina Schulz www.carolinaschulz.com
Kat Benjamin http://kraftykat9.blogspot.com
*Leigh Ann Odynksi http://www.artfulleighcreative.com/
Aliza Deutsch http://peopleofthescrapbook.blogspot.com
*Elisabetta Margini https://abcdeliblog.blogspot.com/
Taina Cortes (Evi) http://lifewithevi.blogspot.com
*Kim Oedekoven http://krodesigns.blogspot.com/
Mariah Hechler www.fun2scrap.blogspot.com/
Megan Blethen www.craftymeggy.com
Kim Allen http://kimsscrappyblog.blogspot.com/
Maryam Perez Osorio http://maryamperez.blogspot.com/
Renee Aslette www.reneeaslette.blogspot.com
Sandy Gonzalez http://craftythought.com

Smile (Lets Get Sketchy)

Hello again!  Yesterday was the third sketch reveal for February over at Lets Get Sketchy and we had another amazing sketch by Latitia.  I decided to use my January Clique Kit (which I'm in the process of killing), and an Instagram photo of Shaun.

I kept this one quite simple and made sure I incorporated the background paper into my design, because its the reason I love this paper so much, and had to use it as a whole piece.  I outlined my triangles to make sure they didn't get lost.

And here is the sketch, I love that Latitia's sketches push me beyond my comfort zone, and really make me work with them whilst staying true to my style!

I made a process video too :)

Make sure you play along and link up your take!  Thanks for looking!

Clique Kits & Just Nick Studio Blog Hop!

Hello and welcome to my blog!  I'm so excited you're here because today is our blog hop with Just Nick!  You may have come here from Heather's blog, or you may have come here on your own.  If you came on your own, make sure you hop along to all other the other designers blogs (list at the bottom on my post).

We all had the gorgeous February Kit from Clique Kits called "Hot Mess" featuring Maggie Holmes' Shine collection, and beautiful exclusive cut files designed to match by Just Nick.  Make sure you check out the Just Nick store for modern and unique digital cut files.

Here is a look at the kit:

And here are the exclusive cut files (I used two of these for my projects).

For my first layout I used the gorgeous heart cut file, and duplicated it in Silhouette Studio it all over the page in different sizes.  I cut it in white cardstock and then went through the 12x12 papers in the kit to find a perfect background.  I choose the navy geometric paper because it made the hearts pop, and then I hand stitched all of the hearts with embroidery thread.  My page is about my oldest daughter Azaria and her love for our very elderly cat.

I decided to stitch all of the hearts in white thread, except for two, which I stitched in pink and blue for contrast and interest.  I used the "Moments" title from the chipboard sheet (an add-on to the kit), and I was so happy to get it on a page and not hoard it (you know what I mean!!).

I kept my embellishment very simple and minimal, to ensure the stitched hearts and photo were the main focus of my page.  For something a little different, I used twine to tie the tassel sticker to the wood veneer heart, and I used foam dots under the sticker for dimension.

For my second layout I challenged myself to make a boy page.  I started with the die cut phrase "follow your Heart", and choose an older Instagram photo of my son Sam when he was 5 (he's now nearly 9).  I love this photo so much because its a close up of his beautiful eyelashes.  I made a big decision on this layout to use part of the B side of the Shine cut apart, because I adore the black and white stripe.  This design style is a go-to for me, because I love featuring a favourite piece of patterned paper.  

I painted the die cut and some of the wood veneer from the kit with gold acrylic paint.  I love the contrast of the gold against the black and white stripe!

I tucked lots of ephemera under the paper, and cut a strip of the speciality acetate to provide separation between the paper and white cardstock.

I hope you enjoyed looking at my layouts.  Your next stop is Suzanna's blog.  Below is the blog hop line up.  There will be a $25.00 gift certificate to the Clique Kits Store given away to one person who comments along the way.  

