Love (Use Your Words)

Hello, its with great sadness that I post my last layout for our last ever reveal over at Use Your Words challenge blog.  I've had a blast, and the layouts I've created over the last few months have been some of my favourite ever.

Our word for this last challenge is LOVE.  I decided to do a very girly layout, scrapping my daughter with her beloved soft toy "friends".

I used Kaisercraft's Tea Party Collection.  I started with some watercolours on the background, and inspired by Wilna Furstenberg in her Art Class, I let the paint run.  I love how it turned out.  Next I layered my paper layers under my photo, then clustered some die cuts around it.  A title, navy ink splatters to anchor my layout, my journaling, and I was done.

Make sure you head over the the blog and see for one last time how my awesome design team members were inspired.  Play along and link up your layout for one last chance to win.

Thanks for joining us at Use Your Words, its been truly awesome!  If you like my art please follow my blog :)

Be blessed

Melissa x

Family (Use Your Words)

Hello again!  Our challenge word over at Use Your Words is FAMILY.  I decided to scrap some more photos of my kids playing with their cousins.  Its great to scrap multiple photos so that I can place them in each of the kids albums, and my family album.  I used Crate Paper's Fourteen collection.

I can't wait to see how this fortnights word inspires you.
Be blessed
Melissa x

Sweet Tooth Satisfaction (Use Your Words)

Its time for our second reveal for September over at Use Your Words Challenge Blog!  For this reveal our word was SWEET, and when I think of this word, aside from thinking of my kids (most of the time), I think of baking.  This word was the perfect opportunity to get these baking photos scrapped.

Because I had 4 photos I knew I wanted to do some kind of grid design.  I was inspired by Maggie Holmes on this one, as she is very good at doing a loose grid design that still enables layering papers.  I started by machine stitching borders for the photos on each of the papers I chose, then I embellished them and layered them.  I used an older Studio Calico kit that I've been hoarding, and the only addition from my stash were the pink washi tape and the Basic Grey acetate letters, which I love!

Some close-ups:

Thanks for looking.  Make sure you head over to the blog to check out how the rest of the DT were inspired, and I can't wait to see what you make and link up!

Be blessed

Melissa x

So Very Tough! (Use Your Words)

Hello and welcome to September!  Here at the bottom of the world that means Spring has arrived, YAY!  Well its a brand new month over at Use Your Words, and our word for the next fortnight is TOUGH.  Remember the rules are that you must use this word either in your title and/or your journalling.  I've found that as I've been creating these layouts, I prefer to use the word in my titles.

When I think of the word "tough" it immediately reminds me of a summer bike ride we had in February.  Once a month on Friday nights our church has Youth & Family Connect, which involves really fun activities that are open to anyone in the church to join in.  On this particular Friday night we went bike riding, with the aim of riding on the Queenstown Trail from Arrowtown to the Kawarau Bungy Bridge (the official home of bungy jumping in New Zealand and the world).  Sam was 5 back then, and we were so proud of him as he was the youngest kid to bike 16 kilometres (9.941 miles)!  The photo is of him pushing his bike up the last hill.  When we arrived back the entire crowd of church family started clapping for him, he was so tough and Shaun and I were so proud of his tenacity!

Here is my layout, made with my July Paper Bakery Kit.  I must admit I'd been hoarding that Elle's Studio confetti paper!

My photo is an Iphone Instagram, and is so dark because it was dusk, and the sun had nearly gone down.  I just love that sequin arrow that came with the kit!

I did my journaling in the form of a letter, which is something I've learnt from Wilna Furstenberg.  I think its a lovely was to record memories, which my kids will go back and read when they are older.  

I just had to include a close up of that super cute bike clip, which is a Paper Bakery exclusive! This photo also shows my layering, which I'm still loving!

Thanks for looking.  Now its your turn, and I can't wait to see how the word TOUGH inspires you!  Don't forget to head over to the blog to see how the other DT girls were inspired.

Be blessed, and enjoy welcoming Spring or Autumn wherever you are in the world!
Melissa x

I Believe in Love & Coffee (Use Your Words)

Hello and welcome to another challenge over at Use Your Words challenge blog!  The other Design Team girls and I have been having a blast coming up with layouts for the featured words. The word for the mid August challenge is "BELIEVE".  We were chatting about what we were going to scrap, and in the list of possible ideas Leanne mentioned "coffee", probably more as a joke, however us Kiwi and Aussie girls do love our coffee!!  I immediately remembered that I had taken a photo of my coffee a couple of weeks ago (yes its a strange thing I do, but hey if it looks good I love the memory ;) .  

