Creative Inspiration - Bright Bold and Cheery

Hello all.

Still finding it hard to believe that it is March. I swear that it is actually January still. WHERE did the last few months go ??!!?? 

The crazy times have started for us here with Calisthenics Graceful practices underway well and truly, curriculum planning placement started and Calisthenics Graceful Girl Comps starting within the next few weeks. 

In the mad rush to be organised I have been busy taking some time to get creative with the latest kit that was sent to me by Leanne from Mad About Scrappin. I have saved this kit till last as I love this kit the most I think. The paper range is by Chickaniddy Crafts - 365.

I love how versatile the kit has been as you will see over the following weeks as I share what I have created. This week I have a fun layout that I have created using most of the paper from the range. 

Because of the brightness of the paper range I have gone with a black base. I really wanted to let the colours pop. What I also like about this paper range is the tabs at the bottom of the full sheets of paper that yo normally discard as they have the product details on them are actually double sided. One side has the details and one side is patterned. I have been able to use quite a few of the patterned tabs on my layouts. On this layout I have been able to use the yellow arrow strip to break up the black and white dotty paper from the base card stock. 

I wanted to be able to use quite a few of the patterns in this range so have opted for cutting strips and mixing up the patterns in a vertical pattern across my page. I have then accented each strip my drawing on each strip with a black journalling pen. I have also added in some hand stitching and dots with a silver gel pen to add some feature to the background. My photo was matted using the pick backing card from the embellishment pack in the kit.

I have cut some triangle from the paper range and added them to the black dotty paper for a bit of a different feel. Then because the paper is quite busy I have kept the embellishing of this layout rather simple. I have stuck with a matching paper strip layered with a journal spot and ticket stub with the heart flair from the kit. At the bottom of the layout I used another flair to finish off the layout. My photo had a quote on it so really didn't feel I wanted to add a title. 

I cannot wait to share with you the next layout.

Enjoy your weekend and find time to get creative.

TFL, M x

Creative Inspiration - Framing it with Scraps

Hello all.

I hope that your weekend has been off to a good start. I have been busy here working on the front and back yard before the heat comes in next week. 

I am back now though to share with you all the a layout I have created using the last of the Yippee paper range by Chickaniddy I was sent to play with. 

I have played around with my Brother Scan n Cut again to use up the scraps from this kit. I found this cute frame bakcground that I just had to play with and thought it would be a great way to use up all the smaller pieces of paper that are often harder to work with for a layout base.

I have created this layout on a kraft coloured base which I have randomly stamped with a graph stamp and my hand as the stamp block. Then it was just a case of mixing up the scraps of the patterned paper till I was happy with how they sat behind each frame before I adhered them all. 

To tie the photo to the layout I have used a frame from my stash and coloured it to match the frame background. I then adhered it directly onto the photo to frame the part of the photo I wanted to be my focal point. I have added in some kraft journal spots from Mad About Scrappin to add a bit of interest around the frame base. 

I then finished off the layout by added the journal date tab to my photo and then scattered some brads for a little dimension. Super fun layout in the end with a bit of a bright summery feel. I am a bit sad that this paper range is all finished but looking forward to sharing with you another fun kit.

Speaking of kits... better get back to creating.

Till next time.

TFL, M x

Creative Inspiration - Getting messy

Well another week done and this month is at the tail end of being over.

Not too sure where the month went though as it still feels like January to me!

I have a chance to play with some more of my Mad About Scrappin kit featuring the Yippee paper range from Chickaniddy and once again with my Brother Scan n Cut.

So here's this weeks fun and MESSY fun at that layout!

I am still learning with my cutter and working out what I can and can't do.Which svg files work well and which one's just aren't very good design files. I have though, through practice, found some really good stores that sell cut files which is a dream when you are in a hurry. I found this cute arrow background that I cut from a piece of patterned paper that was white backed. I have then used this to add a bit of interest in the background of my layout.

I have run out of white card stock and this paper range didn't really work with vanilla coloured card stock. I felt it just looked too creamy. So with that in mind I got messy and creamed a base that I could work with. I pulled out a mix of glimmer mists and had some fun making a big mess. 

I have to say too that I love the flairs in the kits lately. They match so well with the paper range. I don't have quite as much height to them so they don't look as bulky on a layout as some other brands do too. I have added one to this layout layered on some of the bakers twine and it sits nice and low. 

Well off to get some placement things sorted then to play with next months kit.

Till next time.

TFL, M x

Creative Inspiration - Pretty and Feminine

I know... I know... 

this post was supposed to be up last week. It was sorted by I just didn't press post when I did it so it sat as a draft post!

Anyways.... 

This week I have played around with some more,

 of the pretty Yippee paper range from Chickaniddy Crafts. 

Have I said that I love this paper range... the colours are just so much fun to play with.

This time around I have created  a real girlie feeling layout

 by using the floral and pinks from the paper range.