Clique Kits https://cliquekits.wordpress.com/
Heather Leopard: http://thespottedleopard.blogspot.ca/ 
Melissa Vining: http://yesterday2day4ever.blogspot.co.nz/  <<<You are here!>>>
Suzanna Lee: http://www.lifestrivialities.typepad.com/ 
Leigh Ann Odynski: http://www.artfulleighcreative.com/ 
Melissa Elsner: http://www.theprofoundbrunette.com/ 
Carolina Schulz: http://www.carolinaschulz.com/
Jaclyn Rench: http://jaclynrench.blogspot.ca/
Aliza Deutsch: http://peopleofthescrapbook.blogspot.com/ 
Diana Waite: http://wonderwoman-diana.blogspot.ca/
JustNick Blog: http://justnick.myshopify.com/blogs/justnick 

Thanks so much for looking!

Hello Wanaka (Clique Kits DT)

Hello! I was up on the Clique Kits blog earlier this week with some pocket pages I made with some extra photos I had from our Wanaka trip a year ago.  The February "Hot Mess" kit was perfect to scrap these photos, especially because it features the "Shine" collection by Maggie Holmes.

The second and third pages are all about the National Transport and Toy Museum.  The vintage elements from the kit were perfect!

The exclusives in the kit were also perfect for Sam's delight at seeing vintage star wars toys!

I made my own journaling cards with white card stock, colour shine, exclusive printables and stamps from Honey Bee Stamps.  I love how this one turned out.  

Head on over to the blog for more close up photos!

Bible Journaling - Mathew 6:33 (Clique Kits)

Hello again!  I'm back again to share a Bible journal page I created with left overs from my Crafty Maven layout (posted here yesterday).  Bible journalling is a lovely time to spend time with God whilst using the creative gift that he's given you.

A scripture that I've been meditating on a lot lately is Matthew 6:33 where we are told to seek first the Kingdom and His righteousness.  I used a large fussy cut butterfly, gorgeous stamps from Honey Bee Stamps, pastels from Stampin' Up, and a tag, ephemera and stickers from my November Clique Kit (more details on this kit in my previous post).  

I hope you enjoyed seeing this, I'm intending on sharing more of my Bible journalling this year, and really want to push myself both in the Word, and creatively.

Bless you!

Change of Season (The Crafty Maven Getaway)

Hello friends!  I was up on the The Crafty Maven Getaway YouTube Channel today for Sketch it up Thursday.  We had a gorgeous inspiration piece this week, and I choose an amazing sketch by the lovely and talented Laura Whitaker.  Make sure you head on over to her blog and check out her sketches.

The mood board immediately reminded me of my November Clique Kit "Tapestry", featuring We R Memory Keepers "Wildflowers" collection and Pink Paislee's "Cedar Lane".  I choose an Instagram photo of Azaria looking at a tree in early Autumn 2014.  I stitched around all of my squares and then lifted up the edges for dimension and interest.

This cluster would have to be one of my favourites ever!  I just love how it came together :)

I was so happy to use one of the cream pleather bows from We R Memory Keepers.

And after hoarding that beautiful butterfly paper I finally fussy cut some of them and added them to this page as embellishments.  I love it when paper becomes an embellishment!

Here is the sketch:

And here is the beautiful Mood Board for this week:

This was my last video for The Crafty Maven, I've decided to step down from the team.  They had a DT call recently, and I'm looking forward to seeing inspiration from the new team.  I wish them all the best.

I'll be posting the video I made on my channel too, so head over here to check it out.  At the end of my video is a look at all the pages I created whilst on the team.

Thanks so much for looking!

A L.O.L Moment (Lets Get Sketchy)

Hello!  Today was our first reveal for February over at Lets Get Sketchy, can you believe its the second month of the year already?!  We had an awesome sketch by Brenshevia, and because I had two smaller portrait photos to scrap I decided to flip the sketch to the left.  I used my September Hip Kit (I've finally nearly killed it), and used two of my favourite papers for the large corner pieces.  

The story of this layout is so cute and funny.  Brielle went through a phase of getting into my clean washing pile as I was folding it, and would Azaria and my underwear around her neck like a layered scarf!  Of course I had to take a photo and document the story!!!

This kit has lots of Amy Tangerine "Finders Keepers" in it, and all of the embellishments are from the die cut pack.  When I saw the acetate "totally" I knew I had to incorporate it into the design.  We really did laugh so hard when she put about 6 pairs of underwear around her neck!

Here is the sketch

Thanks for looking!