Hello Germany

So, Graphic 45 just had to produce a collection based on one of my fave books - The Secret Garden, by Frances Hodgson Burnett. How can I not get this collection? It is so utterly beautiful!

The photo on this layout is of my older DD, taken during her school trip to Europe last year. She's standing in front of Neuschwanstein Castle in Germany, which was the actual inspiration for Disney's Sleeping Beauty castle.

Here are some close-ups of the layout.

Thanks so much for taking the time to drop by! :)

Materials used:

Patterned Papers - Graphic 45 - Secret Garden Collection - Coming Up Roses, Beautiful Blooms, May Flowers, Meadow Lark, Seed Fairy, Pretty Primrose

Chipboard Pieces - Graphic 45 - Secret Garden Collection - Die-Cut Chipboard Tags 2

Cardstock Shape - Graphic 45 - Secret Garden Collection - Cardstock Tags and Pockets

Flowers and Leaves - Prima Marketing - Tea-Thyme Collection (Timido), Rondelle Collection (Perles), Laraine Collection (River Rock), Life Time Collection

Alphas - Prima Marketing - Alphabet Stickers (Black)

Trim - 7Gypsies - Adelaide Seam Binding Pack

Twine - Kokuyo

Paper Doilies

Inks - Tim Holtz Distress Ink (Tea Dye); American Crafts Slick Writer - Black (Fine)

Adhesives - Beacon’s 3-In-1 Advanced Craft Glue, Kokuyo Dotliner, EK Success 3D-Dots

Harmony

I took these photos of my two girls dressed in their brand new outfits, on the first day of Chinese New Year this year. And this layout being a Chinese New Year one, I thought Graphic 45's Bird Song Collection was the perfect choice for it!

Using foam dots, I created a pop-up frame for the layout, and did lots of layering with the patterned papers, hand-cut pieces, and chipboard embellishments.

I then added a string of pearls for additional detail.

Here are some close-ups.

Thanks for dropping by! :)

Materials used:

Patterned Papers - Graphic 45 - Bird Song Collection - Bird Song, Cherry Blossom, Jasmine Dream, Tranquility, Good Fortune

Chipboards - Graphic 45 - Bird Song Collection - Chipboard Tags 2

Sticker - Graphic 45 - Bird Song Collection - Alphabet Cardstock Stickers

Doilies
Pearl Trim

Inks - Tim Holtz Distress Ink - Black Soot; American Crafts Slick Writer - Black (Fine)

Adhesives - Beacon’s 3-In-1 Advanced Craft Glue, Kokuyo Dotliner, EK Success 3D-Dots

My Sweet Life

Here's my DT layout for My Creative Sketches' February Sketch. My younger DD just loves to go prawning, and recently spent a lovely afternoon with her sister, cousins and friends at her usual prawning haunt. They didn't catch that many prawns, but had loads of fun just the same. Given that this is one of her favourite activities at this stage in her life, I just had to capture it in a layout, and this month's MCS sketch provided the perfect opportunity for it.

I used papers from Pink Paislee's Butterfly Garden collection for this layout, as I wanted something with a "nature" feel to it. The flowers are from Prima, and I added some tarnished-looking metal embellishments which I found among my stash, to give the layout a somewhat vintage look, harking back to the "kampung" days of old.

Here's the lovely sketch by Kim Keane.

So, head on over to the MCS blog to get an eyeful of the gorgeous prize up for grabs this month, and come play along with us!

Materials used:

Patterned Papers - Pink Paislee - Butterfly Garden Collection - Flower Blooms, Dragonflies, Butterfly Wings, Nature Sanctuary

Flowers - Prima Marketing - Timido Collection (Tea-Thyme, Romance Novel, Craftsman), Laraine Collection (Sorbet), Aria A, Button Vine (Songbird)

Crystal Flourish - Zva Creative (Black)

Metal Embellishments - From own stash

Alphas - American Crafts Thickers - Dear Lizzy 'Splendid' Matte Puffy Stickers; Prima Marketing - Romance Novel Alpha Stickers

Puncher - Martha Stewart Crafts - Vintage Floral Punch-Around-The-Page Set

Inks - Tim Holtz Distress Ink - Walnut Stain, Black Soot

Adhesives - Beacon’s 3-In-1 Advanced Craft Glue, Kokuyo Dotliner, EK Success 3D-Dots

Notebook for Mel

I made this notebook for my younger DD for her birthday earlier this month.

Here's a look at the inside of the notebook.

Thanks for dropping by! :)

Materials used:

Patterned Papers - DCWV - Mariposa Paper Stack

Chipboard Flourish - Maya Road

Flowers - Prima Marketing

Alphas - Prima Marketing

Ribbons and Pearls - From own stash

Binding Rings - Zutter Bind-It-All

Inks and Other Medium - Tim Holtz Distress Stain - Picket Fence, Tim Holtz Distress Ink - Broken China, Ranger Archival Ink - Jet Black

Stamps - Hero Arts Clear Stamps, KaiserCraft Vintage Clear Stamps

Adhesives - Beacon’s 3-In-1 Advanced Craft Glue, Kokuyo Dotliner, EK Success 3D-Dots

Treasure

Here's my DT layout for January's sketch at My Creative Sketches. There's a fabulous prize to be won, as always, so do hop on over to the MCS blog and play along!

