October already !!!!

Hello all. 

I am back this week to share with you a challenge I have played with one behalf of Mad About Scrappin.

I loved this challenge because there are so many possibilities to scrap this so many different ways.

Once again I have used up some of this kit to create my layout.

So here's what I have come up with...

I have used the song "Play On" by Carrie Underwood. I thought that the song title was perfect for some recent photos I had taken of my son during this seasons soccer. This year the team got new jerseys and they were allocated their own number so I wanted to record that. Plus the fact that he was super excited on presentation day when he got his second trophy. 

I have kept this layout quite bright and playful too using the bold green and white striped paper as the background. Then jazzed the edges with some gold starred washi tape. 

Now I must say I love the stickers that match this set too. The have been very well used this time around as I have found them to be very versatile. 

I have to admit to being a little unsure as to how to use the wire in the kit when Leanne sent it too me. However when I started on this layout I wanted something to pop on to accentuate the circles on the page and the wire worked perfectly. I messed it up a little and then adhered a wood veneer star on one. I found it has added that little bit of bling without taking over.

I then finished off the layout with some more gold washi tape in a different pattern. Then added my title in some large black chipboard to make them pop out from the page.

Are you going to play along with this month's challenge at Mad About Scrappin ?

Looking forward to seeing what everyone creates.

TFL, M x

Creative Inspiration - Week 28

Welcome again.

I would like to share with you this week a new kit that I have been sent out to play with 

from Mad About Scrappin.

This week I have started to play around with this simple set by Echo Park called Under that Stars.

So here's what I have created for you this week.

I quite like this range.. but then I have loved all the Echo Park ranges lately. This one however I liked as I knew it would provide me with a bit of a challenge. Being that the kit has a camping theme I knew it would be a little harder to be universal in uses. 

However.. as you will see over the next few weeks that isn't the case at all. 

Once again I have played around with a little kraft paper bag to add some texture to my page. I have also used a kraft pocket card as the base of my title and then  added a mixture of a wooden word and some alpha stickers to finish the title off.

Now.. we all have those horrid rub ons laying around that just fall apart when you try to use them.. well for this layout Have used them to add a bit of a feature to my layout. I am not fussed that part of the rub on has not transferred as it has added a bit of a messy look to the page that I wanted. 

To finish off the layout I have added some Studio Calico embellishments and some mini alphas to add the date to the layout. 

I must say that I am once again finding another Echo Park paper range quite versatile. 

I cannot wait to share with you what else I have created using this range.

Till next week.

TFL, M x

Half way there...

How hard is it to believe that we are already half way through the year !!!

And with the start of the month comes another inspiring challenge at Mad About Scrappin.

So here's this month's challenge by Crece

I love this sketch and had a blast playing around with it this month. 

So here's my take on the sketch.

I love mixing colours that wouldn't normally seem right together but just seem to work. This is the case with red and pink. If you can't get the right tone of red and pink then they seem to clash. However this time around this paper range by called Love Story by Echo Park really works.

I have added a few touches of black to the layout to make it pop. By colouring a die cut frame and then clustering the embellishments around it it has created a focal point on the layout. I have also loved adding a little bit of bling to the layout by adding in some iridescent sequins. I have mixed up the styles and sizes to mix it up a little. I also have to say that I wasn't too sure of the larger pink glittered flower when  I first got them from a Mad About Scrappin sale. However it just seemed to work for this layout. 

To add a bit of difference with the journalling on this layout I have mixed it up with some word stickers and mixed alphas. The word stickers have been mounted using 3D foam tape to add dimension and create a feature of the journalling. 

Have you checked out the details for this month's Mad About Scrappin challenge ??

Why not give it a go.

Till next time.

TFL, M x

New month brings a new challenge

Now I love a challenge. 

I love sketches. 

Especially when I am stumped for ideas and just don't know where to start some days. 

With the start of May comes a new sketch challenge  at Mad About Scrappin.

This month's sketch has been created by fellow Creative Team Member, Crece.

So here's my take on the sketch.

I went digging in my stash for this paper range. I have had another clean out and I can see more empty cupboard now than clutter and unused stash. I have kept as true to the sketch as possible however have given it my own little twist here and there. That is what I struggle with sometimes when using a sketch.. getting it to work for me. I get a little OCD about making it look exactly the same and then when I play around with it I find it just doesn't work for me. I think I just need to relax and remember that it is a just a starting point and the sketch is there to inspire. 

Loved playing around with this layout. Though I must say that at times I do struggle with embellishing a masculine layout. However thanks to these cute Studio Calico cork chevrons I am in love. They are sooooo much fun to play with. I am really impressed with the quality and kinda regretting not having bought more at the last Mad About Scrappin sale! lol. 

