Beauty Within

Another layout of my older DD, who is growing up way too fast! This layout was inspired by a lovely sketch from Pink Sketches. I used papers from My Mind's Eye's Bloom & Grow Collection (another of my relatively recent purchases), and I must say I love how the pinks and greens come together.

Materials used:

Patterned Papers – My Mind’s Eye Bloom & Grow by Zoe Pearn “Bloom” Collection – Candy Stripes, Bijou Birds Green, Daisy Chain, Geometric Pink, Eye Candy
Cardstock – Bazzill Basics
Flowers – Prima, Imaginisce
Blings – Prima Say It In Crystals in Pink
Title Alphas – My Mind’s Eye Bella Bella “Bellezo” Collection Accessory Sheet, Provo Craft Halfabitties Stickers – Rat-a-tat Half-a-bitty
Journaling – Daisyds Rub-On Transfers
Heart Charms – KCK Craft Metal Charms
Others – Tim Holtz Distress Ink in Black Soot, EK Success 3D Foam Dots, Fiskars Threading Water Border Punch, Ribbons

Three

An old photo I just found! I used papers and embellishments from Scenic Route's Surprise Collection for this layout, to match the theme of the photo, which is of my older DD's 3rd birthday party.



I used Fiskars' Threading Water Border Punch on a couple of the papers, and added laces to the layout to match the lace-like look of these edges. I then layered the chipboard shapes and journaling tag on top of each other using 3D foam dots, to add some dimension. The edges of the papers and embellishments are inked for definition.

Materials used:
Patterned Papers – Scenic Route Surprise Collection – Blue Grid White, Skyview Drive, Rainbow Road, Scrap Strip
Chipboard Words and Shapes – Scenic Route Surprise Collection Chipboard
Title Alphas – Scenic Route Red Berkely Alphabet Stickers
Journaling Tag - Scenic Route Surprise Collection Die-Cut Cardstock
Lace and Ribbons – Prima, Melissa Frances, Creative Impressions
Circle Bling – Heidi Swapp
Others – K & Company Glitter Alphabet Stickers in Black, Tim Holtz Distress Ink in Black Soot, American Crafts Slick Writer in Black Fine, EK Success 3D Foam Dots, Fiskars Threading Water Border Punch

Love Those Smiles

Here's another layout using papers from Basic Grey and Crate Paper. This one was inspired by a sketch by Lucy Chesna for My Sketch World.

Materials used:

Patterned Paper - Basic Grey Bittersweet Collection - Blushing Pink, Rocky Road, and Praline, and Crate Paper Prudence Collection - Charity die-cut paper

Flowers - Prima

Crystal Swirls - Prima Say It In Crystals

Title Alphas - American Craft Thickers - Chipboard Jewelry Box in Wine - Metallic, Basic Grey Wassail Collection alphabet stickers

Brad - Basic Grey Bittersweet Collection

Lace - Daiso lace ribbon

Others - Tim Holtz Distress Ink in Black Soot, Ranger Ice Stickles in Crystal Ice

Basic Grey and Other Updates

Just some quick updates.

Firstly, my three recent Basic Grey layouts are currently being featured in the Basic Grey Idea Gallery. They are:

"Chinese Dance"

"Sweet Joy"

"Tweet Heart"

"Alice In Disneyland" was selected as a favourite on Scrapmojo in November last year.

"A Christmas Tradition" won the Traditions Challenge at Crop Addict in December last year.

"Gong Xi Fa Cai" was selected as Layout Of The Week #12 over at Made With Love last month.

And finally, "Simply Fabulous" was a winner in Scenic Route's January Free For All product challenge.

Chinese Dance

I just completed this layout this afternoon, using Basic Grey's new Marrakech Collection. Did I mention I love Basic Grey? Haha!




I actually chose the papers because they matched the colours in the photo, which is of my younger DD performing at a school concert in November last year. I used pop-up dots for the cut-outs, photo, and word "Dance" for dimension, and applied stickles to the cut-outs for some glitter and texture.

Materials used:
Patterned Paper - Basic Grey Marrakech Collection - Mandarin Slice, Calming Moon, Masala Bella, Vanilla Chai
Flower - Get Creative Velvet Flower in Slate
Blings - Prima, Making Memories Flower Patch, Heidi Swapp Bling Frames - Circles
Title Alphas - American Crafts Thickers - Rainboots Puffy Letter Stickers in Black, Karen Foster Design Mini License Plates - Dance
Sheer Journaling Card - Maya Road
Others - Tim Holtz Distress Ink in Broken China, Ranger Ice Stickles in Crystal Ice, EK Success 3D Foam Dots

If Music Be The Food Of Love

Okay, here it is. Challenge number 6 at Butterfly Crafts - create a layout about a collection you have, whether it be shoes, ornaments or books - whatever you collect..... The winner of February's challenges will get to be the March guest designer and also receive a AUS $20 Gift Certificate from Butterfly Crafts' February Sponsor, 'Hybird Designs Scrapbooking', so go check out February's challenges.

