Freshly made sketches

I've used my favourite range of papers Kaisercraft Chapter One for this sketch at Freshly made sketches

The background paper is white with gold, not black as it appears here.

Using up gingham embellishments

Last day of the month means tidying up loose ends.

I had some red gingham embellishments to use so made some cards.
Get creative challenges has a use lots of red challenge so my first card is entered there

Try stamping on Tuesday and Retro Rubber challenge.

Try stamping on Tuesday and Retro Rubber challenge are combining with this sketch.

I've used an old cookie cutter stamp with a wooden handle. It is about 5 years old. I bought it at a clearance sale.

My papers are scraps and the thin washi is left over from Christmas crafts.

This will go into the Mother's Day box to be sold.

My time to craft-girly./CASology

At My time to craft they asked us to think girly!
I started with a scrap of pink flower paper. The flowers are actually a velvet texture (flocked).
I added 2 butterflies in brighter pinks plus my sentiment.

I'm also entering this at Seize the birthday.

At CASology the theme is furbaby.
I'm busy making Easter cards so here is a more subtle one.

I've chosen to go with no sentiment because I wanted a subdued card.

February Jump start challenge at the Scraproom

Here's the sketch at the Scraproom. I've used 2 photos of the Statue of Liberty. It was a special memory for me as I had seen it on TV and movies for years.

I used the green copper colour (Verdigris) to inspire my colour choices. This led to my favourite Kaisecraft range, Chapter One. 

I've used mainly black and the copper green colour but added a silver doiley as a highlight.

My quote is from one of the papers,but suits this experience perfectly. I omitted the circle on the left hand side but added a border strip.I also added a cute bow instead of twine.

Double Trouble/Use your stuff combo.

At my daughter's 21st my ex husband came as a magician. It was a dress up event.
He even had a toy rabbit inside his hat.

I used mainly red and black since that was her theme colours.
She got a happy surprise when he walked in.

I'm entering this on Use your stuff and as well,they are combining with Double Trouble blog . I used punched flowers, my sentiment(title) is glittered and there are gold brads. So I went down the LHS.

Kraft plus

This is the February 19th challenge at Kraft plus.

I had to do this one,being a librarian and avid reader.

I started with a Bella Kraft paper which has words over it. Appropriate I thought.

I misted it with red but it didn't show up very well.

I then layered papers that matched the photo including diamonds and stripes. There are 2 using print,one of which is the BG packet from the Fact or Fiction flowers.

 Speaking of the flowers, I dribbled red mist over them to add colour.and added a hessian flower from D-Lish scraps to match the Kraft.

My journalling explains the book link,which is a strong one.

I added another scrap of Kraft tickets plus a red sequined butterfly.

I had to photograph my layout as it is too thick for the scanner. It is straight and not at an angle.

Speaking of D-lish scraps, they are our sponsor at Archiscraps this month.
http://archiscraps.blogspot.com 

The Male Room

At The Male Room they want no patterned paper on the background.
I splashed around my tattered angels mist (which is now empty) to create this background.

Next I used 2 rows of washi tape to look like water for my ship.
Finally, I added the number.

For the record, I also finished up this washi tape and double sided tape on here ,so it was definitely using leftovers.

Daring Cardmakers and Sweet sketch Wednesday.

Over at Daring Cardmakers this week they have alphabet soup, meaning you need to use letters as your main decoration.
I used some small striped alphas in odd letters that I had left then put my sentiment over the top.
It looked plain so I added a small butterfly sticker.

There is lots of white space but that's ok.
Those marks are on my scanner,so my next job is to clean it.

Next is a card for Sweet sketch Wednesday



I've gone very feminine and girly with this thank you card.

Challenge #2 Feathers.

There are many ways of putting feathers on layouts.

I've opted for an easy choice, I inked a chipboard feather from Scrap FX with a cyan blue.

 I also used this sketch from Let's get sketchy.

My layout is more plain because of the busy background paper.

My background paper is part of the Anthologie range,chosen for the Counterfeit kit.

Freshly made sketches

Here is the sketch at Freshly Made sketches.
We can use any shape so long as the card resembles the original.
I've made an Easter card.

Country view challenges and Cardz4guyz

Country view challenges has a black and white plus one challenge.

I've used orange as my extra colour and kept it subtle.

The photo is from Darkroom Door from a set about New York. The sentiment is from MME.

My next creation is for Cardz4guyz
We were asked to feature wild animals.
I had some animal pictures I cut from an old picture dictionary. I chose 2 walruses.
This card is a get well card for a man and says Sick, tusk, tusk.
I couldn't fit a question mark in the little book plate but think it is implied anyway.

