Friday 30 September 2011

October 2011 RAK {Yup it's Giveaway Time again!!}





Hey blog people how about a giveaway seeing as it's Friday & time for the weekend - yay!!


Remember I said I had a whole paper collection to give away - well here it is - Fancy Pants - Baby Mine!!


The above picture shows you the reverse-side - so you can see that it's a flexible collection - I should be keeping it really LOL - but I like you all so much & it's Spring - and it's nearly THREE YEARS since I started this blog, and, and....I just want to give some stuff away to my followers :)


Next up is the "My Friend Birdie collection of papers & stickers from Nicki Sivvills - and I've added in some Sass stickers & some hand-crocheted flowers so you have extra embellies for boy AND girl pages :)

So as you can see there are TWO prizes up for grabs & this giveaway closes in 2 WEEKS - on Friday 14th October - I will announce a couple of winners shortly after that!

What you need to do to be "in it to win it"

1:- Be or become a follower!

2:- Post about my giveaway on your blog then leave a comment here ON THIS POST to tell me that you've posted & to provide me with a LINK TO THE POST.

3:-  TELL ME what you think my new blog will look like!
I am in the process of giving my blog a bit of a renovation & have a new background, header, signature & sidebar titles, etc, ready to install but, just for fun, I want you to tell me what look you think I'll be going for.

No points off for getting it wrong - everyone who comments & links up, etc, has an even chance of winning, but I just want to know what you think - what colours/what theme/etc, you think I've chosen...

Sound like fun?
I hope so!!

HAPPY WEEKEND EVERYONE :)




Thursday 29 September 2011

Bird is the Word {You & Me Layout} Crate Paper





So there's a new challenge up over at Bird is the Word & the new word is "You & Me" (long word huh?!)  Okay - so this time we chose some WORDS instead of one WORD but it's still all good right?!


I chose to do something a little crazy & not entirely "me" & was inspired by the wonderful Julie Fei-Fan Balzer's work HERE for this one...


Yup that layout right there at the top of Julie's post - 16 Reasons why I love New York - I modified that "basic idea" to work for me on this YOU & ME page.


I remembered I had an ancient Making Memories foam stamp that said "you & me" but it was a corner stamp - so I cut it into 3 pieces - far more flexi don't you think?!?


I created my collage in Picasa {simply the most awesome FREE editing software for AMAZING collages!} & added some Maya Road ribbon all around it.


Got out my trusty DYMO labeling machine & also heavily inked around the edges, in black, pink & yellow cadmium, to tie the whole scheme together.


I quizzed Cami on the journaling & she told me all her "favourite things" she likes to do with her bestie :)


I used a few lovely new Crate Paper Random embellies down the centre of the collage.


It's an unusual page but I think it works.  It really tells the story - and it has enough pretties on it to pass I think!  The stamping was fun - I pretty much suck at stamping as I don't do a lot of it - but I think imperfection works on this page (lucky for me LOL) & the photos are nice enough to carry it off :)

YOU & ME SUPPLIES LIST:-

White cardstock - Bazzill
Ribbon - Maya Road
Stamps - Making Memories
Inks - Black & Pink - Doodlebug
Red - Jenni Bownin - Cough Syrup
Yellow - Yellow Cadmium - Color Box
Embellishments - Crate Paper Random "Stand-Outs"
{Layered stickers & wheels}
Dymo labelling machine & red tape
Picasa free-software




Wednesday 28 September 2011

FW: Color Combos Galore Inspiration Challenge 209 {Amber Layout}





I haven't had a chance to blog about last week's colour challenge over at Color Combos Galore yet but there is already a new one up that you can go & check out here if you want to play along for a chance at winning a Midnight Rooster kit or just to be part of the fun & great community there.


The optional Designer's Challenge is to focus on a single person or object as your subject so I choose Cami's new best friend Amber.


I used the mid-month sketch up at Once Upon a Sketch as my inspiration, as it wasn't my fortnight to create for the Design Team there but I really wanted an opportunity to play with the lovely sketch.


Again the lovely Victoria Gardens line from Echo Park came to my rescue & I used all their papers, journaling cards, border stickers, butterfly & flourish sticker.  


I added the satin ruffle from last year's Pink Paislee/House of 3 collaboration.


I added a gorgeous Pretty Paper Petals flower (sadly they have now closed their doors to public sales but are still open to wholesale enquiries) & created my cluster with various matching embellies from my stash.


Snuck a doily in there, a floating brad, button, resin lily, bling & some gorgeous metal rose brads & butterfly from Dear Lizzy for American Crafts from last year's Enchanted line.


I added in some mock-stitching using my black journaling pen - just to help the papers stand out more from each other & the grey backgroung & if you look carefully you will see that I also raised up my title "AMBER" using giant-pop dots under each letter & also added some scalloped elastic around the circle (from the newish Crate Paper Neighbourhood line).

