# No Filter (Lets Get Sketchy)

Hello!  Today I'm sharing the layout I made for our 5th Monday in the month challenge over at Lets Get Sketchy.  This week we had an inspiration piece and no sketch, which is always a fun challenge! When I saw the inspiration piece it immediately made me think of my Clique into Summer Kit from Clique Kits.  This kit features Simple Stories "You Are Here" collection and has the perfect colours from the inspiration piece.  I was also inspired by the hashtag, and decided to scrap a photo I took earlier in the year when there was a strange Summer light.

I also added sequins, wood veneer, glitter foam thickers and the 'my haven" flair from my stash, - its always great to get older product on to a layout!

The hashtag cut file is from The Cut Shoppe, and I used the Everyday Essentials Cut File set which you can purchase in the Etsy shop here.

Here is the inspiration piece.

Head on over to the blog for all the details, and to link up your layout!

Clique Kits August Blog Share

Hello!  I'm so excited to be participating in the Clique Kits Pep Rally for August!  You probably made your way here from Caroli's amazing blog!

I just adore the August kit Rio, it features the gorgeous "Milly & June" collection by Fancy Pants, and the "Colour me Happy" collection by Cocoa Vanilla Studio.  The colours are amazing, and the embellishments so perfect for scrapping the girls in your life (or yourself!).  Here is  a look at the kit.

I was reluctant to cut into the paper to start with, because I wanted to use everything and really didn't know where to start.  I got the Milly & June 6x6 paper pad which was perfect with the scaled down patterns.

The first layout I made was this one of Brielle, which I've already shared in a process video.  You can watch the video on my YouTube channel here.  I focussed on my favourite papers for this one, and I just love that Cocoa Vanilla cut apart.

For my next layouts I wanted to make an effort to scrap multiple photos, because I'm aware that lots of discussions in Facebook Groups have centred around the fact that people like to see these layouts.  My layouts are almost always created around the story I want to tell, and if I have more than one photo its a bonus!

The first layout is about Azaria playing in our family Nerf wars last summer!  I also wanted to make an effort not to use my Silhouette Cameo for this page, and I even went old school with a corner punched heart in my top right triangle!

This next layout has 4 photos of Sam playing with Brielle, and features the Cocoa Vanilla Studio products only.  The flair is a CK exclusive.

My final project is an accordion style mini album about the photos I have to take before I can capture a good photo of Brielle.  I just love the outtakes!!  

I kept my cover very simple with an exclusive acrylic strawberry (an add-on to the kit), one of the CK cut aparts, Fancy Pants letter stickers and navy ribbon from my stash.

The pages that follow include patterned paper from the 6x6 paper pad, and and embellishments from the kit.  This page has a small amount of journalling to tell the story of the album.

For the back page I kept it free of photos and used the bolder heart print paper.

These next pages are the first pages of the other side of the accordion.

My final two pages are progressing towards the photo that I wanted, a happy smiley girl!

A shot of the back side of the accordion. 

I had so much fun making all of these projects, and I still have so much of my kit left over to keep creating!

Your next stop on the blog share is Leeann, she always has amazing projects so make sure you need over there now!  Here is the full line up in case you get lost:

Clique Kits https://cliquekits.wordpress.com/

Gia Lau https://giaaloha.wordpress.com/
Erica Thompson https://ericarosecreates.wordpress.com/
*Kat Benjamin  http://kraftykat9.blogspot.com
*Marcia Dehn-Nix http://onescrapatatime-bymumsie.blogspot.com/
Kim Allen http://kimsscrappyblog.blogspot.com/
*Maryam Perez http://maryamperez.blogspot.com/
*Caroli Schulz http://www.carolinaschulz.com/
*Melissa Vining http://yesterday2day4ever.blogspot.co.nz//
*Leeann Pearce  http://thepaintbrushgoesspottie.blogspot.com.au/
Sara Mishler https://sarascrapsblog.wordpress.com/
Donna Espiritu http://scrappydonna.blogspot.com/
Leigh Ann Odynski http://www.artfulleighcreative.com

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Love Life (Stretch Your Sketch & Sizzix UK)

Hello! I'm back today with a layout I made for Sizzix based on a sketch by Ashley Horton, for her and Missy Whidden's "Stretch Your Sketch" YouTube series.  Both Ashley and Missy are a huge inspiration to me, and it was awesome to play along.