I love too that the Studio Calico cork pack also came with these little cork arrows. 

Finished off my layout nicely I think. 

Why not give this month's sketch a try.

Head over to Mad About Scrappin's Blog to find out more.

TFL, M x

March Madness begins with a challenge

So starts another month. 

Michelle here, 

with a new challenge sketch at Mad About Scrappin.

This month's sketch is designed by Creative Team member Crece Thomas.

So without any further ado... here's is my take on the sketch.

I have created this layout using some more of this Photo Freedom kit.

Now for this layout because most of the pieces I have left in this kit are smaller than needed to create the base layer for my layout because I have been  busily scrapping with it I decided to create my own. Grabbing a piece of white untextured card stock I played around with some mists, a Kaiser craft stencil and some kaiser clear stamps to create the base for this layout. I then cut it to size and matted it on a contrasting piece of textured card stock.

Now the ornate frame WAS white. However no matter how much I played around with the embellishments I just couldn't get the frame to work for me. It just looked too stark and just didn't work. So I hit the frame with some of the same glimmer mist I had used for my base and it just worked so much better. I hadn't glimmer misted it when I did the base card stock as I was worried it might get lost in the mix. But because the base has been stamped also it kinda created another layer to the base. Then  to make the frame stand out a little more I have mounted it using 3D foam dots. 

Now I had decided that I wanted to use this journal card as the minor part of the title for this layout because it said exactly what I wanted. However i felt it needed a little more. Using a die cut word available at Mad About Scrappin I was able to finish off the title nicely. The die cut was glimmer misted and lightly stamped the same as the base white card stock to match in perfectly. I then mounted it using 3D foam dots. This helped to show this was the main title with the rest being the subtitle to the layout.

This layout ended up a little brighter than I would normally work with. I must admit that right up until the layout was finished I really didn't like the brightness. However seeing the end result I am quite happy. 

I have loved playing around with this sketch this month.

Why not give it a go. 

Here's the details for you again if you want to play along:

- Challenge is for Australian Residents Only.

- Entries are to be created exclusively for this challenge and must not be used for any other challenge or Design Team work.

- Entries must be added to the link by midnight on the last day of the month.

- Please link to the post that contains your challenge entry, not just your blog.

- A prize will be awarded each month as voted by the Design Team 

& a Random Draw Prize.

- Winners will be announced on the Blog and Mad About Scrappin Facebook Page

A Challenge for 2014 !

Welcome to 2014!!

 

I am glad myself that a new year has started and I get a chance to start everything off fresh.

 

I started this year off fresh with Mad About Scrappin and a challenge using a sketch by Anne Patterson.

 

Now.. before I get into the sketch...let me explain something to you. The lovely Leanne, owner of Mad About Scrappin, had sent me a kit to play around with a few months ago. Now.. I am up for any challenge but THIS challenge certainly got me thinking. I received the Jenni Bowlin -  Echo Park Photo Freedom Collection Kit. Now I love the colours in this and knew that playing around with the kit would not be any problem at all. HOWEVER !!!! as I always do I had to push the boundaries even more. I decided that I would use the kit to create this month's sketch AND I would also use the photo pocket sleeves that came with the kit also.

 

Now this certainly was a challenge !!!

 

So..

Here's my take on the sketch...

 

it is a little hard to photograph it in the photo pocket sleeve too I must say.

 I am glad that I was able to make this work. I really enjoyed the challenge I set for myself. It did take a bit of playing around to get it to work for me. But I did have fun.

 Because the kit is made up of a mixture of double sided patterned paper some being full patterns and some being journal cards to fit the photo sleeve pockets I decided to mix it up a little. I found one of the journal cards worked perfectly for the base of my title. I then added some hessian, a wood veneer camera and some acrylic letter to finish off my title. These all fit nicely into the photo sleeve pocket.

By using a little wood veneer frame I was able to print off another photo and add it both as a feature and a starting point for my embellishment cluster.

 

Have you set yourself any challenges lately ?

 

Why not play around with this month's sketch to start things off with a bang.

 

Till next time.

 

TFL, M x

Season of Giving !!!!

Welcome to another month of fun here at Mad About Scrappin.

 

I am back to share with you all an exciting challenge that Leanne has running for

the month of December.

 

The best bit about it is that EVERYONE is a WINNER !!!

 

 Here's all the details....

 

So here's my take on this month sketch by Anne Patterson.

I have created the layout this month using some fun paper I purchased at on of Mad About Scrappin's Flog it Friday sale. I really didn't know how much I liked this paper range by Kaisercraft - The Looking Glass until I saw it in real life.

Must say the pictures on the sale really didn't do it justice... It is soooooo nice!