Supplies List:-

Printed Papers all from the Echo Park - Victoria Gardens Line
Border stickers, butterfly sticker, flourish sticker, alpha stickers, lamp post & journaling cards all from Echo Park - Victoria Gardens line.
Bling - stash
Satin ruffle darling - Pink Paislee/House of 3
Black mock stitching using Artline 200 FINE 0.4 by Shachihata
Stickpins - haberdashery & Maya Road
White Flowers & red pebble - Prima
Orange & red flower epoxy stickers - stash
Bling brad - Making Memories
Orange tissue paper flower with diamante centre & 2 wooden butterflies - Pretty Paper Petals
Teacup, floral mini tag, metal love sentiment, rose brads & metal butterfly - all Dear Lizzy for American Crafts - Enchanted line
Oval metal brad  & tiny alphas - Making Memories
Tiny brads - Basic Grey
Decorative elastic & orange button - Crate Paper "Neighbourhood" line

***  If you like the idea of designing according to colour it's a great way to use up some of your older stash & great fun rooting around in your drawers to find all the matching bits.  
Come & join in the weekly challenges at Color Combos Galore.

To get an idea of how it's done come & take a peek at the reveal to match this combo right here.





Tuesday 27 September 2011

How to Import your Blog Posts into Facebook





Just a really quick one here today girls.  
Sadly we are all under the weather this side with throat infections.  
Finally I got around to importing my blog into my Facebook account today.  
It's super easy!  
I thought I would share the link with you for anyone wanting to do the same :)  
For some insane reason I can NEVER REMEMBER just to click the Facebook button when I publish my post, to share it there, which of course is another way of doing it 
(just look at the icons below your post - right at the bottom) 
& click on the F to publish each post manually 
(if you want to be selective about what you post to Facebook).  
For me, I'm a no-secrets kinda gal so this way is MUCH EASIER!
As you post to your Blog - so Facebook picks it up & publishes it there too.
Super Cool in my opinion!

If you want to do it - do it now - it's literally a 3 minute job!!




Sunday 25 September 2011

Once Upon a Sketch Mid-Month Challenge {Kitty Lover Layout}






If you look here you can remind yourself of the latest challenge going on at Once Upon a Sketch right now - you still have THREE DAYS to play & the fun with this one is that 
YOU GET TO VOTE FOR THE WINNER!  
So you need to create your layout then advertise yourself {and Once Upon a Sketch} like crazy 
on your blog & Facebook to garner as many votes as you can!  
Of course if your layout is the most gorgeous of them all then 
the idea is that people will vote for you in any case!


I did blog about this last week but didn't share my close-ups & supplies list.


I had a little play with the new "Victoria Gardens" line from Echo Park, which lends itself to lots of fussy cutting.


I added in some very pretty tulle lace from my stash & adhered some singular rhinestone gems here & there, peeking out of the leaves & flowers.


For a change, instead of using one of my border punches I created my scalloped border by punching out A LOT of circles & layering them up next to & overlapping each other 2 rows deep on top of the lace.


To make the letters stand out more I adhered them to some bright cardstock & fussy-cut around them then blinged them up a bit!


I added some older ribbon from my stash in the PERFECT colours - looks like it was made to match!


I also used some of my Webster's Pages Resin Roses, Lilies & Sparklers to add some extra interest to the fussy-cut flower clusters.


Did you notice above that  I used some embroidery thread wrapped around the printed paper a few times & over the edge/side of the photo?  
This thread is varying colours all on the same piece & is amazing! 
 I was sent it as part of a scrappy swap I did with dear Mitra in the US.

Supplies List:-

White & Jade Cardstock - American Crafts
Printed Papers - Echo Park - Victoria Gardens - Garden Trellis, Botanical Ballad & Rose Garden
Tulle lace - Stash
Circle punch - Martha Stewart Crafts
Bling - Kaisercrafts
Resin Lillies, Roses & Sparklers - Webster's Pages
Striped Ribbon - American Crafts
Embroidery thread - Stash
Alphas & Rose sticker - Echo Park Victoria Gardens sticker sheet.




Saturday 24 September 2011

Guest Designer at Creative Scrappers {Going your Separate Ways Layout}






This month I also got to be Guest Designer for this week over at Creative Scrappers - woop!
Kristine sent me the most awesome sketch to work with & everything fell into place - gotta love that :)


More of these photos - sorry to bore you - hopefully you've seen the last of them :)



This is my favourite double-sided paper from Studio Calico EVER.  Sheer gorgeousness.



For my lacy scalloped border I used my Martha Stewart Crafts mini-doily punch then cut each doily in half & lined them up next to each other to resemble a border punch.



I was going for "sophisticated" with this one, now that these girls are growing up...



Yellow twine...LOVE!



Love those tiny grey flowers I picked up at my local craft store - defs need more :)



Older Pink Paislee tickets & border sticker used up!



The hot air balloon is a Studio Calico rub-on that I rubbed onto white card then cut around.