Because the sketch featured circles, it was the perfect opportunity to use my Sizzix Framelits Plus Die set containing 15 nested circles.  I selected the circle sizes I wanted and cut circles from papers in one of my past Clique Kits, featuring products from Elle's Studio and Jellibean Soup.  

My layout is about Brielle exploring our backyard at 11 months old.   The cloud cut file is from The Cut Shoppe.

I loved the exclusive Grow 4x4 card in the kit, and thought it was perfect cut as a circle for an outdoor baby page!

Embellishing over the circles was so much fun.

Here is the amazing sketch.

And the nested circle die from Sizzix, which you can purchase here.

You can watch my process video below, or on my YouTube channel here.

Thanks for looking!

Today Documented (Lets Get Sketchy DT)

Yay!  I'm back again with another post, and this time its for the August week 3 sketch reveal over at Lets Get Sketchy!  We had another fabulous sketch by Brenshevia, and I decided to use an older Clique Kit and scrap a not-so-great phone photo of my kids getting on the school bus for the first time. 

The kit featured the Life In Colour collection by Simple Stories, and was perfect for my fairly neutral toned photo.  The cut file I used is called Chicken Wire and is by The Cut Shoppe (you can purchase it in the Etsy shop here).  I used just a small portion of the 8.5/11 cut file.

A close up of the chicken wire cut file.

And a close up of the second cut file, from the Road Trip Cut file.

And here is the sketch:

For the full story behind this photo, watch my process video:

Thanks for looking!

Imagine (The Cut Shoppe & Creative Scrappers Team Up)

Hello!  So excited to be with you again today, because The Cut Shoppe DT has teamed up with Creative Scrappers this month for the August sketch reveal!  I had an absolute blast combining Ashley's cut files with Kristine's amazing sketch.  I decided to scrap myself for once, well my feet in my ballet shoes at least!

I used my January Clique Kit, featuring Fancy Pants' 'Happy Place" collection (another of my favourites).   I used the Hello Hearts cut file, and cut it on white card stock, and stitched around the hearts with embroidery thread that matched the collection.  It was time consuming but I made it at my monthly crop, snacking, chatting and crafting!

And here are some close ups.  I'd been saving the "Dance Forever" ephemera piece for this layout!

I hand stitched around the hearts to provide some visual contrast between the white on white!

And here is the fun sketch!  So many options to play with this one.

Here is the Hello Hearts cut file, and you can purchase it in the Etsy store here.

Thanks for looking, make sure you head on over to the Creative Scrappers blog and check out the other layouts made by the TCS team!

Grateful Card (Sizzix UK)

Hi!  Today I have a card to share with you that I made with the Tim Holtz Bigz Tattered Leaves Die.  I needed a birthday card for a friend, and this die and the Fancy Pants "Millie & June" collection was perfect.  

I have a video below which shows the process of making the card, and also a demonstration of the new Big Shot Express, which is an electronic Big Shot.  I used some We R Memory Keepers Adhesive Cork Paper, and I splattered it with gold Heidi Swapp Colour Shine.  

Here is my video, which you can watch below or on my YouTube Channel here.

This is the Tattered Leaves Die, which you can purchase here.

Thanks for looking!

  

Love My Girl (Clique Kits DT)

Hello!  Hope you're having a great start to your weekend.  Our little one is sick with a tummy bug (we think) so not much fun.  Today I'm finally sharing a layout I created with the August Clique Kit "Rio".  This may just be my favourite kit yet, its totally gorgeous and features Fancy Pants' "Milly & June" and Cocoa Vanilla Studio's "Life in Colour" collections.  I was totally intimidated by it when it arrived and was almost too scared to cut into it!

