THE LOVE OF A GRAND AUNTIE!

Its Friday which means another palette release at The Color Room. This weeks stunner is a beautiful array of pastels which works perfectly with our sponsor for this month Manor House Creations Flowers. Given I am liking the pink tones of late I jumped right into this weeks so here is my reveal for palette #106. The layout is of my darling Aunty who Tige absolutely fell inlove with, there's nothing like the cuddles of a Great Aunty.

The base paper is from the 'Dreamer' range of PP's from 7 Dots Studio and I overlayed a fabulously cute 'Bird and cherry blossom' serviette for the background, which I bought from my lovely friend Kyla at her Etsy shop Left of Centre, you can get a fabulous array of serviettes to play with there. 

I also used a Darkroom Door chicken wire chippie and some of Louise Nelson's butterfly design chippies from Imaginarium Designs. I have definitely climbed the bandwagon of Washi Tape aficionado's and used some cute measuring tape washi from the gorgeous Amanda Lawrence of D-lish Scraps fame who has some ripper new designs to chose from. 

Lastly I created a cloud mask and softly inked the background using Versa Cube #56 'Cinnamon' teamed up with a touch of gesso. Hope you like the page and are all inspired by the sketch and palette to come and play this week at TCR.

Oh and I made it on the Most wanted list this week at C.S.I for my lo titled 'Would it be a surprise?' woot woot, doin' a happy dance and smiling widely, thanks so much everyone for all your lovely comments you put me in a happy place :))

Thanks for stopping by, and have yourselves a fabulous weekend! xox

WATER WONDERLAND...

Tige experienced his first swim in the big pool in our complex a couple of weeks ago. Aunty Leonie was visiting and we decided the weather was perfect for a quick dip in the pool. Although he loves the bath Tige was a little less impressed at first but within a minute he was splishing and splashing like a seasoned water baby.


The current word prompt at BITW is 'Wonder'...the perfect word to use in the title of this recent milestone in Tige's now aquatic life tee hee.

Isn't he the cutest little water bubba you ever laid eyes on, lol... thought I'd share with you that I also created a customised misting/inking sun ray screen for this one cutting it out of plastic stencil sheeting which you can grab from your local art store or Spotlight.

Thanks for stopping by, hope you have a fabbo day xox

7 DOTS STUDIO 'DREAMER' PAPERS

OMGoodness, when Leanne from Mad About Scrappin approached me to Guest DT I was excited but when she showed me the gorgeous papers from 7 Dots Studio latest PP release I was doing cartwheels. These papers are absolutely divine. The A sides are an explosion of colour, layers and textures and the B sides are soft, warm and simply divine. So I had an absolute blast with these papers here's a product image of the range. 


So if you like what you see here and are interested in  buying a kit to create similar projects to the ones below scoot on over to Leannes FB Page and snaffle up a kit before they sell out or buy yourself some of the papers! :)
Here is an image of the 7 Dots Studio release,

and below are my layouts using the 'Dreamer' range.
I used black tea to stain the paper and create some lush grungy drips. I also used a paper doiley as a mask to ink  the background. Tip: To add some extra bling why not glue some beads to your page they are as cheap as chips and are an unexpected little addition to any page.
Below is a close up of the beads I used Dimensional magic to adhere them.

Cut your photos into circles is a great way to add some interest to your page rather than the same old same old standard formats. 

 Tip: Layer lots of different masks, tapes, stamps and stitching to create and interesting focal point.

Cut out some random shapes from card stock and lay them directly onto your paper before inking. This is a perfect way to add some points of interest to an already very busy patterned paper.

 Tip: Try using some transparent embellishments to add a little extra something without being too obvious.

Gesso, Gesso, Gesso, this should be a staple in your scrap stash. Its an awesome way to tone down an intricate paper without detracting from it. Its also a perfect preparation for inking and misting on top of.

 Tip: Layer lots of elements and cluster them tightly, this is a rule of thumb when I create a page. Also consider using lots of different textured materials and fibres, particularly things you can find around the house...Save onion and garlic bags they are priceless! 

