SEW SIMPLE SKETCH CHALLENGE

Can I say I am a little bit excited about my Guest Design Spot over at Soul Scrappers.

Its been ages since I have set a challenge anywhere and so am cheering to be able to invite you to this one.

For the month of July I am hosting the GDT2 Challenge called 'Sew Simple Sketch Challenge'. All you have to do is sign up to the Soul Scrappers ning community, create a project using the sketch below and for added extra criteria include some stitching into your project whether it be machined, hand sewn or doodled! Its as easy as that.

Here is my sample page with lots of crazy machine stitching, I love how stitching adds that extra little something!

Oh and as added incentive I will be offering this fabulous RAK to the overall winner :)

I hope you'll come and join me submission date ends 31st July so you have plenty of time to get out that sewing machine that might be collecting dust tee hee.

Happy scrapping and have an even happier weekend! Em xox

1950's FAMILY PHOTO...

OMG its Friday already I am losing days at the moment, I need for time to slow down just by two days then I can get on top of everything its madness here. Anyways with Friday comes a brand new Palette from TCR and this weeks #114 is a fabulous selection of brown and gold hues. I was so struck by Dells page this week [it was her layout that sold me on the palette as its not one I would normally go for], so I decided I best play along and use some more of the PP's supplied my this months sponsor Feature Arts. 

Here is my page using braided rice papers from Feature Art, some fabulous Tissue Napkins from my friend Kyla's FB page Left of Centre and a few cute embellishments like the Glass Mushroom and the Cherry Blossom from D-Lish Scraps all of which worked perfectly into the palette. I also created the background by simply inking the 12X12 Circle Grid by TCW and then roughly gessoing over the top. and then collaged some papers and finally machine stitched some crazy stitching.

Here is my digi version which I created after photographing the base of the trad page and rendering it on PS to create a digital paper, not sure which one I like best!

Okay so thats it for today no more blogging I promise, my gosh this is my third entry between the two I have lol...sorry 'bout that! ;) Have a great long weekend everyone and TFL.
P.S This is my 200th post so am very excited and not surprised I still have something to babble on about tee hee :)

SMILE WITH A SASSAFRAS LASS!

Today brings us the new word prompt 'Smile' at Bird is the Word. Here is my DT page using an old Sassafras Lass patterned paper 'Sweet Marmalade- With Love' I think this might be the B side.

I used some tiny bits of chipboard and painted them to echo the colours and shapes in the pattern. Then machine stitched some circles around the photo and embellishments clusters to ground them. The sprinkling of confetti was created using my EK Success Swiss Cheese Large paper punch, which has finally been dragged out of the drawer its been confined in for almost 2 years and used it in another page that I will share over the next couple of days.

Also BITW has a brand new 'pep me up' look. The fresh new blog background, badges and blinkies were all created by moi, so am very excited to announce the reveal that went live yesterday, thanks Wendy for trusting in me to give BITW a new identity I had a lot of fun with it xox. Go check out the blog here but below is the header which gives you a rough idea of the new concept.

Thanks for stopping by, have a wonderful week, and just to foreworn you I'll be posting a couple of times this week so I hope I don't annoy you tee hee!
Em

MAD ABOUT SCRAPPIN 7 DOTS STUDIO

You may have heard whispers around the traps about my new design team possie, but I haven't shared it officially here in Blogland so today seemed like the perfect moment to do the big reveal! I am now working for the lovely Leanne Lovett at 'Mad About Scrappin' yippee! I love Leanne's fun and vibrant personality she is always a barrel of laughs crazy lady that she is tee hee! And when she advertised her search for a new DT I didn't hesitate. Now I know some of you know that she and I are good buddies, but that didn't mean I got a free walk in, I still had to apply, share a bit about what I hoped to achieve and bring to MAS and what my personal endeavours are in the world of scrapping. 


I was right chuffed to get the acceptance email and almost straight away a parcel of goodies was presented to me to get cracking on. So here a few layouts I created using the 'Elsie Rebel' patterned papers by 7 Dots Studio and an Inspiration pack full of different textured materials that Leanne gave to me and Melanie McKenzie to play with.

