5 things ...

The Studio Challenges May challenge is to use only 5 things to create a layout - well not exactly as the photo(s), glue, cardstock base, pen and stitching don't count!!  Added criteria of chipboard as one of the 5.

 

I used (1) a piece of patterned paper as the background, (2) a sheet of borders which I cut apart and layered, (3) a rub-on which I used as the page title, (4) brads in yellow and teal and (5) a chipboard heart.

Another freak out ....

They had me worried with the sketch on Another Freaking Scrappy Challenge this month.  Initially  I was thinking this might be a tribal "out of Africa theme" but no just a bit of tongue in cheek I think ...

 

I flipped this sketch and layered some 6x6 pattern paper and was thrilled I managed to use up some of my rather large stash of the stuff ...

 

 

 

Let it rain ....

I love this song, Let it rain by Amanda Marshall.  It is truly worth a listen as the lyrics are really quite memorable.  It is also the final inspiration for Scrap It With a Song this month.

 

The obvious approach to this challenge was to do a layout about rain ....

 

 

 

 

 

 

Guest Designing on Child's Play Challenges in May ...

Wanted to thank Tiffany for allowing me to guest at Child's Play this month.  I've had a ball and I encourage all of you to try them out - it will bring back memories of your own childhood and that of your children ... guaranteed.


Week 4 over on Child's Play Challenges and we were in Trouble - well not literally but the game.

I decided I'd use the word rather than the game theme and did this cheeky page of my children from many years ago.  Brought back lots of fond memories.

Week 3 and it's buttons ... lots of buttons.

so that's what I did - put lots of buttons on my page.

Week 2 with a Dr Zeuss - "The Lorax" theme.

 

I went with a story about a less than successful trip to the movies to see The Cat in the Hat some years ago.

 

 

Woo Hoo - I am Guest Designing on Child's Play Challenges this month and my first layout is up. 

The first challenge is a skipping rope inspiration ...

and I decided to record a few of those skipping rhymes my friends and I used to chant as we skipped.

 

Come join in the fun!!

Boiled sweets and curves ....

The Lollipop Ladies are tantalising our taste buds with some old fashioned boiled sweets inspiration over on their blog (with the added criteria of curves).

 

Well to me this really just screams "use bright coloured circles" ... so I did.

 

 

 

It's all blue sky and sunshine over on Scrap It With a Song ...

Another weather related song from Scrap It With a Song this month and it's a great choice - Mr Blue Sky by Electric Light Orchestra (ELO). Love this song!!

So much choice with lyrics for this one and so many different ways you could interpret this song.  I've gone with the happy, cheerful theme of playing in the sunshine.

Scrap It With a Song and we are out in the sun ...

Week 2 with Scrap It With a Song and we have another weather themed song in the form of "Soak up the sun" by Cheryl Crowe (and I'll admit I have not heard this one before).

 

 

I used a few lines from the song to highlight my page.

 

 

 

Freaky Punks or Punky Freaks? ...

I've not played along with Punky Scraps before so thought it about time I did.  Their April challenge was a sketch with the added criteria of yellow and feathers.  I've used quite a lot of yellow on this layout and added a few yellow embellishments plus one little birdie with a silver wing for the feather component as I didn't have anything else to use. 

 

 

I've combined this challenge with one from Another Freaking Scrappy Challenge who this month have asked the question ... What did you want to be when you grew up?  A doctor? A fireman? A nurse? An astronaut? A mommy?? 

 

From my photo you will already have guessed perhaps ... I wanted to be a librarian when I grew up :) but unfortunately that didn't happen.

 

 

 

Some sweet with the sour ...

The Lollipop Ladies have sour coke bottles and glitter as their first inspiration challenge this month.

 

I finally decided on a card in similar colour tones although I have added a subtle pink to umph it up a bit.  I have glittered the pink petals on my flower to give it some added sparkle.

 

It is dull and raining here today so my photo has come out a little darker then in reality.  I have brown inked kraft card and used a slightly darker toned brown polka dot paper with the overlay of the lighter dusky rose.

 

 

A quality week with Shimelle (Part D) ...