I decided to challenge myself to not use a cut file, and not do any hand stitching because I've been doing them on nearly every layout lately.  I wanted to go back to my original way of scraping but in my current style.  I choose a sweet photo of Brielle in Summer wearing her strawberry hat.  I just adore this photo!

I love the large flair from the Millie & June collection!

The watercolour script card is from the Cocoa Vanilla studio cut apart pack.  And the sweet bow is from the Millie & June collection.

I coloured the wood veneer "love" gold with gold stamping ink.

Here is a photo of the stunning kit.

I also made a process video, which you can watch below or on my YouTube channel here.

Thanks for looking!

Rad Hut (The Cut Shoppe)

Hello!  I'm so excited to be sharing a layout with you today that I made for The Cut Shoppe.  I used the Boys Rule cut file, which you can purchase in the Etsy Shop here.  

When I saw the teepee I knew it would be perfect for this photo of Sam and Azaria and the hut they made from plastic bags in the February of this year.  I'm just loving combining cut files and stitching at the moment, and because I used to be an avid cross stitcher (before scrapbooking took over) I knew I wanted to cross stitch behind the cut file.  I used the Attwell Collection combined with an older Paper Bakery flair, and an October afternoon cloud and raindrop chipboard from October Afternoon.

I popped the cut file up on dimensional adhesive to provide separation from the stitching.  My photo was originally 4x6, but I was struggling to make it work in the design of my page, so I trimmed it down to 4x4.  

I'd been hoarding the October Afternoon cloud and raindrop chipboard, and it was great to finally break open the packed and use one.  The reason behind using this feature is because Sam stated to make the hut when it was raining!

I also used the "Rad" word from the cut file, and I love how it has a little star in the middle of the "a".

And here is the cut file.

I also made a process video, which you can watch below or on my YouTube Channel.

Thanks so much for visiting my blog!

Love You (The Cut Shoppe)

Hello!  So excited because I'm up on The Cut Shoppe blog today with another layout I created with Ashley's amazing cut files!  For this one I used the Oodles of Doodles cut file set, and used the heart and "Love" designs.  I scrapped a photo of my girls and used papers from Amy Tangerine's "Better Together" collection and embellishments from Paige Evans' "Fancy Free" collection.

I love how the hand stitching adds so much detail!  I just can't stop stitching at the moment!  You can see close ups on the blog here.

This is the cut file set I used, and you can purchase it in the Etsy store here.

I also made a process video!  Yay!

Thanks so much for looking!  Its Friday here so I'm pretty happy for the weekend!!

Show Day (Lets Get Sketchy)

Hello again! Yesterday was the first sketch reveal for August over at Lets Get Sketchy!  This week we had a starburst sketch from Brenshevia, and it was so much fun to create with!  I decided to use a cut file from The Cut Shoppe called Starburst, which you can purchase in the Etsy Shop here.  I scrapped a selfie of my adult dance class members and I in the dressing room before our end of year show last year.  I miss ballet so much, and can't wait until I can return to class next year. 

I used Amy Tangerine's "Better Together" collection with embellishments from Pink Paislee's "Fancy Free" collection.  The hearts were created with the die by Sizzix, a Bigz Die called Heartfelt.

And here is the sketch.

I hope you play along, this is such a fun challenge and sketches help with creativity!

Oh Happy Day! (Paper Issues)

Hello!  Today I'm sharing a layout I made to play along with the July sketch challenge over at Paper Issues.  I've never played there before, but when I saw the sketch I just had to create!

I just found out today my layout was one of those featured! You can see it here.  I used my January Clique Kit (which I've nearly killed now!) to scrap photos of Sam skiing for the first time.  These are really old Instagram photos from 2012 and even have a filter on them!  Remember when we used to do that all the time!  I just love the "Happy Place" collection from Fancy Pants, once of my favourite releases!

My favourite thing about this layout is the hand stitching on the star!  I used the Everyday Essentials cut file from The Cut Shoppe, and you can purchase it in the Etsy store here.

And here is the amazing sketch.

Thanks for looking!