And finally, combine all those tips into one page, tee hee. Masking, Inking and gessoing are fantastic techniques and tools to include in all your pages.

 Tip: Dont feel like you always have to have lots on your page, less is more in some instances, often just one embellishment and or one wordart speaks volumes.

Hope you likey! xox

ITS SWELL!

Phew I finally did a catch up on my hybrid versions of past TCR layouts. Here's 'Sweet Serenity'from palette #75 and 'Be True'below that from palette #71.

To create the diagonal stripes on this layout I hand cut a screen from stencil sheeting, its a very affordable way to customise your designs and lots of quick and easy fun. All you do is draw up your design using a sharpie, mark the areas you want to cut out with a 'C'for CUT this helps keep you on track and then carefully cut out your design using a scalpel or stanley knife. 

Oh and almost forgot to share some piccies from the weekend. We went on a little family outing down to Currumbin to introduce Tige to the wonders of sculpture and art. The Swell Sculpture Festival is an annual event up here and is well worth a look if you ever in town during this time. Here were some of our faves and a couple of piccies of Tige to throw in the mix!

Little Tig-let holding the bottle on his own!

Tig-let trying to suck his thumb and drink at the same time.

a little hot and bothered...

 having some fun with daddy!

and a cool entry/vestibule into a block of units tucked away in one of the streets we were walking around. I had to stop and take a piccie I felt like I was transported elsewhere to some far away exotic land!

Now back to dreaming of travel, oh to just jump on a plane! ;)

HAPPINESS IS...

Everyday I pinch myself just to make sure I'm not dreaming, is this truely my life...am I really a mother? OMG what an amazing thing it is to be so so happy. 


I love motherhood, all the quizzillion mummy's out there would say they love the awesomeness of those little cuddles and kisses, and for some of us we will even go as far as saying we love being puked on, because every little up chuck is a reminder that I have a gorgeous little boy, a little fella who is my forever expanding universe! 


This was something my mum said to me a few years ago about what I meant to her and now I completely understand the sentiment and meaning behind those 4 words 'my forever expanding universe' Tige is everything I hope to be, if that at all makes sense.


So in light of my little blurb above my hybrid and digi DT pages  for this weeks palette #76 reveal from The Color Room are yep you guessed it..all about 'my forever expanding universe' Master Tige. I also thought I'd mention the fantastic Tim Holtz Make your own masks that I used to create the 'Chevron' pattern on the hybrid page, you can grab some of this awesomeness at Scraptherapy. The misted circles are created using the customised misting screen I made using my Cricut machine.

Okay better finish off the hybrid LO from last weeks palette eeek, always doing a catch up! Have a fabulous weekend everyone, waving at you excitedly!xox

DARE 2 DREAM

I realise now more so than ever before that having a child not only means a lot of joy and happiness but it also presents itself with the importance of thinking about what kind of advice you would pass on to your children. 


Amongst so many possiblilites the one thing I truly want for Tig-let is that he never lay idle...that he experience life to its fullest, I know thats a cliche but I still stand by it as one of my top 5 pearls of wisdom. Dare to dream, be true to yourself, dont procrastinate & simply make your aspirations come true. 


This layout is about just that it is also about wanting Tige to see the world to experience people and their countries and make some amazing memories to cherish something I wish I had done! ahhh I hear you say but it is never too late, and yep so true my time will come when I am a Super Annuate, ba ha ha! The colour inspo came from TCR and this weeks palette #74.

I used a bit of Basic Grey and the little clocks are glass pebbles created by Handmade Halo, go check the store out. Thought I might add that the clouds are inked using a handcut stencil I created sometime ago.

I also thought I might sub it for this weeks word challenge 'Memory' (which I used in the journalling and as extra accents on the page) at Bird is a Word Challenge site, go check them out they are currently looking for new DT members and sketch artist which I'd love to apply for, one of my pet loves is designing sketches but I just dont have enough time with my other DT commitments..

Okay better go, little Tig-let is whinging and crying poor poppet needs a sleep. Thanks for stopping by, hope you have a great Sunday and a wonderful week!