Also used up the perfect Webster's Pages Fabric Sentiment - it says
 "If we take care of the moments the years will take care of themselves."


Supplies List:-

Printed Paper - Studio Calico "Anthology" {both sides}
Black card-stock - Bazzill
Hot-air balloon - Studio Calico Rub-on
Border punch - Martha Stewart Doily punch
Cream scroll embellishments - Pink Paislee "Artisan Elements"
Gingham ribbon - local haberdashery
Printed transparency strip - Pink Paislee Borderlines "Amber Road"
Tickets - Pink Paislee
Brads - SEI
Roses - LSS
Black fabric piece - Prima
Metal Flag - Pink Paislee "Daily Junque"
Green alphas - Basic Grey {exclusive to Studio Calico}
Yellow alphas - Glitz Design Teeny Alphas "Yellow Block"
Numerals - Making Memories Tiny Alphas
Fabric Sentiment - Webster's Pages 
Baker's twine - Martha Stewart

*** Thanks to Kristine for choosing ME***

Check out Creative Scrappers for inspirational WEEKLY sketches & monthly prizes too!





Friday 23 September 2011

Berry 71 Bleu Guest Designer for September 2011 {Concertina Mini-Album in Altered Box}






***Wow, wow, wow!!  Just wanted to say THANKS for all the blog love girls - You just made my last 24 hours very happy with all the nice things you had to say about my frame - thanks so much!!!***

I had actually pre-scheduled this post but had to pop in just to let you know how much I appreciated all the comments & that I'll be coming to visit you all later tonight - right now I am running around buying paint & brushes as it's Spring here (yay!!) and the house is getting a new slick of paint!

I decided to use the second pretty tag provided to me by Marivic, of Berry 71 Bleu, to decorate this little box that I altered.  

It started off bright orange & frankly {as you can imagine} I'd tired of it!  
So I painted it dark brown, mixed with black, deep red & gold & love how it turned out.  
No special effects really - just patiently painting on the coats with time to dry between each colour so as not to end up with a muddy mess, and dry brushing on the gold at the end.

I am entering this in the trinket box challenge over at LESSOLOGY - a great new challenge blog dedicated to "doing more with less" co-founded by my great bloggy friend Yvonne.  So go & take a look there as you still have a week left to alter a little box & get it linked up :)


Marivic sells these tags from her Etsy store here & everything is already added, so they are great for really snazzing up a project quickly & easily!

She sent me some extra matching buttons so I tucked those in underneath & around the tag here & there 
& added a gold skeleton leaf & a Making Memories glittered frond & that was that - done!


It was actually SO EASY to do this project that I felt like a kinda lazy Guest Designer :) 
so decided to make a concertina mini-album to put inside it to give my Mum-in-Law as a Christmas gift.


I'm not the most prolific mini-album maker - as you know - and for this one I actually made the entire album myself using dark brown Bazzill Cardstock.  
I have no idea if I made it "correctly" as I designed it myself but it looks good & it functions so that's good enough for me!


I measured up the box & cut the card down so that, when folded, each square measures .5cm smaller than the box, so that it can be removed easily, otherwise it would have been to snug a fit.
I stapled that pull-tab between 2 layers of card so that the album concertinas out when you put your finger in there & pull.


Notwane (pronounced Not-waan - ee) is a place in Botswana, just outside of Gaberone, where we often go on vacation, with my DH's mum & step-dad, as they live in Gaberone.


Granny loves taking the kids for walks down to the river.  
Chelsea was going through an "I'm too cool for river walking/teenage phase at the time so unfortunately doesn't feature in this album!


This is what the album looks like outside of the box.  It is a chunky 2 inches thick so that it takes up all the depth of the box & fits A LOT of photos.



16 photos all together & all in the same series - it's times like these when a mini-album is just what's needed :)



I didn't want to add any dimension, so the album would close completely flat, so just added a few older Making Memories sentiment stickers & some basic grey doodly rub-ons.



I know that Granny will love this album as the river walks are a very special part of her day with her grand-kids when we are holidaying there.



I used some inks to distress the stickers a little as they were a bit stark to begin with.



That's a genuine sunflare there top left - NOT added in in Photoshop :)



Zaphira the cat comes too & is rather photogenic!



Just 2 years ago & the kids looked so LITTLE compared to now...


Supplies List:-

Box - repurposed
Tag - Berry 71 Bleu
Buttons - Berry 71 Bleu
Skeleton Leaf - LCS
Gold frond - Making Memories FaLaLa
Paints - Making Memories Asphalt, Chocolate & Red Wagon
Gold metallic powder - Barco
Modge Podge to seal - Mr. Hooks

Mini-Album


Bazzill Cardstock - dark brown
Gold metallic powder paint - Barco
Braid - Making Memories
Brown & burlap flower - Prima
Brad - stash
Alphas - Webster's Pages Storytellers
Rub-ons - Basic Grey
Staples
Inks - Color Box - Creamy Brown & Yellow Cadmium