12 Designers of Christmas (Honey Bee Stamps Guest Designer)

Hello! On the 11th of December  I was guest designing on the Honey Bee Stamps blogs one of the 12 Designers of Christmas.  I was thrilled to be invited as I'm a huge fan of Melissa's stamps.  I decided to use one of my Sizzix dies to make some ornaments.   I was sent the "Let it Snow" and "Joy to the World" stamps and the sentiments were perfect!

I water coloured the ornaments and decorated them with the Ice Chip Glitter that Honey Bee Stamps sells.  My favourite ornament is the pink one.

Make sure you head on over to the blog to see the other two.

Thanks for looking!

Pretty Girl (Lets Get Sketchy & Sizzix UK)

Hello again!  It's a new month over at Lets Get Sketchy which means its time for a new sketch! I just adored the sketch for this week, and had to pretty much stick with it, especially the gorgeous butterflies!  It was the perfect sketch to scrap a photo of Brielle at a friend's wedding that her and I attended in February.  I used my Kellie Kit, and some left over butterflies that I'd die cut with my Silhouette Cameo (the cut file is this one from The Cut Shoppe).  I also used this die from Sizzix UK for the leaves.  

My Kellie Kit is built around the latest Amy Tangerine collection "Oh Happy Life", and to to colour my butterflies I was inspired by the feather paper that has multi-coloured feathers.  I used my water colours to paint the butterflies and leaves in matching colours, and I love how they turned out!  I used a couple of shades of green for the leaves.

Here is the gorgeous sketch.

Make sure you head on over to the blog and link up your layout to play along!

Thanks for looking! 

A Special Gift (Sizzix UK)

Hello!  I finally have another project to share for Sizzix UK, and for this one I wanted to make a special present for a new baby.  The baby girl's name is River, and my creative goal was to make something classic and simple.  I cut several "R's" on my Silhouette Cameo and then layered them on top of each other with liquid adhesive.  Then the fun part of embellishing with Paige Evan's "Take me Away" collection.

I used the Sizzix Bigz Heartfelt Die, to cut the two little hearts.

Thanks for looking!

Wild (Sizzix)

Hello!  Yay its Friday in my part of the world!  Today I have a layout to share with you that I made for Sizzix UK.  I used the Tim Holtz Bigz Die called Garden Greens, and I used a sketch by Laura Rumble of Beads Buttons & Birds.  Laura posted this sketch on Instagram and as soon as I saw it I knew it was perfect for the Garden Greens die!  I used the Take me Away Collection by Paige Evans and Pink Paislee.

I love the Thicker words that come with this collection, so perfect for this photo of our three kids at the Lake.

I kept the embellishment on the leaves with buttons from Take me Away, heats and sequins from my stash. 

And here is the gorgeous sketch!

You can purchase the Garden Green Die here.

Have an awesome weekend!

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!

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!

  

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!

Make Up (Sizzix)

Hi again!  Finally back, still suffering from pregnancy related nausea, hence the lack of posts...

Today I have a layout that I created with one of my Sizzix Bigz Plus Dies.  I used Emily Atherton's Bunting die and one of my past Clique Kits which featured the Studio Calico Goldie Collection.  I decided to scrap this super cute photo of Brielle when I caught her applying my lipstick and eyeliner to her face!  The only way to capture a photo like this is not to get annoyed, just act normal so you can get a photo before they cry out of guilt!  The fussy cut "makeup" is from a paper in my stash, I'd been saving it for this photo!

After I cut the banners I had stitched them to add to the general chaos of the page.  I wanted this layout messy to reflect the photo!

I kept the embellishment simple on this one because the patterned papers were so full on!

Here is the bunting die, and you can purchase it here. 

Thanks so much for looking!

A Card (Sizzix)

Hello again!  Today I have a quick post to share a card that I made with the same die I used for my layout yesterday.  Its the Sizzix Thinlits Bright Bubbles die, which you can find here.  I dug into my stash of 6x6 paper pads for this one and used the Dear Lizzy "Lucky Charm" collection, which is one of my favourites of all time!

Here is a close up of the bubbles.  Its such a lovely versatile die!

Here is the die.

Thanks so much for looking!

Poppa (Sizzix)

Hello again!  I'm back again, and obviously feeling better because I have a lot more blog posts this month!  Today I have a layout that I created for Sizzix with the Thinlits Bright Bubbles Die by Emily Atherton, which you can purchase here.  

My layout is an older photo of Sam when he was a baby, enjoying time with my Dad.  The background paper is from Lily Bee, and the rest of the papers and embellishments are from the Crate Paper "Boys Rule" collection (which has to be my favourite boy collection of all time!).

Here is a close up of the bubble die, which I cut on my Sizzix Big Shot Plus.  I had so much fun embellishing this one, and keeping it whimsical!

Here is the die.

Thanks for looking!

Oh Bless (Lets Get Sketchy & Sizzix)

Hello!  I'm back with our third sketch reveal over at Lets Get Sketchy, and for the month of June we are teaming up with Freckled Fawn.  We were given a pack of embellishments to use on our layouts, which was lots of fun!

