December Scrap the Girls Challenge

Tell me how it's possible that it is December 1st???

Wasn't Christmas only a couple of months ago?

Wow, it always feels fast but this year it seems to have whizzed by at a ridiculous speed (yep a clear sign that I am getting old!)  Remember being a child? and waiting and waiting for what seemed like forever for Christmas, and hearing old people complain of how quick it went, and thinking 'No way', time goes so slowly.  And now here I am. Yep. Old.

Well I've digressed, back to showing you what I've created for the awesome challenge over at Scrap the Girls.

I always fear December - don't get me wrong its my absolute favourite time of year.  I love the planning, the shopping, the decorations, the family time, the countdown, the carols - all things Christmasy, but I'm not a huge scrapper of Christmas.  I tend to document it in my Project Life rather than in my layouts.
I think it's the colour schemes of the photos that challenge me, and I much prefer to scrap in a therapeutic way - rather than just capturing a moment, I love to journal and tell a real everyday life story.
So......I checked out this month's challenge with trepidation.....

 

but I really shouldn't have....check it out!!  No red and green in sight and I adore the inclusion of the black and all the textures.  YES!!!

 

So here's what I created:

 

 

This layout celebrates my beautiful girl cousins who I adore (always have, always will). We always catch up at Christmas time.

I took inspiration from the trees by adding in a cool 2Crafty Chipboard one and also cutting my own out of papers. 

There's lots of layers behind my photo which reflects all the textures in the moodboard.

Beautiful girls. And can you tell which one married in to the family! I'll give you one guess!
Yep pretty strong genes there!

This month D-lish Scraps is our sponsor.  This is a great little online store with lots of exclusive scrappy items. 
I love checking out the Designers creations - loads of talent over there.

Don't forget to go check out the rest of the Designer's creations.  They always have a little magic about them.
Then get scrapping your Christmas memories using this awesome colour palette, and link your entries to our blog or to our facebook page.
Don't forget to make sure it's all about the GIRLS!! No boys allowed. Love it

See you again soon.

xxx

7Dots creating for Scrap Matrix Challenge using Hazy Days

 

I've popped in today to share step by steps of my layout for Scrap Matrix using the 7Dots Studio range Hazy Days.

This month the challenge over at Scrap Matrix Shares is to create using 7Dots.

 

There is so much 7Dots goodness at Scrap Matrix, so get creating and upload your creation to Scrap Matrix Shares to win a store voucher!
You have until the 14th December to enter, and don't forget to let us know in the comments section what 7Dots products you used on your creation.

Here's what I created with some of the Hazy Days Collection:

Yep, my usual bright style!!

Last time I created a more grungy page in earthy tones using this range, so this time I wanted to be different, so colour it is!

I began by coating background paper in clear gesso.

This gives all the paint and mediums something to sit upon, rather than soak into the paper.

I then got out my Prima Watercolours in Tropical, and began adding colours to the background, ensuring there was plenty of water to make the paint run a little.

I kept adding colour until I had a bit of a mess!!

At this point, I got so involved in the process that I forgot to take photos!!

Whoops.  I'll add what I can.

I didn't like the look of the bronze coloured flowers with the rainbow colours, so I changed them up!!

I simply added white gesso and then sprayed with my favourite Dylusions Ink Spray - Polished Jade.

I added a few tags and layers behind my photos, and added cardboard under these to give them height.

I then began to add lots of metal flowers to my background sheet, I glued them on top of the colours.

This is the part I forgot to get photos of. Whoops!

I then painted them in white gesso, and then added colour to some of them (I left a few white), using the Prima Watercolours.

I also added in some white paper flowers that I sprayed with Dylusions Ink Spray, to get strong, vibrant colours.

I also added in some German Scrap, and some smaller flowers which I also coloured myself.

I wanted my flowers to look like they were cascading down the page.

I LOVE that about white flowers - change them to suit your layout.

I added stamping  using the Hazy Days Stamp Set.  I adore those paint flick stamps!!!!

I then added some of the 13 Arts Dried Roots in black - I poked it in and around the flowers.

I then added some word stickers 

When I stood back and looked at my layout, I felt the large flowers which I had coloured with Polished Jade Ink Spray looked like they needed something extra, so I cut down a trim and added these to the centres.

Finally, my journaling.

 

 

 

 

Here's a few more close-ups of the layout, showing the flower details.

So that's it from me....

I can't wait to see your creations this month using all things 7Dots.