HE'S MY SONSHINE...

Its nearly Sunday and again I am late with the new palette release from TCR...here's my design inspired by palette #72 and this week I have included a sketch template for those of you who like to collect them. Hope you have a fun with it and would love to see your designs using it!

Thanks for stopping by, hope you have a fantastic sunday!

L.O.V.E

I am on a roll this week! I have created a few layouts some yet to be revealed but I am feeling like Mr Mojo is hanging around. I reckon though its mostly due to some awesome challenge sites I have stumbled across. This new layout was inspired by a site called Bird is the Word its a challenge site that sets words as your inspo. Its funny I hadn't heard of this site before and when I came across it through a new bloggy/scrappy friend Rachael Funnell I had to have a play. I always sing "bird, bird, bird... Bird is the word!" to Tige so kinda felt an affinity with this challenge site...tee hee!


Anyhoo here is the layout, its one of those photo's you snap when no-one is around to take it for you. The type that you point and shoot and hope you haven't cut off too much! I think it worked out just fine! To create the dry embossed stars I cut my own misting template using the cricut then I placed the cardstock over the top  of the template then using a paper creaser or burnisher whichever you have handy, and then I rubbed over the top of the cardstock to create the embossed indentation of the star. This adds another fun dimensional layer to your page and works equally as well with The Crafters Workshop Templates.

I also used some handmade Fimo buntings made by the gorgeous Corinne Harrison of Hand Made Halo, go check them out. Lastly I also scored some seriously purdy antique maps from my friend Kyla, cheering for that little gift of love...thanks Kyla,mwah!

Hope you have a spectacular weekend guys! xox

SUCH A CUTIE!

Hi everyone,
Its that time of the week again...the Friday palette and sketch reveal at The Color Room, and I am so excited by this weeks colours they are right up my alley. The Sketch is actually my very own but re-drawn in Lydell's style so I'm twice as excited to see my sketch on a Color Room palette, woot woot!


Anyhoo, here is the Digi page for palette #69 reveal. All elements are my own except for the curled string which I credit the fabulous Lydell Quin for! :)

Here is the ridgy-didge/hybrid version which I am absolutely chuffed by how it worked out. 

I spent most of the week procrastinating on how I was going to replicate the diamond repeat pattern on the background paper of the digi version and decided that since I didnt have a diamond pre-cut stencil at hand I would make my own using some plastic sheeting and a steady hand...gosh I was transported back to my Art School days as a screenprinter anyhoo here's the stencil that I used along with Tim Holtz Barn Door Distress Ink...both are my new favorite scrap booking tools of the moment! tee hee

...and here is the palette for this week if your in need of some seriously awesome inspo then pop into TCR and say hello!

Okay well got a pot of Chicken soup on the stove in preparation for a scrap & chat night I'm hosting tomorrow night so had better taste test that and ice the cupcakes I baked as a little treat for the girls...can't wait bring on tomorrow woot woot!


Hope you have a fabulous weekend and thank you for stopping by! xox

MY AUNTY...

Well howdy everyone! I am so so feeling much better after a good nights sleep, after a stress filled month I have finally slept without waking up except to feed master Tige...Don't you just hate it when your brain goes into over drive just as your head is on the pillow? It's sods law, without a doubt that is when I start thinking about stresses or concerns I might have and then sleep eludes me. However last night I plonked into bed at 10pm (so early for me) and the sleep fairy sprinkled some of her shut eye dust on me and that was that I got myself some restful zzzzz's.

Okay so now that I have bored you with my insomnia problems tee hee I thought I would share with you my latest layout created using palette #68 for The Color Room that was released this morning.

This page is of my aunty and I. The photo was taken when I was about a week old, mid August 1970. I have always shared a closeness with my Aunty Lol(short for Laurel) she is just one of the most beautiful and kind people I have ever had the fortune to know and love her so much. 

Here's the digi version and the palette below it...

Okay well better head off to battle the shopping trolley at Woolies, if you need some inspo head over to The Color Room everyone is so friendly and supportive there you are bound to have some fun.

Thanks for stopping by xox