Making Lemonade #7 - Taking Up a Challenge

Hello, I'm back again and Summer has arrived!  I think it officially arrived yesterday with around 27 degrees celcius and today super hot too!  

Yesterday I posted my 7th "Making Lemonade" series video, and this one was all about taking up a challenge.  I decided to play along with a challenge that was issued on the Clique Kits Facebook Page "The Clique", and that challenge was to use flair.  I decided to add an extra challenge for myself and I scrapbooked a layout by Erica Thompson (one of the CK co-owners).  

I used my November Clique Kit "Tapestry", and had saved the paper with the houses because I couldn't bear to cut it up.  It was perfect for this photo of my girls at home, Brielle brushing Azaria's hair!

I started with gesso to tone down the background, and then added lots of strips under my photo.  I kept my embellishment very simple because the business of the background and the strips were more than enough!

I used one of the exclusive printables, and cut out part of the circle with my craft knife to layer it over my photo.

Here is Erica's amazing layout that I scrap lifted.  I just love how it pops on the black and white stripe, and of course the paper strips are gorgeous!

Here is my process video.

Thanks so much for looking!

Making Lemonade #4 - Pattern Inspiration

I'm finally back with another instalment of my Making Lemonade series, which is all about finding your creative flow when its lacking!  For this layout I was inspired by the pattern on Brielle's top, and she just happened to be wearing the shirt in the photos too!

I used my October Clique Kit "Funfetti", and I was down to the scraps of the kit.  Sometimes my favourite layouts come from making something out of nearly nothing!  I used lots of old punches and stamps for this layout too!  The background border paper is from my stash, because I had no full sheets left to use.

 Here is a close up of the shirt that inspired this layout:

I started with stamping flower and butterflies, then used my punched shapes.  I didn't think too hard about where I placed everything, just went with the flow.

I did the packaging technique on the background with Distress Ink in Picked Raspberry.

And here is my process video:

Thanks for looking!

"Making Lemonade #3" - Scraplift Yourself

Hello!  I'm finally back with the third instalment in my Making Lemonade series, which is all about staying creative and re-finding your scrappy mojo in the times you have no creative flow.  In this video I'm looking at scaplifting myself, which is something I've only ever down once before!

The layout that I chose to scrap lift is one that I've never shared on my blog before, and is one that I created for The Crafty Maven online crop that we had a few weeks ago.  It was for Tanya Hubbard's Challenge "Tackle the Terror" in which we had to take on something we found scary.  Like Tanya, my challenge was machine stitching circles.  The layout is all about the first day of school this year (in January), and how Azaria really wan't happy.

I loved this layout, and decided to scraplift it, this time with photos of Azaria on her birthday.  I used my August Hip Kit again.  In terms of scraplifting, I didn't recreate the original layout, but used it as a starting point and inspiration.

The photos aren't that great, but they definitely get the memory recorded.

I love the chipboard and wood veneers in this kit!

The "Hey!" and "Love" were originally cut apart cards that I cut into circles with my Cuttlebug.

And here is my video:

Enjoy the rest of your weekend!  Its Sunday right now, and tomorrow is the first day back at school for my older two (and Shaun) after two weeks off.

"Making Lemonade" #2 - Embellishment Inspiration

Hello!  I'm back with the second instalment in my "Making Lemonade" YouTube video series where I'm making layouts to assist in getting the creative flow happening, when its not!  For this layout I was totally inspired by the Crate Paper Wonder collection ephemera which came in my August Hip Kit.

I had these three photos of Brielle that I'd taken when she was eating her lunch in her highchair, and was keen to scrap them together.  The ephemera pieces led me to go with a banner design, incorporating the photos as part of the two banners.  I totally love how this one turned out, and it might just be my favourite at the moment!  The title pieces are gold foam thickers, but in this shot you can't tell!

Of course I had to use the B for Brielle, and the cat was perfect for her love of cats!

This "wild at heart" piece was one of my favourites in the pack of ephemera!

My darling girl, kinda eating upside down!

Here is my video, where you can watch my process for threading all the bits and pieces onto the twine.

Thanks for looking!

My New Series - "Making Lemonade"

Hello again!  Today I have some exciting news to share, I've just started a new series on my YouTube Channel called "Making Lemonade".  It's all about how to continue creating when you loose your creative flow, or when life gives you lemons.  Having recently lost my creative flow (and suffering with an ongoing back injury) I decided to use my circumstances to bring my creativity back.  One option was to stop scrapping and take a break, but because I love this hobby so much (and because I like to keep on top of my supplies), I didn't want to.  You can learn more about it in my into video.

I posted my first video today, and its all about using sketches and staying true to them to be able to kick start creativity.  I used an amazing sketch by Laura Whitaker from Stuck?! Sketches.  I used my August Hip Kit, and in my video I chat at length about what inspired me to make this series. This layout is all about Brielle and how she looks during her day sleep.

I love the Crate Paper, Pink Fresh Studio and exclusive flair in this kit.

I loved the circular embellishment areas in the sketch, and used wood veneer, chipboard and enamel dots.

And here is the fabulous sketch.

You can learn more and watch my process in this video.

Thanks for looking!