Something for someone else

After a rather grumpy day of forever playing catch up I usually find it hard to get motivated to stamp or scrap {mainly because I am so tired}. But a thought struck me that when you feel least like it, do something for someone else. So I put together this card to send some blessings to a good friend and it has worked. I am feeling alot more energised and back in perspective.

The inspiration for this one is from an advertising sign that I see all the time as I drive down our one way system. Clean and simple. Something that I like but haven't done much of. I thought this one worked well.

Colours: riding hood red, white, black
Stamps: inspired by nature, baroque motifs, vintage labels, and best yet (SU)
Finishing touches: in colour ribbon (SU), button, tag punch

Jessica Sprague Blog Hop

Always surprised what you stumble across in blog land. As I was blog hopping I came across an amazing blog hop by Jessica Sprague. Loads of inspiration and freebies. Not long to go but well worth a look if you are a digital scrapper. Here is one of the quick pages by Heather Landry. I thought I would have a play. Still getting used to using the programme, but still quick.

Baby cards a plenty

With a number of baby's on the way I have been wanting to try out a stamp set {peek a boo} that I got a while back in Elzybells closing down sale. I love the way that Wendy Bond at Bond Girl Bliss and Jodie Collins at Stamping a Latte combine papers and use stitching to bring it together. Having set up my sewing machine on my desk I am using it more and more.
I also pulled out and dusted off my i-top brad maker and made a brad. I hadn't been using them as they seem to need a topper. Now that I have the itty bitty bits stamp set from Stampin Up it is the perfect topper for adding a little detail. Will definitely be using them more I think.

Colours: rose red, old olive, white
Stamps: peek a boo (elzybells), itty bitty bits (SU)
Finishing touches: designer series paper (SU), patterned paper (unknown), stitching, i-top brad, ribbon

With dabbling into digital I have come across some great places for inspiration. Some things I have had a go at using stamps and bits and pieces from my stash. The inspiration for this layout comes from here from Jane Crowley at her blog The Queen of Quirk.

I have definitely decided I like straight lines {at least when it comes to photos}. I am enjoying picking the photos that I want to use for my layout and including the rest in page dividers. As I see more and more of how people are using the Project Life albums I will be adding more to these as I do it more regularly.

Put together at last

I love the challenge of trying to create something that I have seen using what I have. The inspiration for this card came from one of my boys shirts {a favourite place to find ideas especially for boys}. I discovered another Sullivans stamps set that had the racing cars that I needed. This one took a few different stamps sets to create. The best creation was the route 66 label that I have made a stencil to use over again. Amazing what you can create with a bit of time and a play with the products you have. Love how it turned out.

Colours: going grey, night of navy, cherry cobbler, old olive
Stamps: racing (sullivans), grunge (kaiser), dress up lily (PCS), itty bitty bits (SU), alpha (rosie's studio), bobble alpha (CDS) alpha (martha stewart)
Finishing touches: stitching, white embossing powder, star punch, horizontal slit punch (SU)

A bit of this and that

In an effort to discover my style of scrapbooking I have been checking out lots of different techniques and layouts to see what I like. A blog that has been of particular inspiration has been Maggie Holmes Photography which you can find here. I love how she pulls different elements together to create fun layouts. I am enjoying creating little details to finish my pages. This one started with the papers from Paper Loft's "Dude" collection.
I also like the way that she incorporates her handwriting to journal. I have been inspired to drag out my bits and pieces and put them to use by cutting elements that I can go to and use {strips, circles, stars, labels}

Everyday moments

Another page{click on the layout to enlarge}. Loving how I can pull together the photos I want, resize and I am away. These everyday moments are becoming my favourites to scrap. Sure we get birthdays and other big events but the little things are just as much part of our story.
With having a go at digital scrapbooking I have been checking out some of the freebies available. The joys of google allow you to search for what you are wanting. I started here at Free Digital Scrapbooking for papers and some embellishments. I am certainly getting hooked and can see after what is available what all the excitement is about.

June Stamp Club

So the challenge for this month was to get inspired by your favourite chocolate bar. Had me stumped for a bit until I got a bar and had a munch while studying the wrapper. I started with the colours first. I wanted to create a similar style with the design of the text so mixed up sentiments from whimsical words and lots of thoughts. It was then that I decided to put it together for my son's birthday so I could include the date and the hearplane (airplane) All in all very pleased with the end result and surprised by how much I could get from the inpsiration given.

Colours: very vanilla, so saffron, not quite navy, early espresso
Stamps: birthday whimsy, whimsical thoughts, lots of thoughts (SU), alpha (martha stewart, transport (sullivans)
Finsihing touches: patterned paper (various), copper and brown sugar embossing powders (american crafts), round tab punch (SU), faux stitching

Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge #121

It has been a long time since I have had a go at one of Karen Giron's sketch challenges. So this week after checking out the challenge I got to and made one. It all started with the patterned paper that I would use if I found the right button. Of course the added challenge is to get it photographed and onto the blog. I was all sorted with that and planned on getting the card to the birthday girl the next day so I could then put it on the blog as she will probably see it here. But alas I left it on the desk and so it didn't get there. It's a good thing that her birthday isn't til next week so I haven't missed it. But happy birthday Steph! this ones on its way to you.

A great sketch to play with. You can check out what others have done here. Hope to play along again more regularly.



Colours: very vanilla, basic black
Stamps: best yet (SU)
Finishing touches: deb divine embossing folder (cuttlebug), spellbinder labels one (nestibilities), circle cutter (creative memories), apron lace border punch (fiskars), button, linen thread, stitching, black embossing powder, photo anchor and brad

Dabbling in digital

I have been considering having a look into the world of digital scrapbooking and have finally taken the plunge and had a look at what is available. I love the fact that you can use recent photos and size them to what you want. The biggest question is the quality when printing them out and how they fear with age. What I have come to realise is that there are so many different ways to tell your story. When I started scrapbooking I was going to scrap all my photos! Then I entered the world of digital and like many people I talk to was quickly overwhelmed with how big a job that would be. I have come back to much simpler layouts {using white backgrounds and less embellishments} to bring the focus back to the story. It may be that instead of photo albums I have CD albums. I am enjoying my scrapbooking so much more. Mainly because I am doing something. And I still get to play with all those fabulous products and techniques when I make my cards. After all if you aren't enjoying it then its just another chore.

Mid Winter Christmas

I made a promise to myself that after rushing to get my Christmas cards done in December for the last few years that I was going to get organised and do it mid year this year. As it is something that I want to do why not make it a priority. I am a design one and then mass produce girl. One day I might have a go at doing different ones spread out over the year but I love putting effort into creating it and making the most of it. So far I had put together a few bits and pieces as starters and this weekend I designed the card. While I had the bits and pieces out I started putting together the different parts ready to make them up. This is a sneak peak at my favourite part. I loved the fact that I didn't feel pressured to get it all done and could spend time making something that I liked

Time to scrap

We have just had a long weekend {Queen's birthday} and everyone had their list of things that they would like to do. Top of mine is always a chance to do some scrapbooking. With discovering my style I am in the process of finishing pages and sorting albums ready to get more photos printed and get going. I have been looking at how to best use my page dividers {you can see some of what I have been doing here} and had these pages slipped into the dividers but hadn't got to the next stage. So I pulled out the photos and put together some of my page packs {trying to use my stash} and was ready to create some pages. So much easier having the starting point ready as I was able to focus on the design and story. Something that I have put more of my emphasis on. In three hours three complete pages. I am enjoying scrapping and not feeling like it is such a chore.