So this photo was taken at our favourite cafe in Queenstown called Vudu Larder, which seriously has the best coffee and food (including Gluten Free treats)!  Its always packed out, the staff are fantastic, and the cabinet display is mouthwatering! 

Now for the "love" part.  Love of course is far more important than coffee, and for me is about God's love for us, such that He gave us His son to make a way to restore our relationship with Him (see John 3:16).

I shared recently that I was struggling with my creativity recently, but thanks to this layout topic, it all returned!  And so the following layout came together really easily.

I used all Dear Lizzy 5th & Frolic, which I must say I've fallen back in love with since I purchased the die cuts.  Aside from the 12x12 background paper, this page is made with the 6x6 pad, a die cuts, stickers, and one of the cut apart journaling cards.  I cut up the triangle paper into individual triangles, and scattered them as confetti, mixed in with some pink sequins and white ink splatters.  My lettering stickers are from Glitz Design (they make awesome mini letters) and Studio Calico.

Now for some closeups of my layering:

Thanks for looking, and reading :+)

Do make sure you head over to the blog and check out the fabulous layouts the rest of the DT have made! I can't wait to see what you create with the word Believe. Remember it must feature on your layout, either in your title and/or in you journaling.

Enjoy your coffee break today, I know I will!

Melissa x

A Sweet Spring Moment (Use Your Words)

Welcome to our second challenge reveal over at Use Your Words Challenge Blog.  This challenge our word is MOMENT, and to play along you have to use it in your title or journaling.

I chose to scrapbook a page about my beautiful niece Jessie-Rose, who was born in London, and I haven't met yet.  My sister and her husband moved over to work in London over 4 years ago, and they had Jessie-Rose in June 2012, so shes just turned 1!  I love this photo because it applies the rule of thirds.  I also love that Jessie-Rose is looking over her shoulder, so I thought it was perfect to add in the butterflies, as it looks like she is watching them.

I used the left overs of my May Paper Bakery Kit, with some added washi tape, pink patterned paper, Bella Blvd white letter stickers, and October Afternoon Woodland Park chipboard buttons.  When I was first laying the page out I didn't have any pink, but I felt that something was missing.  Adding the pink definitely added a needed pop of colour!

Make sure you play along and link up with us, you have the next two weeks before our next reveal.  I can't wait to see what you make!

Be blessed

Melissa x

Use Your Words - Last Chance for July

Hello, just a quick post to remind you that our first ever official challenge over at Use Your Words is nearly over for July.  You have 1 day, 18 hours and 18 minutes (and counting LOL) to play along!!!

Remember that the word to be inspired by is STORY, and this must be included either in you title or journaling.  Do come and play along, its so much fun!

The Story of a Girl by a Boy with a Camera (Use Your Words)

Welcome to our first official reveal and challenge over at Use Your Words Challenge Blog!  We are all so excited about today, and can't wait for you to join in and play along!  

What I love so much about Use Your Words is that you can scrapbook in any style, about any subject,  provided that you use the word that's provided either in your title or in your journaling.  The word for this challenge is "STORY". There is so much scope within this word, and as scrapbookers, I believe that as well as indulging in our love of pretty paper and embellishments, we also love to preserve our memories by telling our stories.

I decided to use "Story" in my title, in order to explain what is behind these beautiful photos of my daughter Azaria, which were taken by my son (aged 5) last December.  Every Christmas my husband creates beautiful canvases with photos of our kids and us.  Shaun gave Sam the camera and told him to go and take some photos of Azaria, and these were my two favourites.

Here is my layout:

I had so much fun creating this layout. I started knowing that I wanted to use the little bags behind the photos, and that I wanted to mix vintage imagery with modern products.  I also knew that I wanted a mix of lettering for my title.  I used a mix of My Minds Eye, Simple Stories Vintage Bliss, Echo Park Paper Beautiful Moments, Paper Bakery Flair, Evalicious Flair and a stamp, and random other die cuts from my stash.  I had fun with my new Amy Tangerine stitching template too!

I'm so looking forward to seeing what you create!

Be blessed

Melissa x

Use Your Words - Happy Scrapping News!!!

I'm so thrilled to announce that I made it onto the Design Team for Use Your Words!!!  It's such an honor to be able to design with such a talented group of ladies!  I do hope you'll come and visit and play along.  I can't wait to see what you make!

Melissa x

Use Your Words Challenge Blog - DT Call

As a writer by day and a scapbooker by night I've discovered a brand new challenge site called Use Your Words Challenge Blog.  I love that it combines two of my favourite things, and I've decided to apply!

I just love this badge created for the blog!

Have a great weekend :)