Moving along with the times

Moving along with the times wants shabby chic.
I've used a neutral background featuring black birdcages. I added a strip of bone ribbon plus a scrap of black lace. Two matching enamel dots were added plus my sentiment.
I think it has a shabby chic look.

Time out challenges wants retro.
I've stashed these labels/tags from Graphic 45 for too long. I made a card for a friend who turns 70 in March. This will suit her.

Use your stuff and cute card Thursday

At Use your stuff they want pink or red and hearts.
I've used pink heart paper behind my deer plus red roses trimmed in gold (not black).
It won't be a valentines card but a thanks card. I haven't come up with a sentiment yet but it will be something like "You're a dear".

At Cute Card Thursday they want wings.

I used a paper from my Counterfeit kit and cut the birdcage in the centre. I adhered the bird using magic mount on its perch.
My sentiment is also from the counterfeit kit and the gold border strip gives a nice edge.

Challenge #1 CKC. Lots of embellishments.

I saw this layout on Paper Issues facebook page and thought the idea of using lots of embellishments was good. Interpret this however you like but spread them around the page in this style.

Here's a link to Lisa's page if you want more ideas

https://www.facebook.com/lisarukin.swift?hc_location=ufi

For my layout,entitled Hungry bird I used lots of embellishments from my kit.
The bottom left hand corner cluster was there so I just kept adding a variety of bits and pieces (spread out) that went with the theme.

Scraproom Freaky Fast Formula.

Here's this month's Freaky Fast Formula.

I've used 3 of the journal box size cards from Kaisercraft Anthologie range. They measure exactly 3.25 x 4.25.

I started with a non descript brown floral background. The 4.25x6.25 became my photo mat.

My 3x12 strip went across the middle.

I put one card at the top as the title and the other 2 at the bottom of the photo.

The layout was finished off with some enamel dots and 2 matching collectables.

Krafty chicks.

At Krafty chicks they ask for layering.

I made a Christmas card from offcuts.
The Merry and bright and red stripes is one layer,the green houndstooth is two,the 2 pennants are 3 and 4 and the sentiment "Blessings" is 5 layers in all.

Challenge yourself

At Challenge Yourself they want a movie themed layout.

I've chosen the movie named TED

My photo was taken at a Thai restaurant where these 2 big bears were in the foyer. I just had to have my photo taken with them!

I used 2 papers from my Counterfeit kit then added strips from other papers.

I punched 2 holes and threaded twine through. As I matted it on red I also added some red heart brads and finally white vinyl alphas.

It is different but I'm happy.

(I also found myself humming the Elvis song, "I want to be, your teddy bear".)

Library work

This sheet of paper was bought for a purpose. It was to document my reason for a career step sideways. You will notice it has no photo.

When I started library work these were the catalogue drawers we used. I documented how and why I decided to retrain and do my degree in library studies. I've also included a pocket at the bottom of the layout, alluding to library pockets. All the embellishments on here are from the Anthologie collection except for the enamel dots.
This layout goes into my "Book of me".

A place to start challenge.

I found a new challenge...A place to start wants us to use an inspirational die or stamp.
In this case it is a stamp.

I started with some packaging. I cut the top off, used some brown ribbon across the top, layered some paper and my stamped sentiment, then added 2 co-ordinating embellishments I had.

Voila!

More than words challenge

This layout is for More than words challenge.
We are asked to use the word always plus a quote.

Anyone who knows me well knows that I love travelling or trying new things.
When raising my daughter I encouraged her to be independent and adventurous.
To think outside the square. I think I succeeded there because she moved out at 18 and lives 3 hours drive away!
I've used a favourite 7 gypsies paper and although it features birds and eggs, I chose a close up photo I took of a butterfly.
(A symbol of freedom and new adventures)
My quote is in the centre of the photo "SPREAD YOUR WINGS AND FLY."

I used natural colours and embellishments, then added a pop of turquoise to add some zing.
It appears in the 3 butterflies on the right (mist through a stencil), a stamped image under the corner of photo top left, plus the top butterfly on the quote...

Follow your heart at Soul Scrappers.

http://soul-scrappers.ning.com/forum/topics/rw28-runs-until-feb-22nd
Soul scrappers again has a Positive thoughts challenge. I chose the theme "Follow your heart" which my daughter certainly does.
She recently sent me this photo from their camping area and all I could think was how much she looks like me. We are both strong personalities and in this photo it struck me that she has always done exactly what she wanted to do. In the case of Jacob, she has followed her heart.
Hence my choice of title.

I used one of the Anthologie papers plus some scraps I had added to the kit as well as butterflies, ribbon, silver thread and 2 of the Anthologie collectables.