Friday, November 30, 2012

'Stuck' anyone?

I am really outdoing myself this week!  3 blog posts in 4 days!  There is method behind my madness though.  It's nearly end of the month, which means all the challenge entries need to be in.  I'm also leaving on a little holiday with my DD early tomorrow morning.  So it might be a bit quiet around here for the next week or so. :) 
Today I'm sharing both my November entries for 'Stuck?! Sketches'.  I always have so much fun with Sara's sketches.  First up is the 1st November sketch.
 Here is my take on it using a photo of my friend's gorgeous little girl again.  Unfortunately, I can't take credit for the beautiful photo, as my lovely friend, Kathy, took it and edited it.  I have had the papers (Crate Paper 'Emmas's Shoppe') in my stash for a while now, waiting for the right opportunity to use it. I'm so glad I waited, as I think it's just perfect for this pic.
 My cluster using a variety of different flowers, mainly from Prima and Kaisercraft.
 Another little close up. :)  The rhinestone flourish is also from Kaisercraft.
 My title is from WOW chipboard.  I painted the whole chippie with gesso and then changed 'eyes' to turqoise to match the colour of her eyes.

Now for the 15th November sketch.
... and my take on it, using another photo of my mum on her wedding day. The lady with her, is her mother (my grandmother). I've used the Prima 'Rondelle' collection, which I LOVE.
 A close up of my cluster.  The rhinestone flourish is from Kaisercraft.  The vine is from Prima and so are most of the flowers and leaves.
 I really love the fabric alpha stickers that Prima has with most of their collections now.
 A little cluster in the top corner. :)
That is all for this week I think.  I have to start packing soon or I will be up all night. :O
Thank you so much for visiting and for your lovely comments. I really appreciate it.
Have a wonderful weekend!
Until next time.
M xox

Thursday, November 29, 2012

Trying out multi medium techniques

Hi everyone! I'm back with my first 'multi medium' layout (as promised). I hope you weren't expecting too much. Lol! You must remember, it's my first go at it and I'm not really one for 'mess', if you know what I mean. 
I have decided to play along with the November sketch over at Once Upon A Sketch this month. Nadia does the most amazing sketches. Here it is.
 My take on this awesome sketch. The photo is of my mum on her wedding day 54 years ago. :)  My journaling says that she is still as beautiful today as back then and such a perfect lady. :)
I started by using a white piece of cardstock and then used mists, templates, Texture Magic and stamps to build my layers.  It's nowhere near as layered as I'd like it to be, but I think I'm happy with the end result. :)
 A close up of my title and journaling. The title is a wooden word from Kaisercraft, which I painted using Gesso.

 A close up showing more of the textured background.
I would love to hear what you think  and any tips would be appreciated.  I am planning on doing more of this 'messiness' in the future.  Thank you for visiting!
Until next time.
M xox

Tuesday, November 27, 2012

More Pickled Pear!

Hi everyone! I have been a very busy little bee... I'm sure you all know the feeling at this time of the year.  Can't complain too much though, as I've just spent the most wonderful weekend at The Scrapbook Store's Retreat.  The women who attend our retreats are seriously awesome.  Such a bunch of great girls sharing and laughing and having a great time. Loved every minute of it!
I have quite a few layout to share, as you can imagine, but I'll only do a few at a time. I know I've promised to share my first multi medium layout next, but I haven't photographed it yet, so will have to wait for next time.  So, first up are my last 2 layouts using my all time favourite Kaisercraft collection 'Pickled Pear'.
I have played along with the #3 November Saturday Sketch at Kaisercraft.  Here's the sketch.
...and my take on it.  The photo is of my friend's gorgeous baby girl when she was 7 months old.  Just love the joy on her little face. :)
I have mainly used Kaisercraft products on here, with the exception of the AC Thickers and an old Basic Grey rhinestone flourish that I've had in my stash forever. :)

Another layout using 'Pickled Pear'.  My DD took these photos of her and DH on her iPhone at her Year 12 Dinner.  These two share a great sense of humour. :)   Don't you just love how versatile this collection is?  It goes with anything! :)
Used the Crafters Workshop Mini Chickenwire Reversed template with some Texture Magic and then Glimmer Mist.  Also love my Tim Holtz Film strip ribbon.
 The colours of this collection are beautiful and so are the butterflies. :)
Well, that's all for today! Will be back in a day or two with more to share. Oh, and if you would like to know more about my scrapbooking process, check out my '5 Minute Chat' on the Scrapbooking Memories Magazine Blog. :):)
Hope you are having a lovely week and are getting a little time to get crafty.
Thank you for visiting.  Until next time!
M xox

Monday, November 19, 2012

I love Pickled Pear!

After seeing the 1st November Saturday Sketch on the Kaisercraft blog, I decided to play along.  It's a gorgeous sketch and I've decided to use my equally gorgeous DT kit from The Scrapbook Store to create my take on it. Here is the sketch.

