Masculine card at Seize the birthday

I've discovered a new card site which focusses just on birthday cards, named Seize the Birthday.
This week is a masculine card.
Here is my entry

The background paper is Sandy Lion with the 4 suits from cards on it. I've added red and white polkadots paper then a cut out plaque from Echo Park saying Everyday hero.(Most men are to their children).Then I've added my sentiment also with red and tiny spots. My finishing touch are Kaisercraft black dots(like rhinestones only not sparkly).I can assure you my card is straight,despite the scanner making it awry.

Saturday sketch at Kaisercraft

I've been aware of Saturday Sketches for quite a while although I rarely get to do them.
Because this month has 31 days and Easter holiday,I've managed to find the time.
Here's my entry for Saturday sketch #5.

My scanner is being unco-operative so I've photographed it. I followed the example except I've used one larger photo instead of 3 smaller ones. I couldn't resist a few rhinestones as it is a Christmas layout. Here is a close up

The story behind it is the staff at Mum's nursing home always made the most out of every situation. At the Christmas party they danced to the music, which cheers up the audience. I captured this photo as they're dancing, hence they aren't smiling for the photo, but they do love showing their joy.

The items used are all Kaisercraft.

The papers are an older collection and the "Twig and berry" collectables went well with it.

The only non-Kaiser product is the lace.

I'm having trouble uploading to KAisercraft's website so if you have contacts there,please let them know I did this ON TIME!!!

Use your stuff and large letters

First I used this packaging from prima metallic numbers.Your site is called USE YOUR STUFF.
I painted it with gesso, then printed on the Heidi Grace "Oh so loved-Dots" paper. This created a textural background.
I've used Basic Grey "Colour me silly" monogram letters to spell out Coogee. It is a famous beach in Sydney, near Bondi. I overlapped the oo and the ee to fit it on the page.
I've used October Afternoon card, Kaisercraft journaling block, an arrow plus ribbon. The photo shows the beach with the famous hotel roof behind.

Stuck?! March 15th

The sketch has been turned on its side like this

I've used "All my memories" papers,a canvas swirl which has been misted with "Candy Apple".
Then I've added lace, chevron washi tape, felt flower, brads a felt sewing machine shape, and glued a zipper head plus a machine bobbin on the layout. The tape measure ribbon also adds to the theme. My title tag was painted red then I've used sticker letters for my title.
The story behind this is I make these gonks for the Red Cross to be used like "trauma teddies".I photograph them as I make them.
I hope you like it as it was fun to make.Living by myself,it is hard to get me in the photos,but there's plenty of smiles in this one.

Another Finnabair style layout

The workshops with Finnabair were so inspirational and I wanted to try the techniques at home. I had a photo of her and me plus a chipboard saying "Getting messy with Finn 2013" so I decided to try another layout.Here's my result.I didn't have all the inks etc she used but my mists did a similar job.

and some close-ups

Portrait at Artastic

Here's a cut out portrait of my daughter who was dressed as a Victorian lady. She made the skirt herself. I've used antique lace plus a pearl strand with a locket charm on it.
The portrait we based our ideas on this month was called "Girl in pink".As a child she wore pink but I'd have to anaesthetise her to get her into pink now!

Last call for Archiscraps entries.

Looking for something to do over Easter? Archiscraps has a challenge current involving fairytales
Here's the stimulus picture

We would love to see anything you can come up with to do with fairytales.
Upload it to the Linkitz on our Archiscraps blog http://Archiscraps.blogspot.com There are only a few days to go and YOU could be our winner! Entries close Sunday night at midnight.

While you're in your craft area you might thing "spooky" for April's challenge.

End of month at Counterfeit Kits

I've taken a photo of this one tonight so you get carpet with your picture ,LOL.
Mystical scrapbooks

Had a monthly challenge where you had to fold paper to make a lace doiley,(like we used to do at school).The next step was to mist through it to make your background.
I've used left over strips of paper with tiny fish on it as well as textured scraps like crackled, spots from the cuttlebug, scalloped edges and zigzags. The large journaling block is from fancypants designs and even though it is a duck,I thought it was close enough.
I kept with the colours blue,bone and a touch of yellow to signify the beach.
The final touch was Bumble bee  crafts mini collections visuals around which I have wound twine.
I actually recycled the title from another layout and inked the backing with turquoise ink.

Flutterby Wednesday card #232

The sketch for Flutterby Wednesday #232 is this

and here is my card, a bit late for Valentines Day but won't go astray I'm sure!

A straight out scraplift for Counterfeit Kits

The end of the month is approaching and before I put away my Counterfeit Kit I thought I would use up the Kaisercraft "Check In " range that I still have plenty of.
So I googled and found a layout here http://www.kaisercraft.com.au/blog/tag/kaisercraft/
It is called "wish you were here" by Shelley Gioffre. As it is also published in a Kaisercraft magazine,I'm sure I have permission to Scraplift it.
Here's the original

 and here's my take on it. I was missing some of the minor elements but I improvised.I've used embroidery cotton instead of twine and a metallic tag instead of a button.