My layout is about Brielle when she was 18 months the day after she had her vaccinations.  She was so clingy and snuggly, and it was near impossible for me to have my physio appointment!  Of course I had to snap a photo with my phone.  I used the "Better Together" collection by Amy Tangerine, I thought the colours perfectly matched the Freckled Fawn embellishments.

I used two new Sizzix Dies for my layout and I cut them on my Big Shot Plus.  I cut the circle with the Sizzix Framelits Plus Die, which has 15 sizes of circles.  You can purchase the die here.

I also used the Emily Atherton Delicate Letters Thinlits Die to create my title.  You can purchase the die here.

Here is the amazing sketch.

Make sure you play along for a chance to win!

A Special Gift (Sizzix)

Hello!  Hope you all had a lovely weekend, we had two birthday functions and a busy day at church.  Today I'm sharing a special birthday gift that I made for a lovely friend.  I was cleaning out a cupboard and I found a little canvas.  I decided to decorate it for a little piece of art for her wall.

The Sizzix Bigz Heartfelt Die by Tim Holtz was perfect for my project.  I used the Better Together collection by Amy Tangerine, and selected my favourite papers to cut the hearts.  I prepared the white canvas by painting it with gold acrylic paint, and then using a script stamp by Kaisercraft and some black Stazon Ink.

I wanted to make some of the hearts stand out, so I hand stitched around one, and tied some embroidery floss around another.  

I used dimensional foam and hot glue to adhere the hearts.  I used Amy Tangerine thickers for the "joy".  You can see the different dimensions in this photo.

This is the beautiful die I used, and you can purchase it here.

I also wanted to let you know that this year Sizzix products will be launched by Kays Company at The New Zealand Scrapbooking and Craft Expo 2016 (SENZ).  The show is in Auckland between 1-3 July.  Keep an eye out on my blog for upcoming projects that I'll be making with dies that will be featured at the expo.  The Heartfelt Die is one that will be featured.

Thanks so much for looking!

Collect Memories (Sizzix DT)

Hi everyone!  I'm finally back again after more time unwell.  I miss creating so much!

I finally found a small window of opportunity to create a layout.  I made this one for Sizzix using the Sizzix Thinlits Die Set called "Scribbles & Splat" by Tim Holtz.  You can check it out on the Sizzix website here.

I made my layout with the Simple Stories "I Am" collection, of which I have the 6x6 paper pad and some pieces of 12 x12 cut apart sheets left.  The embellishments are bits and pieces left over from past Hip Kits.  I decided to scrap an A4 (8.5x11) page of Brielle on the swing at Arana Wildlife Park in Christchurch.

I used the heart and splatter dies, and I love how this one turned out.  

I decided to make the heart a real feature on my layout, its just so pretty!

I used the Pink Fresh Studio rubber charm tag as my title.  We are definitely a family who collect memories!

I even filmed this process, here is my video.

Sizzix have lots of exciting things going on, make sure you head on over to their site here to check out what's happening.

Bless you 

Hello Lovely (Sizzix)

Hello! I've had a huge week of work, and tonight I went to a weekend crop at my friend's house (she just happens to live 2 minutes away!).  We are planning on scrapping all day tomorrow and into the evening too.

Today I'm sharing a layout I made for Sizzix using my Big Shot Plus and the Sizzix Thinlits die set Olivia by Prima Marketing, which you can purchase here.  I used my February Clique Kit Hot Mess (featuring Maggie Holmes Shine collection), and as I was getting to the end of the kit I used lots of papers from the 6x6 paper pad and scraps from the main kit.  The photo is of Brielle on our camping holiday last January.

I stared with some mist splatters and sprays, and then I added my photo and the "hello" card.  I built the embellishment around them, first with the flowers and leaves.

I added pieces of chipboard nestled amongst the leaves, and the "hello lovely" chipboard was perfect for my title.

I love how the card looks surrounded by the delicate flowers and leaves.

There are the dies that come in this set:

I also made a process video:

Thank you all who took part voting in the Sizzix Make Off. The winner has now been announced! Find out who won here.  The March Make Off is now live, and you can find the details here, or click on the image on the side of this post.

Thanks so much for looking!  Have a lovely weekend.

Exciting News!!! (Sizzix)

Hello lovely friends!  I'm so excited that I can share some amazing news with you!  As of this week I can reveal that I'm designing for Sizzix as a Creative Blogger.  It's been my dream for the past couple of years to design for a manufacturer, and as a long time fan of manual die cutting, I'm thrilled to be working with Sizzix to promote their stunning products. 

If you follow me on Instagram you'll already know that I received some goodies this week including a Big Shot Plus and some gorgeous dies.  I just can't wait to get creating.  I'll be sharing my creations here on my blog, as well as my Instagram and YouTube channel.  I'll always provide a link to the die that I'm using, so do make sure you head on over to Sizzix and check out their products.  

I've already created my first project, which is a card for a wedding I attended yesterday of some lovely friends from church.  I needed to make a simple and elegant card, and the Thinlits From my Heart die was perfect.  I cut it in white American Crafts cardstock, and popped it up on dimensional adhesive.

I also used this stunning stamp from Honey Bee Stamps for the sentiment on my card.  Machine stitching around the edge of the patterned paper finished off my card, and I gently lifted the edges for dimension.

Here is a photo of my little darling Brielle (22 months) who attended the wedding with me!

Thanks for looking!