Beautiful (The Cut Shoppe)

Hello!  I know its been a while since I posted on here.  Shaun and I went up to Auckland for our national church conference, and while there I got sick with an upper respiratory infection, and then Brielle got sick.  Add to that pregnancy nausea and there hasn't been much time for updating my blog.

Anyway, I was up on The Cut Shoppe Blog yesterday with my second layout for this month featuring Brielle.  I used the Sassy Circles cut file - which is a fold and cut file and so much fun!  I used my Clique Kit featuring Elle's Studio's "Little Moments" collection, and I focused on using the gorgeous pink ombre paper to fill in the cut file.  I just love how this one turned out!

I also used the Girl Stuff cut file set for my title.

I didn't do much journalling on this one because I've scrapped other photos from the same moment.

Here is the Sassy Circles cut and fold file.

And here is the Girl Stuff cut file set.  So many options for creating with this cut file, I only used the title and can't wait to create more!

Thanks so much for looking!

June Clique Kits Challenge Layout

Hello again from a beautiful mild winters day!  I just realised I'd forgotten to share the layout I created for the Clique Kits June Challenge, which was "anything goes".  I decided to focus on journalling, and wrote in the negative space of one of the exclusive cut files by Just Nick Studio.

The layout features a sweet photo of my girls playing on the trampoline earlier this year in summer.  The June kit is called La Doce Vita and features the gorgeous Elles Studio "Little Moments" collection.   It also features Jellibean Soup's "Healthy Hello Soup" collection.

 I was so excited to get that white acrylic price, perfect for my title.  I added the clear Jellibean soup "happy" too.

The gorgeous sequins down the centre of my butterflies are from Spiegelmom Scraps, she mixed an exclusive mix to match the kit.

Our challenge this month is sponsored by Sharbear Crafts.

Here is a photo of the stunning kit.

Thanks so much for looking!

Stuck Sketches Guest Designer (Merry & Bright)

Hello again!  I'm excited to share that I'm the Guest Designer over at Stuck?! Sketches for the January 2015 reveal!  I love Laura's sketches, and its an absolute honour to be her Guest.  My layout is about Brielle's first Christmas and opening her first stocking.

The sketch showed four square photos in a linear vertical row, but I decided to use 2x3 landscape photos and slightly stagger them for interest.  I used my November Hip Kit from last year, which was full of the Elle's Studio "Good Cheer" collection.  

I wanted to use the Merry flags to create a stitched banner on the top right corner, and the empty space was perfect for my journalling.  The background misting is with Heidi Swapp Colourshine, using both the packaging technique and splatters.

The silver rub-on stars were the perfect finishing touch, and added that magical Christmas feeling!

I layered a wood venner flag over a die cut frame - and of course using up products that contain the year on them is always a good idea!

Here is Laura's amazing sketch.

Thanks for looking and thanks Stuck?! Sketches for having me!

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!

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!

His Girl (Stuck?! Sketches)

Hello Hello!  While it may look like my blog is neglected, I've been furiously scrapping away for a post I'll have up hopefully tomorrow (Tuesday here in NZ).  Now I was visiting my scrappy friend Wendi's blog a few days ago and I loved her page so much that I wanted to scrap lift it!  However, it was based on a sketch over at Stuck?! Sketches owned and run by the lovely Laura Whitaker (who designs gorgeous sketches), as I found out that I still had time to play along!

I used my June Hip Kit, and my page is all about the special relationship between my eldest daughter and my husband.  They have a little game where Shaun says "Are you my princess?" and she says "I'm not your princess" and giggles!  Of course she is his princess!!

Here is my layout, I just loved those triangles, and I predominantly used Elles Studio products. I went to town with my swing machine on this one, I love the texture it adds.

Love those Dear Lizzy yoyo thickers!

Now for confession time!  My India ink splatters were originally done with Heidi Swapp gold Color Shine, but when they dried they left a strange halo that looked like a water line around them. Let me know if you've had this issue too.  It really annoyed me so I tried to cover them with India ink. Now I should have just left them because the mist resisted the black ink!  What to do, what to do? Big gold sequins to the rescue!  I'm not really that happy with the ink and sequins, but I think it looks better than the odd gold mist splats!

Elles Studio have great bits and pieces for embellishing!  The acetate butterfly is from Studio Calico.

And here is the awesome sketch that I fell in love with:

Thanks for looking!