Our Happy Home (Fancy Pants)

Hello!  Its Friday again, and today I'm 30 weeks pregnant, let the 10 week countdown begin!  Today I'm sharing a layout I made with a free cut file from Fancy Pants Designs, designed by Kim Watson.  Its called Shadow Box House, and was designed based on a doll house.  When I saw it on Instagram I knew I had to use it and play!

Of course I had to use my Clique Kit featuring the "Millie & June" collection by Fancy Fants.  This kit also features Cocoa Vanilla Studio's "Colour Me Happy" collection.  I scrapped this photo of my three kids holding the 12 week scan photo of our 4th baby!  I used my Silhouette Cameo to sketch the lines for the and stitching, and then I did offset of the internal parts I wanted cut, and cut them out.  

Embellishing inside the house was lots of fun!

The small rectangle was the perfect place for the date.

I was a bit concerned about hand stitching the title because the lines were very close, but thankfully it all worked out!

And here is the amazing cut file, which you can download from the Fancy Pants Blog here.

I made a process video for this one.

Thanks so much for looking!

Two More "Rio" Layouts (Clique Kits DT)

Hello!  I'm back today with two more layouts that I created with the gorgeous August Clique Kit "Rio".  For these ones I did hours of hand stitching, and then used my new Close to My Heart watercolours on one.

The first layout is a photo of Azaria that I took on New Years Day.  I enlarged one of the exclusive cut file flowers, and repositioned it on the Silhouette software by rotating it to provide a place for my photo.  After I stitched it I painted it, and then cut it out.  This enabled me to position my photo above one of the petals and under two of the leaves.  I kept embellishment very simple to focus on the photo and the flower.

I made a process video.

For my second layout I used another one of the exclusive cut file and hand stitched it in monochromatic pink tones to match Brielle's top.  I love how this one turned out too, which is a relief because it literally took me hours to stitch!  If you saw my mini album, this photo was the final favourite photo that I was after, and of course it deserved its own page in her album!

I made a process video for this one too.

Thanks for looking!

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!

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!

Sweet (Lets Get Sketchy)

Hello from a cold snowy day!  I realised I forgot to share this layout, which was the week 3 sketch reveal for Lets Get Sketchy.  We had another awesome sketch from Brenshevia, and I used it to scrap two photos of Brielle on her bike with her blanket.

I used my January Clique Kit featuring the Fancy Pants "Happy Place" collection.

And here is the sketch:

Thanks for looking!

Getting To Know You Blog Hop (The Cut Shoppe)

Hello! I'm Melissa and welcome to my blog from ENZA GUDOR's blog ! I'm soooooo excited to be on The Cut Shoppe Design Team for this term, its truely a dream come true!

Today I'm sharing a layout that I made some time ago with my January Clique Kit, but forgot to share. I used the You've Been Framed cut file, its one of those designs that I just had to have as soon as I saw it! I used it to scrap several photos of my kids playing in the snow last year. The kit featured the Fancy Pants "Happy Place" collection which was perfect for these winter photos of my three kids from last winter. I purposefully didn't alter my photos, they're dark because the sky hadn't cleared from the storm, I love that they represent my kids wanting to play outside ASAP!

I used the frames to house a mixture of my photos, patterned papers and journalling.

I love how white always pops on kraft cardstock!

And now a bit more about me :)

1. How many times in a week, do you work on something scrapbook related?

I try to work on something everyday, whether it be creating, editing my process videos or writing my blog. Being pregnant and very sick I've been struggling with this lately, and have had lots of ebbs and flows in my scrappy mojo.

2. What’s your favorite subject to scrapbook?

My children! I just love that I have so many memories documented! It gives me so much joy when they look at their scrapbooks, or ask me to recall a memory and I can find the layout that tells the story.

3. What is your favorite color to use on your layouts/projects? What is your least favorite colour?

My favourite colour is still gold, it has been for a long time ever since Maggie Holmes made it popular. My least favourite colour is purple (sorry purple, there seems to be so much dislike for you!).