I have created this layout on a kraft base I really like the look of the paper range on the background  when I was playing around with different card stocks. I have matted my photos to match the pink in the paper range and slightly inked the edges to make them stand out slightly from the base. I have also recycled the pink card from the embellishment pack. When I created the paper ribbon tails from the floral paper I then matted them on the pink to add that little bit extra.

I have then added a pop of lime green to bring out the green in the floral paper by using the bottom strip from one of the papers. For my title I have tucked a matching journal card from my stash in behind the photos to just showcase the smile and then added some aqua acyclic alphas to finish it off. It is a bit hard to see in this photo but I have also added a bit of kindy glitz to the aqua alphas to add a bit of sparkle.

To finish off the layout I have used the paper flowers that were in the kit to tie in with the girlie feel. I love the colours of the flowers and how they match just perfectly. Plus they add a bit of depth to the layout too. Perfect way to finish off the layout.

Well hope that everyone has a super weekend.

Off to sort out my back yard and get some study sorted.

Till next week.

TFL, M x

Creative Inspiration - Colour Focus

Hello... Hello... Welcome to the end of another week. As crazy as the past weeks have been this week would have been the craziest. TAFE is well and truly back with the hardest part of my course starting and assignments due all over the place. Plus we have been busy with what seems like a thousand (only slight exaggeration lol) appointments. Then to top it off I have reorganised the lounge and my craft/computer/study area. Which involved moving furniture all over the place. This means now I am still "finding" where I have put my craft supplies...lol.

Anyways... I have had a chance to play amidst all the mayhem with both my new Brother Scan n Cut machine AND a new paper range by Chickaniddy Crafts called Yippee! Such a fun name for a paper range for such fun bright and colourful paper.

So with fun in mind I have created this layout focusing on the navy blue and orange from this paper range for this layout of my son dressed as the Mad Hatter.

As I said I have been having a little play around with my new cutting machine (finally!!!) and decided to follow through with the stars pattern from the paper range. I have created the base of this layout using a mix of card stocks. I had originally just matted the blue card stock on white however I felt that something was missing so added in a layer of the matching orange card stock. 

To mix it up a little and following on with the stars pattern I have cut some more stars from white and coloured them with a orange permanent marker to match in with the colours. I have also added a few different size wood veneer stars to add a bit of dimension to the layout. Then added the wood veneer frame to finish off the photo. Gives a bit of a different feel to the layout.

I have stars and circles out of some of some white card stock. I have also played around with another circle/stars cut file I found online and then sprayed it to match the orange in the paper range with some glimmer mist. I have created my title using a cut file on the machine cut from white card stock then coloured with a permanent marker which matched well. I then gave it a coat of dimensional magic to give it a little depth.

I quite enjoyed creating this layout. Some times I find it fun to just focus on certain colours from a paper range to mix it up a little. I find that if I do this I don't get sick of using the paper range. 

Well better get back to it. 

Chores waiting for me to play catch up on.

Till next time.

TFL, M x

Creative Inspiration - Family photo fun

Hello... yes I know... this post was supposed to be up online yesterday. I know.. I am a day late.. However with TAFE going back on Thursday and then having a full day of placement yesterday along with the first week back at school for the kidlets things have been a little hectic.

Anyways.. without and more dribble.. I have created one last layout to share with you from the Pink Fresh Studio Paper range - Up in the Clouds.

Here's the layout I have created to share.

I have to admit to that I have FINALLY had a chance to have a bit of a play with my new Brother Scan N Cut. I have only had it for about six months !!!! And was actually supposed to buy a new cutting machine about 2 and a half years ago!!

I have double matted some of the patterned paper in the range as the base for my layout. I have used a Kraft card stock base first and then added a pop of colour with some aqua card stock which matched the aqua in the patterned paper. I quite liked the pattern on the paper and really didn't want to loose too much of the pattern. I have then used my cutting machine to cut a mask in white so it didn't over power the pattern on the paper.  

I have used a mix of journal cards both in Kraft and pattern to create the base for my embellishment cluster on the bottom of the photo I framed in a premade frame from my stash. I have added a bit of garden twine too create a bow to tie the Kraft colouring into the patterned paper. Then finished off the cluster with some mixed ephemera from my stash.

I have then added a few odds and ends to the top left side of the photo overlapping some of the patterned paper which I have added some cute arrow washi tape to. I then added the word tag to finish off the layout for my title with 3D foam tape.

I had so much fun playing with this paper range. I was also super excited to be able to play with the photo on this layout as its not often that I get all four kidlets together in one photo.

Well better back to it.. off to finish off creating in a new paper range to share next week.

Till then.

TFL, M x

Creative Inspiration - Using up some of my stash

Good Morning all.

Hope that you have had a good start to the day.

Today I would like to share with you another layout I have created on behalf of Mad About Scrappin using  the paper range by Pink Fresh Studio called Up in the Clouds.