Counterfeit Kit Wonder woman

 

Challenge #3 at Counterfeit Kit was choose a super hero and do a layout about it.

Looking back to my 20s, I was very busy teaching full time, on a committee at Rotaract working sometimes 4 nights a week at that, plus seeing a boyfriend, doing crafts(including the jumper I'm wearing in the photo),keeping up with friends etc. It was a busy time. My parents used to wonder where my energy came from.

I've downloaded a picture of Wonder Woman, then added Chevron washi tape and mask to represent the rushing here and there aspect.

Unfortunately, I used cheap cardstock and the mists "bled" into each other.

Another lesson of scrapbooking discovered.

I've used other elements from my Counterfeit Kit including fibre, buttons, tags and edging.

Experimental techniques

For CSI this week I've used my 2 favourite colours-green and yellow.As soon as I saw the palette I thought yippee. The challenge was to document what you like about yourself.
Having been divorced and retired,plus my daughter living in another city.....it makes me free to do as I please.So I called my layout "free as a bird"

I've used some of the layering techniques learned at the Finnabair workshop.

I've tucked parts of flowers under the cardstock, border punched the edges and inked with distress ink colour "old paper."

On to that I've then used rubons, washi tape, strips of paper plus a rolled paper pole for my 2 flags. I've used a close up of myself and despite my eyes being brown, they came up green on this photo.There's a fussy cut bird on a branch  and some flowers dabbed with a wet teabag.

The piece de resistance is the birdcage from memory maze.

I've distress inked it in black then added roses twirled through the cage bars plus a tiny word saying "freedom".

I hope you like this.

 

Memory maze DT reveals

Firstly there is this layout I made for Stuck?! sketches March part 1.
  there is the gondolier in Venice using Memory maze keys inked in yellow

with a close up of the layering

Then there are 3 cards

this one features a memory maze flourish (wrought iron 49) which I have dabbed blue paint on to create a marbling effect.

This one features our cute chickens and chicken with Easter Eggs.Both of them I have inked in yellow.

And this is made from Easter  Bunny Stackums, which are fun and easy to make and look great.

 

Here's the link to Memory maze chipboard if you are interested in any of the products.

http://memorymaze.com.au/

 

 

Use your stuff on the Ponte Vecchio

We were lucky enough to visit Europe nearly 4 years ago. One of my favourite places was Florence where there is so much culture to absorb. These 3 photos were taken on/near the Ponte Vecchio where the goldsmiths have their stores.
I used many gold stars on my layout purplosely. I chose dark background because I wanted the gold to shine out.There is also a looped ribbon and a small rosette.

Case this sketch #20

Here's the sketch

and here's my card. I've used a Grace Taylor pocket plus a tag made from Prima packaging(recycling) and I've used a yellow eyelet plus fine black ribbon for the tie.

Rock candy at Lollipop ladies

The challenge this fortnight at Lollipop ladies is Rock Candy with added criteria of music.
Here's the picture

And I kept thinking about the song so I've done a whimsical layout,using lots of embellies plus some gesso topping on my music mountain.I misted my mountain before adding the extras.

My triumph was to use the sticker that said "snowball fight".I've had it for about 9 years.

Stuck on U sketches card

Following on from the last post I've done, I then created a card based on their card sketch. It was basically a cross of 2 different papers.I cut the "I do" from the bottom strip of EK paper range called "I do"
I've used the blue bubble paper again plus offcuts of the pink mat paper. Here it is.

Stuck on U sketches

The sketch was an unusual one this month,so I've chosen unusual colour choices.

The paper by AMM  was called Savvy Designs  and had the stripes on one side and the argyle pattern on the other. I've used a blue co-ordinating pattern to bring up the blue effect. This makes purple, pink, turquoise and black.
 I found a photo of 3 people in Cook Park at Orange staring at the pond and all lost in their own thoughts. Hence the title Reverie.
The wrought iron chipboard is by memory maze and I have misted it in turquoise then lightly dabbed with crimson to co-ordinate it to the papers. I've used Kaiser "fairy Floss" alphas.The flowers are a mixture of sources including the pink velvet one from Spotlight.

Here's the sketch

and here's my layout

with a close up of the velvet flower and chippy.

Bingo at Child's play challenges

The topic for this week at Child's play challenges is BINGO.
You can use anything that bingo inspires you to use. I went with the numbers being called, as I couldn't find Bingo cards anywhere. My layout features lots of random numbers across the page plus a photo of a store promotion for Target that we came across before Christmas. The target symbolises the winning number in bingo. I've also used a transparency pocket featuring bingo cards.
Here's my layout

Why not join in the fun at Child's play? There are prizes to win too.

Another freakin scrapping challenge with Memory Maze

I've used this sketch on AFSC to create a special layout for me.
Firstly,here is the sketch

I've flipped it so the subject is on the left.

The story behind this is...

When my mother was dying,one of the nurses at Mum's nursing home brought in a beautiful spray of white orchids for her.Connie grew them herself.My father grew orchids and Mum always loved them. She was very touched by this gift and said they were precious.

