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

I TRY...

BITW has another ripper of a word prompt for you and this challenge is all about 'TIME' that very precious commodity that eludes most of us. I know it seems I am doing a few pages on me lately,  hope I am not boring you guys with these ones but after this word reveal I promise to stop the self obsession for a little while  tee hee.


I had a small epiphany recently after thinking about what I was going to do for my DT page I realised I spend way too much money and time accumilating papers and scrap related products that most of my allocated scrapping time is spent in complete disarray and of course time is of the essence when you have a busy little adventurous boy on your hands. 


So rather than wasting these valuable minutes sorting, arranging and cleaning my space I have set a challenge 'to use up as much of my stash as possible!' My Scraproom is absolutely chockers I need nothing else except more minutes in the day, so even though this is a small idea it may prove to create 'perfect harmony'  in my life between scrapping more constructively and freeing up more time with Tig-let.

Thats the story behind this DT page, do you think I can do it? To be honest I am not sure I can stick to my guns on this one, I am such a scrapstash hoarder I am one of the worst, tee hee. 
Thank you for stopping by 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!

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

BECAUSE OF YOU DADDY

This month one of The Color Room sponsors are Imaginarium Designs a fabulous & relatively new company that designs chipboard accents. The DT's were all sent a bag full of goodies to play with and use on our pages.


This week I created a soft masculine page of my two boys called 'Because of you Daddy',

using the Imaginarium cog and gears chippies as elements(which come in 2 different size packs)and Palette#58 which comes from the sunroom, you can read about it here.

I also have been doing a bit of a catch up with the palettes, this is one I did a couple of weeks ago but forgot to post here.
Its called 'The tinniest thing...' and the colour palette#17 which I used for inspiration.

Hope you have a lovely lazy Sunday! xox

SCRAPBOOKING MEMORIES 'EXPRESS YOURSELF'

A couple of weeks ago whilst trying to find the current submission themes for Scrapbooking Memories, I stumbled across the 'Express Yourself' competition. I decided what have I got to lose so entered both the digital and traditional versions of my 'I Heart Woodgrain'layout into the competition.


Wednesday morning I received an email to say that my submission had been selected for the top 10 entries in the digital section...WOW!


My layout will be on display along with the other 9 digi finalists at the Brisbane Scrapbook & Papercraft Expo over the June long weekend. Show attendes will then vote for their favourite design!


So here is my digital layout (you have seen it before), I thought I'd display it again so you can take a mental piccie tee hee!

Credits:

Basic Grey-Alyssa Woodgrain Texture Overlay

Puglypixels-Round Doiley Element

Other elements including, Pretty in Pink Grunge paper, ornate gilt frame, magnetic word art, sewing pin, misted circles, wooden button & woograin flair button are all created by me.

Here's the traditional/hybrid version using the gorgeous Sassafras-Starters range of patterned papers.

Thanks for stopping by!

CREATING A MISTING SCREEN USING YOUR CRICUT

I know I said I'd update the last post by showing you the layout I created using the Color room Palette #35 and the self portrait I did yesterday... but last night, I had a brain wave and came up with an idea using the fabbo Cricut Machine.
Here's the layout first and then the tut on how to create your own misting mask.

and The Color Room Palette#35

The idea grew out of the need for a unique misting mask to use in the layout I had in mind. I wanted a very stylised repeat leaf pattern but didn't have anything that would suit in my misting screen/mask stash so thought quite literally 'A-HA', what could I create using my cricut?

The 'Accent Essentials' Cartridge had the perfect leaf, I had some thick acetate so I got cracking. Sadly I did not think to take piccies of that but did so when I went crazy cutting several customised screens later, tee hee. 
Here's what I did...


CREATING A MISTING SCREEN USING YOUR CRICUT


Step 1:
Load your acetate into the Cricut and set the page size. This is done by navigating the blade to the top right hand corner using the arrow buttons. Once you have set it the blade will automatically return to the top left hand corner.
NB:This step only applies if you are using a piece of paper or acetate smaller than a 12X12.


Step 2:
Select portrait or landscape depending on your paper placement on the cutting mat. Then select the shape/accent you want to use and enter the size you want by toggling the size wheel.


Step 3:
Press Autofill, this will calculate how many accents it can cut within the confines of the paper size. At this point the machine will automatically begin to cut. When cutting has finished remove the acetate from the cutting mat.

Step 4:

Carefully remove the accents making sure not to tear the acetate then keep the accents to use in other projects (Idea:You can ink them using Tim Holtz Alcohol Inks, paint them or leave them clear)

Step 5:

Mist away using your very own customised screen!

NB:You could also use a thicker stencil acetate (which you can buy at your local art/craft stockist or Spotlight if you have one in your area) which is an opaque sheet and comes in different sizes. In order to use this you will have to house a deeper cut blade into your cricut for it to work.

I hope you enjoyed this tutorial and thank you for stopping by xox

I HEART WOODGRAIN!

Yep another week and another LO and a palette (#54) that I am certain will inspire you, the colours are gorgeous this week. I am so stuck on citrus combo's and as you all know equally stuck on woodgrain!  Some of you will think this is hilarious as this weeks layout is dedicated to my absolute infactuation with everything woodgrain!


Here's the glue and paper version albeit some hybrid elements using my current digi designs from my not yet launched 'LOVE ME' digi kit! I also used yet again the tried true and tested awesomeness of Grafix Rub-Onz to create the journalling and word art. Can I also say a little blurb too on the gorgeous new range of Sassafras papers called 'Starters'...OMG I am sooo inlove with this range its just so dreamy. Its full of fun, soft and vintage yet graphic layers that screams out to me actually sings out to me would be more the right description and well, has to be my fave PP range at the mo!

...and my digi version

I have plenty of ATC's to share too but haven't had a chance to photograph them so will post them some time over the weekend...TFL and have a gr8t day! xox

A LITTLE BIRD TOLD ME....

Yet another week has flown by and I am scratching my head wondering where did it go? I know I was a busy mummy but gosh at the blink of an eye time is passing me by and before I know it I'll have a little boy running around like a crazy person.


Tige is 9 weeks on Monday and on Friday he had his 2 month immunisations, poor little poppet. He was none too pleased when he got the jabs especially as he was sound asleep after a nice belly full of milk. Anyways it has to be done and its done until his next round of shots... still it broke my heart to hear that scream, all I can say is thank the lord there weren't tears that would break my heart...hmmm thats got me wondering when will my bubba make tears?


Anyways with a new week comes a new palette at 'The Color Room' and this week's #53 is a gorgeous color story from the His room collection. Here's my take on the palette and below it the palette itself.

A big thanks for stopping by I hope I get time to pop into everyones blog this week, its been frantic for a while now and I feel like I have a big blog world catch up to do!

Mwah

COLOR ROOM PALETTE #51

Yet another fun palette and sketch to get your mojo flowing...come check it out HERE!

Hope your having a fabbo weekend! xox