 

Scrap Matrix Products used:

 

7Dots Hazy Days Paper- Slick

7Dots Hazy Days Paper - Oil Spill

7Dots Hazy Days Word Stickers

7Dots Hazy Days Elements

7Dots Hazy Days Stamps

7Dots Writer's Block Tags

Liquitex Clear Gesso

Prima Watercolours - Tropical

Brass Metal Flower - Round Medium 1

Silver Metal Flowers - Filigree Medium 1

Brass Metal Flowers - Round Large 5

Brass Metal Flower Round Large 2

Brass Metal Flower Large 1 

Antique Bronze Filigree Large 2

Antique Copper White painted Flower

German Scrap Fleu de Lis Black

Prima Finnabair Sunrise/Sunset Flowers

Large White Roses

Paper Flowers - White

Bling trim

Dylusions Ink Spray - Polished Jade and London Blue

Heavy White Gesso

13 Arts black Dried Roots

 

Playing around with Uniquely Creative Metal Dies

Hi all

A quick one today, just wanted to share a couple more projects created using Uniquely Creative Metal Dies.

First up a couple of cards - yep Christmas cards! I know right so organised, lol.

I have zero time for Christmas Card making - with all the kids commitments, work getting busier and just life in general.

So I came up with these - simple, quick and Fun!!

Just have a play with the watercolour of your choice, then add your swirly tree (gorgeous), a few stamps, some Uniquely Creative enamel dots and its done!!

Here's what I used:

 

I've also created a layout from our trip to USA (one whole year ago!) all about the fun we had with the Minions at Universal Studio's.

 

I used the Sunshine Metal Die for my word title and the Interlocking Scribble Circle Dies.  These were perfect for the fun feel of the layout, and yep, those guys were hilarious, and certainly added a bit more sunshine to our day.

 

I love these dies so much and can see me using them on many a project.

 

I also added some Enamel Dots.

 

 

 

Well that's it from me.....for info on stockists on Uniquely Creative go HERE

 

 

 

Another 2Crafty Chipboard Creation

 

 Hi everyone, I've popped in to share another layout created for 2Crafty Chipboard.

 

 

A layout about my gorgeous daughter, who suddenly doesn't look like my little girl anymore, who has grown into this amazing woman.

 

 

I used the following 2Crafty Chipboard:

 

"Polaroid Frames"

"Medium Film Strip"

"Tiny Film Strip"

"Handdrawn Flowers"

"In the blink of an Eye title"

I've used a black background and lots of colour created with Dylusion Ink Sprays available from Scrap Matrix. 

 

I coated the 'Medium Film Strips' and the 'Tiny Film Strips' in a few coats of white gesso.

I love the contrast against the background and the vibrant colours.

I also did this to the leaves from the 'Handdrawn Flowers'. 

 

I just LOVE these, not sure why I haven't discovered them earlier.

 

I love how they are a silhouette style, and that they can be tucked in around your layout, without covering up elements on your page.

To get the variegated colours on the flowers from the 'Handdrawn Flowers' pack, I added a few different coats of Distress Ink. 

 

This gave them a beautiful depth. 

 

I purposely put the ink on randomly as I wanted them to be multi-coloured and have that variegated look.

I added in some 'Polaroid Frames' behind my photo.  I painted these with white gesso and then inked them with a pink Distress Ink.

 

The white gesso first makes the colour more vibrant (and you know how much I LOVE vibrant colour)!!

I added the 'In the Blink of an Eye' title so that it became not just my title but part of my journaling too.

 

I really wanted to bring out the purple that I had created in the background.

 

I don't have a lot of purple so I created it by adding pink distress ink and then blue distress ink.

 

Instant purple!! Ta da!

I hope I've inspired you today to get creating.

 

I'd love you to leave me a message!!

 

 

 

 

Teen boy creation for 2Crafty Chipboard

 

I'm excited to be here today to share a recent creation for 2Crafty Chipboard with you all.

 

I channelled my inner Heikes for this one, I just love her style.

A bright fun layout, celebrating my gorgeous boy and his sweet thoughtful nature.

I used the following 2Crafty Chipboard:

"Triangle Set"

"Harlequin Clumps"

"This Boy Title"

 

 

 

As I'd used a lot of vibrant colour using Dylusions Ink Sprays, available from Scrap Matrix,  I painted some of the triangles from the 'Triangle Set' in black paint.

 

I like how the black grounds the bright colours, and helps pull it all together.

 

I turned them onto their side to create an arrow look, as this went perfectly with one of the 7Dots stamp I had used, also available from Scrap Matrix.

 

I love how versatile these triangles are.  You will find them on lots of my layouts.

 

 

 

I added some 'Harlequin Clumps' around my photo. 

 

I used Distress Inks in a variety of colours to  colour these.

Layer upon layer.

 

The colours change slightly depending on the light - a very cool finish.

I added some flicks of green paint, just to give them a bit of extra oomph and life.

For my title 'This Boy', I created a two tone effect using Prima Watercolour paint.

 

Firstly, I added white gesso and then kept adding watercolour until I was happy with the colour.

I really love the 2Crafty titles, and I especially love these ones with the two different styles of font.

I just love blue and green together - so much for that old saying "blue and green should never be seen".

 

How wrong they were!!

 

Teamed with the black and white, they are just perfect for documenting my teen boy.

I just love him to bits.

 

I'll be back again real soon, have a fabulous day!