 

As Mum's favourite colour was blue,I chose that as my main colour.All items on here are from my Counterfeit Kit.I distressed the edges of the patterned paper and stapled down a few purposely done tears.I've misted the 2 Memory Maze chipboard pieces with turquoise glimmer mist,then added rhinestones around the edges.I've tied a bow with green twine around the top strips and secured it with a brad.A fine pink ribbon was added under the photo.

From Screen to scrap

The theme for this month is "The secret garden." I actually do have a layout named that, but I've used it before. I made this instead.

I'm especially happy since I've used a whole bag of punched purple flowers.I've had them since I went to a Purplescraps retreat 6 years ago!(It feels good to empty a bag of stuff).
Anyway, I initially fussy cut around a flower cluster on patterned paper.I tucked 2 paper doileys underneath, then proceeded to fill the space with punchies in 2 different sizes.Another requirement is a garden ornament.I'm hoping the rotunda itself will qualify.The photo is of me in Belmore Park at Goulburn where I lived for 7 years,so there are many memories of that rotunda.

Scrap friends sketch for March.

Scrapfriends have a sketch each month, plus a colour challenge.This is my entry for the sketch #11.
I've called my layout Our 2 Lighthouses holidays because both these lighthouses feature in my family's past.The first at Kiama, is near where we went camping every year and a cousin still lives nearby.The second Norah Head,is near where my uncle owned a holiday house which we visited.
The original sketch looks like this

and here is my take on the sketch. I've used elements from my Counterfeit kit,which is not another challenge,but a collection of scrapping products for the month from my stash.

 

With the leftover paper etc I made a card for an upcoming "Feeling Sketchy" challenge.

 

 

Why not try Archiscraps?

My challenge blog based on Architecture is named Archiscraps.
Every month I give an inspiration picture and a criteria.This month it is fairytales and here's the picture

There is a prize as well, kindly donated by mystical scrapbooks. Here is what you might win

There's lots of incentive to join in the fun.

So make a layout before 31st March and upload it to the linkitz on Archiscraps 

Kraft it up

The original sketch is this

and as my photos from Europe still number in the hundreds,I decided to use 3 from the Athens Archaelogical Museum.I used Agamemnons mask as the centrepiece circle since it has the most colour.I cut around the mosaic floor on the right forming the square and the statue became a trapezium rather than a triangle but artistic interpretation is allowed. right?
I've misted the Kraft using Sugar mAple and added Washi tape to the strips at the bottom.
I found the quote and thought how appropriate it was for the page.

Blind scrap layout using Counterfeit KIt.

I made this layout for Mystical Scrapbooks using my Counterfeit Kit.It was a Blind scrap, so you never know how it will turn out,but I'm happy with this one.The tissue paper flower was made from a soap wrapper and looks better fluffed up in 3D.
Here's the 3d picture close up...

Color Throwdown #233

Hello everyone!
Here's the swatch for this week at color throwdown. I've chosen to make a "new arrival" card.
I found some patterned paper that had the cake crumb and celery background.To that I've added a strip of orange and white spots with a square of apricot-orange backing my sentiment.Then I've added a pink flower,folded in half as my final touch
.Please ignore the dark background,it isn't part of my card.And I have cut straight.My scanner does wonky things occasionally.As it is raining,it is too dark to take a photo.

A big day with Finnabair

Yesterday, (Wednesday) I attended 2 classes taught by Finnabair.If you're a scrapper you probably know who she is...a mixed media artist from Poland.

In the morning we did a layout named Industrial Baroque "Tea for Two".Here'e my finished product

It involved lots of inking,stamping,wet teabagging,Then we added papers,laces,flowers and oodles of metal findings.Some were layered to give depth such as bottlecaps containing cogs and buttons or 3 metal flowers inside each other.A final layer of paints and mists were added to the top providing extra colour.For copyright reasons I can't go into more details.
One thing I learnt in this class was not to use cheap photo developing.My original photo got ink on it which I wiped with a baby wipe then some of the photo disappeared! With proper photo developing they withstand inks,wipes etc without "bleeding".This was an alternative photo I happened to have there.
We were given far more goodies than we could use.Here's some photos.

The noodle box in the 2nd photo is full to the brim with metals.
These are only the leftovers!!!! Aren't the papers yummy?
The 2nd class was a canvas which started of by collaging papers and lace,then adding modpodge,stamping,gesso,photo,and finally embellisshments.It was then misted with acrylic mists and painted with like a watercolour gel.Here's my finished one.

I'm not as happy with it but then I don't like altering photos much.It helped me learn the process.

I had my photo taken with Fin

 

and also met up with some ladies from along the Hume Highway.Kim Kendall and I have been on 2 different Design Teams together,so it was good to finally meet her and Kylie Tout I knew through Scrapbooking Memories masters etc.Here we are with Margaret and Kathy from Wagga.They all travelled together for 5 hours to attend this workshop.

 

Finally a group photo was taken of the 50 of us with Fin.I don't have a copy of it but will try to get one.