Getting crafty ...

My final challenge entry this month is for Crafty Sketches.  I very nearly forgot to upload this one.  This was a sketch based challenge.  Lots to work with on this versatile little sketch.

Again I decided to use up some older photographs that I have sitting in several packets and just never seem to get used. 

A pioneer passion ...

I stumbled across this little challenge blog site a little while ago Bird is the Word and thought I might try doing their challenge this month based on using a particular word in your layout.  All you have to do is create a project  incorporating this word in your theme or title, in this instance Passion.

I decided I would try something a bit different from your typical FFebruary love style layouts and at the same time use a few of my older photographs I am yet to scrap - particularly a series of holiday snaps that I tend to put aside (and then never complete).  This set was from a Victorian holiday my family had quite a few years ago now - a day at Sovereign Hill in Ballarat.

I really like kraft ...

It wasn't until I started doing the monthy challenges on Kraft It Up that I realised how much I really like using kraft as a base for my layouts.  It goes with anything and the look is effective every single time. 

This month were were asked to base our layouts on this colour pallette.

Here's my take on this ...

Scrap Jacked this month ...

As you all know I really enjoy a good challenge so I decided to join in over on Scrap Jacked this month where we were asked to take inspiration from one of the DT submissions to create our own layout.

I really like this page by Christine ...

and thought I would take the summer theme and parts of the colour scheme for my own layout.

Scrapping girls ...

I always enjoy the challenges over on Scrap the girls.  This month is a sketch.

  Here's my take on it.

Growing up ...

She's growing up - I see it more and more with each passing day.  The past six months she's spread her wings and has taken flight; becoming more independent, more confident and turning gradually into the young woman I'd always hoped she would be. 

Happy St Valentine's Day ...

Without Valentine's Day, February would be... well, January.

~Jim Gaffigan

John did it again - a dozen red roses !

The art of being young ...

Thought I might participate in this months challenge on Get Picky where we were asked to find inspiration  from the lyrics of the famous Bob Dylan song "Forever Young" (first verse below).

"Forever Young"

May God bless and keep you always

May your wishes all come true

May you always do for others

And let others do for you

May you build a ladder to the stars

And climb on every rung

May you stay forever young

Forever young, forever young

May you stay forever young.

I wanted to keep this lighthearted and have a little play with the concept of being "forever young" - eventually I settled on scrapping some pictures from quite a few years ago of some Dad's (namely my husband and a couple of his friends) hopping onto the jumping castle at a birthday party - thereby proving you are never to old to have a bit of fun.

Addicted? Who me??? ....

This sight greets me most mornings when I venture into our family room - Christopher propped up on the lounge, lap top on lap (so where else could it be!) busily typing away.  He gets up SO early and the first thing he does (after a trip to the bathroom and getting breakfast) is to turn this little beauty on.  Addicted???  No not him!!!!!

FS2S February challenge ....

Here are my layouts for this months challenge over on From Screen 2 Scrap.  Just love being part of the DT for this site, the challenges really get you thinking.

February Challenge

Added criteria for an extra 6 Bonus Points


1) Black background = 1pt


2) Use the word 'Valentine' on your layout = 2pts


3) A large heart shape = 3pts

What a perfect challenge with Valentine's Day being celebrated this month!!

I’m afraid I just couldn’t resist and I’ve done two layouts for February. The first one doesn’t have all the extra criteria but I really love how it has turned out so thought I’d sent it in anyway. The second is more in keeping with the criteria except I didn’t use Valentine (I tried but the longer word just didn’t look right on the layout). I’ve also used a technique which is really handy for using up those little strips of patterned paper we all have clogging up our scrap spaces. Cut out your shape from a piece of cardstock (in this case the heart) but this works really well on any other shape. Add some form of adhesive to the card – you can use glue but be quick if you do before it dries out – I’ve used double sided tape across the shape at roughly 2cm intervals. Then cut your patterned paper into strips of whatever width you like and layer them across your shape. Cut off the excess paper to the actual shape once you have finished and hey presto. It’s simple but very effective.