Now, what do I collect? Tough choice because my collections range from James Dean and Star Wars memorabilia, to stamps, coins, and limited edition dolls. But for this challenge, I've decided to do a layout on my CD collection, which at last count came close to 1,000 pieces, ranging from classical to jazz to pop to rock. The photo shows only a handful from my stash, of which several are also signed by the artistes. The title is a quote from the Bard himself, William Shakespeare, who in his play Twelfth Night wrote: "If music be the food of love, play on." I guess I was inspired by this whole Valentine's Day thing....haha!

Materials used:
Patterned Paper - Creative Imaginations - Christine Adolph Felicity Music Foil, Felicity Grid, Felicity Scroll, and Creative Imaginations - Marah Johnson Cream Music, Red Music
Title Alphas - American Crafts Thickers - Platforms Chipboard Letter Stickers in Red, and Rainboots Puffy Letter Stickers in Black, Bo Bunny Double Dot Chipboard Stickers in Wild Berry, K & Company Black Filagree Alphabet Adhesive Chipboard, Creative Imaginations Christine Adolph Melody Sticker
Others - Tim Holtz Distress Ink in Black Soot, EK Success 3D Foam Dots

Sneak Peek - Butterfly Crafts

Just a little sneak peek of my DT layout for Butterfly Crafts for this month! Check out their blog tomorrow for the reveal. It's gonna be a fun challenge!

Happy Valentine's Day!

Sweet Joy

Finally, this challenge was set by Susan, and is titled "Sweets for my Sweet". We had to scrap a layout with mostly pink and brown and embellished with flowers.

I used Basic Grey's Bittersweet Collection, and did lots of cutwork for this. I used 3D foam dots for some of the cutwork pieces, for added dimension. And my favourite part of this layout? The photo of my younger DD jumping for joy at her recent birthday party. As someone commented, "that picture is just priceless"!

Materials used:

Patterned Papers - Basic Grey Bittersweet Collection - Belgian, Rocky Road, Mousse, Cherry Cordial, Brittle, Hand Dipped

Flowers - Prima

Sequinned Lace - Maya Road

Title Alphas - American Crafts Thickers - Glitter Chipboard Sprinkles in White, Glitter Chipboard Shoe Box in Pink

Journaling Tag - Basic Grey Bittersweet Element Stickers

Others - Tim Holtz Distress Ink in Frayed Burlap, Ranger Ice Stickles in Crystal Ice, American Crafts Slick Writer in Brown, EK Success 3D Foam Dots

It's A Small World

This one is for the challenge titled "Material Girl", and we had to use bling, lace and at least 4 different patterned papers on our layout. My kind of challenge - bling and lace! I used Making Memories' Flower Patch Collection for this layout of my two DD at Disneyland Hongkong, to match the colours of the Small World ride they are standing in front of. I applied stickles to the flowers for added sparkle on top of the crystal swirls. I like how this layout turned out, especially the colours.



Materials used:
Die-cut Paper - Making Memories Flower Patch Collection - Die Cut Artisan
Patterned Papers - Making Memories Flower Patch Collection - Butterfly, Small Floral, and a page from the Flower Patch - 8x8 Specialty Paper Pack
Cardstock - Bazzill Bling
Flowers - Prima, Imaginisce, Heidi Swapp
Crystal Swirls - Prima Say It In Crystals - Pink
Laces - Pink Paislee Sweet Cakes Ribbons, Melissa Frances, and an unknown brand
Title Alphas - American Crafts Thickers - Chipboard Jewelry Box in Brown
Others - Tim Holtz Distress Ink in Frayed Burlap, Ranger Ice Stickles in Crystal Ice

Tweet Heart

This has been such a fruitful weekend! Between Saturday night and yesterday evening, I actually managed to complete three layouts! And I did them using my new scrap supplies as well! Good reason to buy more, as my friend Susan says - haha!

The layouts were for a virtual crop over at My Scrapbook Nook that I participated in. Susan's a DT member there and introduced me to the site and the crop. Was such fun!

Anyway, this first layout that I completed was for a challenge called "You're In My Heart...", where we had to use hearts cut out of paper on our layouts, as well as have the word "heart" in the title. I used the new Porcelain Collection from Basic Grey for this layout of my younger DD. I hand-cut the hearts and inked the edges for definition, and used 3D foam dots for the birdcage and three of the hearts, for dimension. The "Tweet" in the title is of course a play on the birdcage.

Materials used:
Patterned Papers - Basic Grey Porcelain Collection - Silver Birch, Chatsworth, Windermere, Hampton, Rosenthal, Bellamy, Villeroy, Stafford, and Empress Cream
Lace - Melissa Frances
Title - Basic Grey Porcelain Element Stickers, Basic Grey Porcelain Chip Sticker ABC
Others - Tim Holtz Distress Ink in Frayed Burlap, Elements by Mark Richards Crystal Stickers, EK Success 3D Foam Dots

Scrapbook Inspirations

I'm so totally excited! My layout 'A Simple Plan', which I had done as a DT layout for Butterfly Crafts, is being featured in the March issue of the UK based scrapbooking magazine, Scrapbook Inspirations, which hits the newsstands today! Karen had told me she was submitting the layout to them since last month, but thought I'd keep it under wraps until the magazine actually goes on sale. Now to go grab myself a copy - my very first layout in print!