This page called 'Meow' showcases the 'Extraordinary' pp. I used some gesso, and then with the Spiced Marmalade distress ink by Tim Holtz inked over the top of a paper doiley which I used as a mask.
Because circles feature strongly in this page I decided to balance that out by adding strips of paper, transparency and washi tape vertically behind the photo's which really helps break up the circular repetition and define the photo's. Then I covered a chipboard arrow in washi tape to help connect the title to the photo cluster. Finally from the inspiration pack I used the bottle cap as a stamp to add some more circles (like it needed more of those lol)

In 'Let Sleeping Babies Lie' I used most of the papers from the Elsie Rebel range but featured the 'Sensitive' pp as the base. I clustered 3 photo's of Tige sleeping and layered them with torn pieces from the other papers. I used some aqua tuile and some more of the gutter guard for extra texture from the inspiration pack. I designed a word-art for the title and printed that off along with some cloud shapes and half tone paint splatters on Grafix Rub-onz which just adds a little extra something to the overall page.
Lastly I customised some glass cabachons by gluing them to some paper off cuts waste not want not!

Oh and I used the new Words or Whatever Circle AltaMATZ that Leanne sells, they are fantastic. 

This page 'Don't be afraid to fall' is using the 'Delightful' PP from the Elsie Rebel range. I incorporated some stickers from this set and used a Heidi Swapp 'Damask' mask by inking it to create more depth in the background. 

From the inspiration pack that Lea gave us I cut a strip from the rubber mat, painted it and adhered it to the page and finally, mounted the photo on a piece of the gutter guard for added  texture.

For the final page 'Funny Faces' I used the 'Over Emotional' and 'Imperfect' papers. You can just make out the misted area using the Gutter guard as a mask in the top left corner I think I used the Chalkboard 'Monolith' misting spray, hence why it is subtle but it has a gorgeous shimmer. The handcut chipboard sun has an imprinted texture from the non slip matting over the surface. Both very subtle but I think the added texture creates a softness to the page.

So there you have my exciting news. If you are interested and learning more check out the Mad About scrappin Facebook page here.
Thanks for stopping by  xox

DEERLICIOUS PALETTE!

This weeks palette at The Color Room is a beautiful selection of muted pastels, that have that old world feel about them.

My DT page is a giant leap away from my usual creations, probably because I am more inclined to use bold colours. But the photo of Miss Tegan all dressed up like a deer was a perfect fit for the palette (well I think so), anyways I decided I'd use it and try for a whimsical come vintagy page with lots of crazy stitching in a vain attempt at Helena Virpi's scrapping style, absolutely love her work...swooon!

 (Photo courtesy Abby Mines)

This page was created using the stunning Swedish Paper range from 

PION Designs which is this months sponsor over at TCR.

So your living in Australia and you want to get your hands on some of their gorgeous paper ranges pop over to Scrap Matrix for a spot of retail therapy.

Thanks for stopping by and a big happy crafting cheerio to you! xox

BE FREE

This weeks palette #98 released at The Color Room is a gorgeous combination of lovely lilacs and a dash of sage green. The combo is not one I would normally give a go but I'm always up for a challenge and in the end it proved to be a fun palette to play with.


Here's my page of my sis in-law and of course the pretty palette so if your interested in checking the gallery out to see more inspo pop on over to TCR and say hello.

TFL xox

TOGETHER... we have it all!

So so very excited to share with you my first DT design for Bird is the Word and this fortnights word reveal is 'TOGETHER'. Go check out all the particulars here. Its such a popular challenge site with often over 70 subs which amazes me, so I am itching to see what eye candy will be subbed this release!


Here is my page called 'Together...we have it all'.

I used an old October Afternoon PP, Basic Grey PP, Imaginarium Designs chippies, my all time fave Grafix Rub-Onz and of course lots of handmade fimo and glass cabachon embellies and finally a touch of lace (I don't usually go for lace, I hear some of you gasping, tee hee), but these purdy little lace flowers are simply gorgeous. Anyways you can get your hands on these goodies at Handmade Halo.


Thanks for stopping by and I hope you like my first DT page for BITW :)

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