4. Why do you like using cut files on your layouts/projects?

I'm relatively new to using cut files, as I got my Silhouette Cameo last November after months of saving up. I love cut files because they enable me to be so much more creative, and I love using them as hand stitching templates.

5. What are some of your other favorite hobbies? If you were not a scrapbooker, what other hobby do you think would consume most of your time?

I love baking, and before I was pregnant (due November) I was eating refined sugar free and made a lot of raw deserts - I can't wait to get back to normal doing this again once the baby is born. Living in Queenstown, New Zealand I also love snow boarding in winter and mountain biking in Summer. I also love cross stitching and reading.

6. Tell us 5 things we don’t know about you!

• I am gluten intolerant, and when I'm not pregnant I'm dairy intolerant. I also feel better not eating refined sugar.
• I met my husband in a stage show, I was a dancer and he was a singer (cheesy I know, and I still need to scrapbook these photos!)
• I've sung at many funerals, and I love being able to bless families with the songs they love.
• I'm a town planning consultant and started my business when my oldest was 3 months old.
• I had kidney disease when I was 23 and they removed a third of my left kidney. I have a huge scar on my back that I totally forget is there!

I'm giving away a $5 Gift Certificate to The Cut Shoppe Etsy Store, all you need to do is follow my blog and comment below.

Thanks so much for hopping today! Your next stop is WENDY ANTENUCCI.

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 January Blog Share

Hello and welcome to my bog!  Today is the monthly Clique Kits Pep Rally blog share where we hop along and look at all the goodness created with the latest kit, January's "Alegria".  

I have to say I've loved working with Alegria, and I still have some more leftover to create with!  Here is another look at the beautiful kit featuring Fancy Pants' "Happy Place" collection by the amazing Kim Watson. 

I have two layouts to share with you today.  My first one features the background confetti cut file, and when I first started backing it with the 6x6 paper pad I had no idea what photo to scrap.  I have several older Instagram photos that I've been scrapping my way though slowly, and I decided the photo of Sam having a swimming lesson was perfect - with the confetti looking like bubbles.

Here is a close up of some of my 'bubbles".  It was a labour of love, but I enjoyed the process of backing all the holes.  My advice to you is this: always buy the 6x6 paper pad add-on, the scaled down patterns are amazing to create with, and its a bonus to get all of the paper in a collection.

My second layout features me, and its a selfie I took the day before our third baby was born.  I knew I had to keep that text paper as a full background, and it was begging for water colours to be splattered all over it!  I painted the wood grain camera with yellow acrylic paint.  I thought the "lets take a nap" card was perfect for the last day before Brielle's arrival! 

The "Live Boldly" is one of the printables which I enlarged to be my title.  I thought the title was perfect because I had to have a scheduled C-Section with my third, and didn't want to.  I had to be bold and follow the advice of the doctors.

I loved using up some of the tags, this one was perfect for my journalling!

Here is the line up for the blog share, make sure you check out what these talented ladies have made!

Clique Kits https://cliquekits.wordpress.com/
Gia Lau https://giaaloha.wordpress.com/
*Melissa Vining http:yesterday2day4ever.blogspot.co.nz <<<THAT WOULD BE ME>>>
*Candace http://findingeverydayperfection.com/
*Kat Benjamin http://kraftykat9.blogspot.com
*Leigh Ann http://www.artfulleighcreative.com/
*Aliza http://peopleofthescrapbook.blogspot.com
*Elisabetta https://abcdeliblog.blogspot.com/
Donna http://scrappydonna.blogspot.com/
Emma Pescott http://emslifedocumented.blogspot.co.nz
Sandy Gonzalez http://craftythought.com
Kim Allen kimsscrappyblog.blogspot.com/
Mariah Hecher http://www.fun2scrap.blogspot.com/
Renee Aslette http://www.reneeaslette.blogspot.com
Kate Blue http://www.kateblue.blogspot.com
Megan Blethen www.craftymeggy.com
Kelly Baron kaybeetoo.blogspot.com
Bernie Miller http://weekendatberniis.blogspot.com.au/
*Design Team Members on Kit Duty