Here is my take on it.  I've used the Kaisercraft 'Pickled Pear' collection.  I think this is my favourite Kaisercraft range ever!  The photo is of 3 of my cousins when they were little, back in 1966.  I have no idea how I am so fortunate to have this amazing photo of them. Weren't they just the cutest?
A close up of my punched borders, using the Martha Stewart 'Swirling Lace' border punch and I simply adore the pearl strips from Kaisercraft.
My title. :)
 ... and another close up. :)
That's it for today.  I am hoping to show you my first multi medium layout soon. :)  Just got to do the finishing touches.  I just don't know when, as I am running around like a crazy monkey trying to organise myself before the TSS Retreat that's this coming weekend.  I am so excited to meet up with all the lovely ladies I've met during the last 2 retreats!
I have to apologise.  I just haven't had a chance to comment on all my favourite blogs yet, but I promise to give it my best shot in the next day or two. So, hopefully I will 'see' you soon. Fingers crossed. :)
Thanks so much for visiting.  Until next time,
M xox

Wednesday, November 14, 2012

More 'Glitz Design'

Hi everyone! Just popping in to share another layout I did using my DT pack from The Scrapbook Store.  Remember my 'wild' layout from my last blog post?  Lol! Well, I tried to tone it down a little with this one.  This lovely pic is of my mum when she was 26. At 81 (it's her birthday tomorrow), she is still as beautiful as back then. xx
I have used this gorgeous sketch from Scrap Africa as inspiration.  Love their sketches. 
Here's my layout using the Glitz Design 'Cashmere Dame' collection.  The flourishes and the words are TSS Chipboard. The yellow scalloped half circles on the edge of my page were punched from a We Are Memory Keepers Washi Sheet (now available from The Scrapbook Store).  It comes in a range of colours and patterns and in 12 x 12 size, which means you are no longer limited to what you can do with it. :)
 I've used an assortment of Prima flowers and Green Tara Mini Roses and Rose Buds.
 A close up of the title and the gorgeous chippies. :)
I have more to share but will leave it for another day.
I'm off to an early Christmas dinner with some friends tonight, but will be back tomorrow to leave some love on my fave blogs.
Thanks for visiting!
Until next time.
M xox

Friday, November 09, 2012

A bit of 'Glitz'

Happy Friday everyone! Hope you are having a good one. Lots of exciting things happening here. One of them being DD getting her very first car.  As you can probably imagine, she is very excited!
Anyway, I'm here to share my first October DT layout for The Scrapbook Store with you.  I received the gorgeous Glitz Design 'Cashmere Dame' collection in my kit.  It has a very 'artsy' feel to it and is probably not my usual style, but then what is life without a few challenges? Lol!  One of the cards in the 'Whatnots' pack has the following saying on it 'With this smile, I can get away with anything!'  I immediately went searching for this photo of my DD. :)
 A close up of my flower cluster. Love the giant rhinestones that come with this collection.
I have seen this great tip on using templates the other day.  You spray your mist all over your template (with old newspaper underneath). Place it where you want on your layout and then spread texture paste /gesso over it.  It will pick up the colour from your mist and transfer it onto your page.  I tried it on here and worked a treat.  Also used the excess paste to create random lines on my page. Finished it of by using loads of different Washi tapes.
 A close up of the quote. :)

That's all from me on this lovely Friday evening. :) Thank you for visiting my blog and have a great weekend!
Until next time.
M xox

Tuesday, November 06, 2012

Scrap The Girls November Challenge

Hi everyone! Just popping in to share the new challenge at Scrap The Girls with you.  This month we have a colour challenge.  Create a layout using teal, orange and white.  The CT members have done an amazing job, so hop on over HERE to see all their examples.   Here is my layout.  It was amazing what I could find in my stash once I started looking for these colours.  The papers are from 2 older MME collections called 'Alphabet Soup' and 'Fine and Dandy'.
The flowers are TSS Mulberry Paper Roses and the chipboard twig is from Dusty Attic.
More TSS Mulberry Paper Roses mixed with Kaisercraft Paper Blooms.  The leaves were punched using my Martha Stewart 'frond' punch.
 I simply love this TSS chipboard flourish.  I painted it white using my finger and some Gesso. :)
I hope you get a chance to play along this month.  Would love to see your entries.

That's all for today.   Thanks for visiting my blog and I hope you have a wonderful week.
Until next time.
M xox

Friday, November 02, 2012

A Mother's Love

It's a new month and a new sketch is up at The Scrapbook Store.  Didn't I just say the same thing a few days ago.  What has happened to October?  My November and December are jam packed with things to do, places to go and fun to be had.  Busy, but exciting!
Now for that new sketch I was talking about...
I have used the Kaisercraft 'The Lake House' collection for my take on the sketch.  The photo is of my mum with my brother and I when I was around 4 or 5 years old. :)
The wooden fence and pearl strips are from Kaisercraft.  The gorgeous trim is from Websters Pages.
I hope you will give the sketch a go this month.  Like always, there is a $40 store voucher up for grabs with free postage.  The winner gets determined by random draw so anybody can win!  If you want to recieve the latest news, why not sign up for the newsletter?  You can read the November news HERE

Have a fantastic weekend everyone!
Until next time.
M xox