Once again I have played around with a Kraft card stock base for this layout. I have used some photos taken recently of my eldest daughter Yr12 formal. So here's the layout I have created to share....

I have stamped the base of the Kraft card stock with a graph stamp as I felt the Kraft background looked a little bare. I have then teamed the Kraft card stock with some of the pink patterned paper from the paper range that had the words I wanted to use as the title for my layout. I have matted the larger photo and then used two smaller Polaroid frames to frame two smaller photos I wanted to add to the layout. 

The kit came with this fun wood veneer tag. It was perfect to add a little accent to this layout. I added some black and white bakers twine to it which adds to the whimsical feel of this layout.

I have had a pile of chipboard die cut circles and circle frames in my stash for what seems like forever. So I have pulled them all out and covered them in the matching paper from this paper range to create a little bit of depth to the layout. They tied in nicely with the flairs and finished off the layout easily.

I had fun creating this layout to share and cannot wait to show you the next layout.

Till next time.

TFL, M x

Creative Inspiration - A fun whimsical feel

Hello again.

Back to share with you all a quick layout I have created using some more of the super fun paper range by Pink Fresh Studio called Up in the Clouds sent to me by the lovely Leanne at Mad About Scrappin.

This time around I have created  a layout using Kraft card stock as the base which I have then matted onto some vanilla coloured card stock. 

I have kept this layout super simple and have focused on the fun whimsical feel of the paper range this time around. I love the patterned paper in this range. It looks like it has been hand drawn and the colours are just so fun. I have teamed this up with some aqua card stock and grey striped washi tape. I have used two similar photos for this layout but have used a cream dotted black frame from my stash to frame off one of the layout. I added a paper strip to the frame and covered a chipboard die cut bird in the matching paper to add some fun to the layout.

To fill in the open Kraft card stock base I have punched a few hearts out of the patterned paper. I then added a few matching yellow die cut chipboard stars to finish off the hearts and add some dimension.

To finish off the layout I have added a couple of flairs from the kit to create my title and added feature to the layout. They match perfectly and add that little bit of dimension just where I wanted it.

I had fun playing around with this super easy layout.

Till next time.

Get creative.

TFL, M x

Creative Inspiration - New Years Greeting!!!!

WOW!!!! Still in a bit of shock that it is now 2016.

I hope that this finds you all well and not too under the weather from seeing in the new year.

On behalf of Mad About Scrappin, I would like to wish you a happy and prosperous 2016. 

I have a quick share today using the very last bits and pieces from the Simple Stories - Summer Vibes paper range.

Here's today's super quick and simple layout.

I have used a black card stock matted kraft base as the the base for this layout. I quite like this effect as it is a quick way to add a bit of a border to the layout easily. I have also matted my 4'x4' photo in black to tie it all together.

Then it was as simple as layering up a mix of journal cards and tags to jazz up the layout. Then I added a die cut wooden Polaroid frame to pope my title in and brightened it up with a word flair from my stash that matched perfectly.

I have also added two different washi tapes for a bit of fun too. Then finished off the layout by dding in these fun die cut wooden stars. 

Super simple but a fun way to star the year before things become too crazy again.

Hope you all get a chance to relax and enjoy the first day of 2016.

Till next week.

TFL, M x

Creative Inspiration - Christmas Greetings to all

On behalf of Mad About Scrappin I would like to wish everyone a super special Christmas.

I hope that everyone has the opportunity to rest and relax even if it is just for a little while on this mad and crazy day of the year.

I know that I am feeling grateful to be able to share this special day with my children and parents this year. I am looking forward to seeing the smiles on my children's faces and will be soaking up the family time together.

I have a layout to share with you all today using some more of the Summer Vibes paper range by Simple Stories.

Now who says that you have to use Christmas paper to create a Christmas layout.... certainly not me!

Here's the fun layout I have created using a photo from Christmas 2014.

I have used a cream card stock as the base for this layout which I have stamped using a graph stamp randomly to add some detail in the background. I have also used a paper doily from my stash made from kraft paper. I have had it for ages and just haven't had a chance to play with them.

for the larger circles on the page I have adhered the soda pop lid print to some medium sized die cut chipboard circle to add some depth to the layout. I have then stamped a circle journal stamp to create a bit of interest behind the stamp and set the chipboard circle so the some of the stamped journal spot shows. I have then used some of the scraps of the mixed patterns in the range to create some Christmas baubles which I have added bakers twine bows to. It's a little hard to see but there even is a little bit of hand stitching on the layout to add a bit of detail here and there.

Finally I have added a kraft journal spot with the date the photo was taken and a flair to add a bit more dimension to the page. I have also stamped some matching Christmas trees onto the matching paper and hand cut then. These I then mounted using 3D foam dots. 

I quite like the feel of this Christmas themed layout created from paper that IS NOT Christmas themed. Why not think out the box every now and then.

Well hope that everyone enjoys the festivities.

Till next time.

TFL, M x