 

Now in regards to the sketch I have played around with it a little to suit what I wanted to do with this paper. especially as I just had to include a Bo Bunny Envelope in this layout. I am love with them and wished I had grabbed more at the last Flog it Friday Sale!

 

 Now.. for my base card stock I loved the colour but felt it need to be toned down a little as it was a little to bright with the older looking pattern I was using. So with a little help from a Kaisercraft stamp, some Tim Holtz ink and some chalk ink I was able to tie the card stock base in perfectly.

 The best part about this paper range too is that the paper range has matching die cut stickers which work really well with being able to add a few accents to the page. I have used the butterflies but have folded the butterflies so that the centre of the wings stand up and the centre then adheres to the page. I was also able to use up a few more flowers from my mountain high stash of flowers!

 

So.. with such a fun sketch to play with this month AND a great chance to get a little something for just playing around with the sketch why not play along.

 

Cant wait to see what everyone creates.

 

TFL, M x

Challenging the sketch!

 

Welcome to another Mad About Scrappin monthly challenge

using a sketch by the amazing

Anne Patterson.

I love using sketches sometimes when I seem to be stuck in a rut when scrapping. they give me a point to start from and I can usually go from there.

 

Using this sketch was no exception. I loved being able to us little bits and pieces of paper from the Teresa Collins - Memorabilia paper range. I love the colours and just happened to have some perfect photos for the papers too.

 

However.. I did start with the sketch the way it was suppose to be.. believe me I did.. Then I kind went off on my own little track. I wanted to personalise the sketch a little to what I wanted to I played around with placement of the pieces of patterned paper to showcase the stamps I had used on the base of the cardstock.

 

Remember too that the embellishment clusters can be anything you like. Just because it shows stars on the sketch doesn't mean that it has to be stars. It just gives you an idea for placement. I have clustered together some flowers over a cute little manila envelope I inked and stamped to add a little bit of feature to the layout. I love the binding as a crinkled ribbon bow too. I adds that little bit of extra to the floral cluster.

Remember to that the patterned paper doesn't have to stay the way it is. I tied the stamps I used on the base cardstock together with the patterned paper by stamping onto one of the patterned papers prior to cutting my squares. I like the look of not quite having the whole butterfly on the square along with the boldness of the dark stamp on the lighter paper.

 

Why not have a play around with this sketch yourself and see where it takes you.

 

Try playing around with it a little to suit what you want.

 

Remember its all about having fun !

 

TFL, M x

Playing around with a sketch

Wow... where has this year gone.. another round of school holidays has hit here in Adelaide. In preparation for the school holidays I have been busy getting all my scrap commitments sorting. One of my tasks was to get some of my challenges done.

 

I had a blast playing around with the sketch designed by fellow creative team member Renee here at Mad About Scrappin.

 

Still working through some of the paper range by Echo Park Paper Co - A Perfect Summer. I love how playful this paper range is. So armed with the sketch and this paper range I set to work scrapping away. Here's my take on this sketch.

 

No I did play around with the sketch a little as the orientation of the photo just wasn't working with the photo that I wanted to use to match my paper range. So I just flipped the photo and worked from there.

I must admit too that I even pulled out my old sixxix machine that has been collecting dust on my shelf to create these flower. Super simple but at least that way I had embellishments that matched my layout perfectly.

Now when it can to the circle element of the layout I wasn't too cure how I was going to create it. So I decided to get a little creative and try a technique I have used before. A little help from my paper scorer and a little folding and I was able to create the perfect circle with heaps of dimension.  To finish it off I just added a little lace trim I have had laying around in my stash since forever.

I had heaps of fun playing around with this sketch. I must also say that I will be sad to see this paper range finished too as it is such a cheery paper range to play with.

 

TFL, M x

Keeping it simple with a monthly challenge !

 Good Morning All.

 

So hard to believe that yet another month has started and the year us passing us by so fast.

 

And with the start of a new month comes another fun filled challenge from Mad About Scrappin.

 

This months challenge was a little different this month as it is a sketch.

Just for something a little different this month I decided to play around with some scraps and some washi tape.

 

Here's my take on this months sketch challenge.

 

By using up a pile of scraps I felt better know that I am almost at the end of another kit and that I have used up every tiny piece. I also love using bits of contrasting washi tape to create a "frame" to my photos and card stock base. It just gives it all a little bit of a different feel without any huge effort.

 Another super easy tip is to use those paper doilies you have laying around the place to add that little extra to your layout. I randomly stamped mine as having them stark white just didn't seem to help them to blend in with the rest of the paper.

 

Just remember that sometimes layouts don't have to full of lots of work and tizziness. Some times its all about letting the photos tell the story and keeping it simple.

 

Why not give this month's challenge a go.

 

Get Scrapping.

 

TFL, M x