The final six challenges and my layouts for Shimelle.  Gosh 24 challenges and 24 layouts in a week - that has got to be some sort of record for me!!  Thankyou Shimelle for the fabulous inspiration and the motivation to get these done :)


Challenge 19 - Use some paint

Paint applied with a credit card. (I know I haven't done the journaling as I need to locate some information which currently isn't accessible).

Challenge 20 - Scrapbooking with smaller photos

Using 2 x 3x4

Challenge 21 - Divided page protectors

I have never used a divided page protector for an actual layout but I have to say I really like this method.  The idea is that this divider will sit next to a normal 12x12 layout of my dh cutting his birthday cake.  By doing it this way it has saved me the effort of completing two layouts or of making a double page.  I'll use this technique again :)

 
Challenge 22 - Scrapbooking with squares

It's all squares!

Challenge 23 - Stretch your supplies

Using tiny scraps from off my desk which would normally be thrown out.

 

Challenge 24 - Record a milestone

My dd's 11th birthday.

A quality week with Shimelle (Part C) ...

And here I am still playing along with Shimelle for NSD.  Here are the next six challenges and my interpretations ...

Challenge 13 - Highlight your favourite paper

I love a lot of paper ranges - I'm particularly partial to Crate Paper,  Echo Park, Studio Calico, October Afternoon and My Mind's Eye.  This layout uses For the Record from Echo Park.

Challenge 14 - Double pages

I've decided doubles are hard to photograph!!

Challenge 15 - Line up small embellishments

Using little things from a small cup I have on my desk where I put lots of left over little things!

Challenge 16 - Record hope or gratitude

Grateful for the friendship of these two boys.

Challenge 17 - Scrapbook with fabric

Fabric square as background, denim fabric behind picture and ric-rac across bottom of pic.

Challenge 18 - The power of three

Lots of visual triangles and clusters of 3.

A quality week with Shimelle (Part B) ...

And yet more NSD challenges from Shimelle.  Here are the next six and my interpretations ...


Challenge 7 -  Using unexpected supplies

Using transparency and felt.

Challenge 8 - Scrapbook yourself

A page for my Book of Me.

Challenge 9 - Fancy cutting

Cutting from a sheet of patterned paper.

Challenge 10 - Use a mood board

I don't use mood boards so took this one from here and just followed the theme of flowers, green and purple.

 

 

Challenge 11 - Add some sparkle

I don't do sparkly so adding a journaling card with glitter and a scattering of rhinestones is as good as it gets.

Challenge 12 - Journaling in letter format

A letter to my daughter.

A quality week with Shimelle (Part A) ...

I have to admit to being a Shimelle groupie.  I just love her work and her style and how she does things - her classes are awesome!.

Each year she does the most amazing scrapping event for (Inter) National Scrapbooking Day and each year I try my best to play along.  This year I actually thought  I would endeavour to do all of the challenges she set - that was until I realised she had outdone herself this year and listed 24 !!!  Thank goodness she give us a full week to complete them all :)

So since the only way to finish something is to actually start it that is what I have done - "slowly and steadily" as the saying goes.  Here are the first six challenges and my interpretations.

Challenge 1 - Scrapbooking in pink

Pink, pink and a little more pink!

Challenge 2  - Scrapbooking with 4x6 photos

Using two 6x4 photos.

Challenge 4 - Write with repetition

Used a rub-on with "We" sentiments.

Challenge 5 - Scrapbooking with brads and eyelets

Using 7 brads.

Challenge 6 - Scraplift yourself

It did this layout some years ago but like it's simplicity - it is also a great way to use up some of those smaller pieces of paper which would normally find their way to the bin.

and my own scraplift ...

Scrap It With a Song for May Week 1 ...

It seems that spring is in the air over on Scrap It With a Song this month although here in Australia we are heading into the colder winter months.  Regardless of the season I feel May will be all about the weather.

First up is an oldie but a goodie in Bob Dylan with Blowing in the Wind.  This really is a classic protest song and no-one does these iconic songs quite like Mr Dylan.

 

So many wonderful lyrics in this song - I decided to not go with the obvious title but take the line "How many roads must a man walk down ..."