For my layout, I used papers from Prima's Fairy Belle collection, with flowers and vines also from Prima.

Using 3D foam dots, I created a raised "frame" with the papers, and also did some 3D layering of the squares and the photo for added depth.

Thanks so much for dropping by! :)

Materials used:

Patterned Papers - Prima Marketing - Fairy Belle Collection - Marcelle, En Pointe, Summer Dream, La Spa, La Ronde

Journaling Notecards - Prima Marketing - Nature Garden Collection

Flowers and Vines - Prima Marketing - Fairy Belle Collection (Lucerne, Melisse, Vinetta, Button Vine, Pixie Vine), Rondelle Collection (Perles), Almanac Collection (Pixie Vine), Interlude B

Metal Corners - Tim Holtz Idea-ology Collection - Corners

Alphas - American Crafts Thickers - Nutmeg Glossy Letter Stickers (Chestnut)

Adhesives - Beacon’s 3-In-1 Advanced Craft Glue, Kokuyo Dotliner, EK Success 3D-Dots

Le Tres Chic Card

A quick card for my younger DD's friend, which I made using papers from DCWV's Le Tres Chic Stack. I love the colours of these papers.

Thanks for dropping by! :)

Materials used:

Patterned Papers - DCWV - Le Tres Chic Stack

Journaling Notecard - Prima Marketing - Fairy Belle Collection

Butterfly - Prima Marketing - Mariposa Collection - Meadow, Marble

Alphas - Prima Marketing - Romance Novel Collection - Alphabet Stickers

Lace - EK Success - French General - Jolee's Boutique Lace Borders

Adhesives - Beacon’s 3-In-1 Advanced Craft Glue, Kokuyo Dotliner

Lovely. Beautiful. Darling - Mini-Album (Part 2)

Happy New Year everyone!

Remember the canvas box I made for my younger DD in November, which contained a little mini-album inside? I promised I'd post the inside of the mini, so here it is.

I made the mini using papers from My Mind's Eye's Follow Your Heart collections, which I also used to mount the photos. I then embellished the pages with flowers and trims, and metal and chipboard embellishments, from Prima, My Mind's Eye, Tim Holtz and 7Gypsies. And I also found Cosmo Cricket's Tiny Text journal stickers really handy! Here are the inside pages.

Thanks so much for dropping by, and have a lovely and blessed 2013! :)

Materials used:

Mini-Album Cover:

Two Cardboard Pieces

Paper - My Mind's Eye - Follow Your Heart "Be Happy" Collection - Happy Doily

Flowers - Prima Marketing - Tea-Thyme Collection (Perles), Sun Kiss Collection (Charme Rose)

Chipboard Pieces - Dusty Attic - Fancy Flourish #2

Crystals - Toga - Rhinestones

Trims - Webster's Pages Designer Trim - Everyday Poetry Collection; Pearl Strand

Ribbon - Prima Marketing Ribbon and Lace - Fairy Belle Collection

3D Stickers - My Mind's Eye - Follow Your Heart "Be Happy" Collection - Layered Stickers

Mediums and Inks - Tattered Angels - Paprika' Glimmer Glam; Ranger/Tim Holtz - 'Antique Linen' Distress Stickles, 'Picket Fence' Distress Stain, 'Rock Candy' Distress Crackle Paint, 'Tea Dye' Distress Ink

Adhesives - Beacon Adhesives' Fabri-Tac Permanent Adhesive, Beacon’s 3-In-1 Advanced Craft Glue, Kokuyo Dotliner, EK Success 3D-Dots

Mini-Album Inside Pages:

Patterned Papers - My Mind's Eye - Follow Your Heart "Be Happy" Collection - Songbird, Be Joyful, Follow, Be You, Honey Pink; My Mind's Eye - Follow Your Heart "Be Amazing" Collection - Wander

Chipboard Pieces - My Mind's Eye - Follow Your Heart "Be Happy" Collection - 12x12 Chipboard; My Mind's Eye - Follow Your Heart "Be Amazing" Collection - 12x12 Chipboard

Flowers and Leaves - Prima Marketing - Tranquil Collection (Conventry), Fairy Belle Collection (Lucerne, Melisse, Vinetta), Parisa Collection (Mayfair Mix), Laraine (River Rock), Velvet Rainbow (Naturals)

Twine - My Mind's Eye - All Is Bright Collection

Seam Bindings - 7Gypsies - Adelaide Collection - Seam Binding Pack

Metal Embellishments - Tim Holtz Idea-ology Collection - Muse Tokens; Prima Marketing - Tea-Thyme Collection - Vintage Trinkets

Journal Stickers - Cosmo Cricket - Tiny Text

Ink - Tim Holtz Distress Ink - Walnut Stain

Adhesives - Beacon’s 3-In-1 Advanced Craft Glue, Kokuyo Dotliner, EK Success 3D-Dots