no. 3

 This weeks colour palette at Colour Combo's Galore was certainly a little different (scroll down to see the palette) but I did love creating with colours that I normally wouldn't put together.... and they worked well too!
So this picture is of my sweet littlest man who turned no. 3 recently.  I always make sure we get a good picture with the birthday cake and candles (though he is sitting in the sun, so it's a bit bright)
I've used the woodgrain paper from Crate and teamed it with some papers from Simple Stories.  I've also added in bits of dictionary print and old book print, as well as doilies and chipboard.  Here are some close-up's:

 ... couldn't go past making a bunting from the dictionary print and it suit well with the birthday theme.  I've cut them 'free-hand' and layered together, finishing off with twine and buttons topped with half pearls.

 ... a ruffled flower from dictionary print and hand-stamped owl button...

 ... a large chipboard no. 3 covered in pattern paper.

... and here's the inspiration board:

I've done well with my blogging this week, but this will be it from me for a little bit.  My craft room is getting a 'makeover' - I've pretty much emptied it out and all my stuff is everywhere and all over the place.  I have collected so much stuff over the years; it's definately time to do some sorting out too.  I've seen the design and am very excited to see it come about - I'm feeling very lucky to be getting such a wonderful space to create in.  I'll be sure to share some pictures soon.

Til next time...

memories ........................... and some exciting news!!

 My weekly dose of Colour Combo's Galore!!  This is for Challenge #204 with a lovely colour palette that said ' beachy and holidays ' to me - and seeing as I have lots of beach/holidays photo's at the moment, I've made another holiday page from our recent trip to Ningaloo!
The added challenge from the inspiration palette was to create using a grid style.  I've done this with a strip under the main photo - I've punched out small sqaures and also make some windows in cardstock using the same punch.  Then I've added photo's and embellishments!!  Love how it turned out.  And I think it really compliments the main picture.  I've added in my journalling in strips around the edge of the main photo.  Have also done some background painting with a grid mask!
Here are some close-up's:

 ... a little felt birdie ...

 ... some burlap ...  tiny chipboard from Stuff 2 Scap ... paper roses

 ... bottle cap with cute little owls ... title from rub-on's

... lots of paper distressing on the photo and cardstock mats ... journalling strips around the photo

... and here's the inspiration board if you would like to play along too!

OK and now for some exciting news  ... Stuck?! Sketches has just annouced their new Creative Team ... and I'm really pleased to say that I've made the team.  Wahoo!!  There's a very impressive line-up and I'm looking forward to working alongside this fabulous team and creating with the wondeful sketches they have each month.  I'll have something to show you very soon for the first sketch that I created with.
Til then, happy crafting.

a perfect place

 I'm back with a LO of some recent photo's of our holiday in Ningaloo - the colour palette for this week over at Colour Combo's Galore #203 was just perfect for a beachy LO - so I've played along!
Something things I've done:  printed a photo onto vellum and used it in the background.  I've added some dictionary paper under this.
...... stamping, a cluster of doilies and flowers, natural fibers of burlap and muslin, shells and chipboard.....
Here are some close-up's:

 I've layered some doilies, used a Kaisercraft flourish, added in flowers and pearl pins and some shells from the beach.

 A pretty doily with button and a cute chipboard bird - sponged with paint!

And a chipboard cloud - I've sponged it with white paint using bubble wrap to give it some texture, then I've added some stamping.
.... and here is the lovely peice of inspiration for this challenge...

Scrappin' these beachy photo's makes me want to head into some Summer sun - it's pretty cold at the moment!  Now I'm off to clean up my creative space - it's a mess!

Happy crafting.

let the game begin

 Our Saturdays are all about soccer at the moment.  With the first half of the season over, it's now going for the League Cup and Knock-out Rounds - very exciting for the boys.
This LO is using the challenge from Colour Combo's Galore #202!  Can you see I love green!
My base paper is Newsprint - by Kaisercraft, then I've layered with some gorgeous textured green cardstock - distressing the edges.
There's lots of stamping and inking with background stamps and I've used some Stuff 2 Scrap Chipboard too!  Here's some close-up's:

 I've used the chipboard circle as a frame to dictionary paper - the chipboard has been sponged with green and white paint - love this effect - I've also added a bit of random stamping.

 Some foam alphabet letters and smaller ones from October Afternoon.  And I love muslin - you will be seeing lots of that!!
Here's the inspiration board - I was a little late in getting this one up - was one of those weeks where other things took over, but I'm glad I finished it in the end!!

The new inspiration board is up now, so I'm off to check it out.
After ongoing stormy weather and rain, the sun is shining.......... so nice!!
Have a wonderful weekend and happy crafting.

she is very thankful

Colour Combos Galore has a nice soft palette this week - perfect for those feminine pages, so that's just what I did.  It's not often that i do a LO with my own portrait - but I'm wanting to include more of these and my thoughts for my boys - I'm sure they will love reading about stuff later on in life!

So I've added in lots of pretty bits - pattern papers, flowers, doilies and texture.
Here are some close-up's:

 lots of little details - rub-on's, girly vintage button, doily, scrip stamp, decoupage vintage book print background........

 a rosette flower with a paper rose, more rub-on's......

a pretty crochet pink flower, layering of photo's.......

 Here is the #193 inspiration board:

Loved putting this one together and getting a bit arty with textures, paint and other bits.  Lots of fun!!
Thanks for coming by and all those lovely comments - love reading them.

Colour Combo's Galore 183

Hello - hope you are all having a fabulous week.  I've been having internet woes so haven't had much time on here - which can be a good thing - yesterday I cleaned my craft room and it's sooooo neat - I can see the stuff I want to use!!  Anway, I finished up this LO for CCG the other day and today I saw it's in the gallery faves - so really happy about that.

Here is the colour and inspiration picture:

And here's my LO:

I'm enjoying misting and went with the butterfly inspiration to use different butterflies as masks to create this background with glimmer-mist.

The journalling reads: ..... to capture your expressions as you run towards me, arms out-stretch, and to hear you say 'I love you mum'..... is something very special.

Here are some close-ups:

I've made this butterfly from two pieces of chipboard - Corner #1 from Stuff 2 Scrap - when I poped them together, it really looked just like a butterfly - I've added a few rhinestones to finish it off.  I've painted the chipboard with black paint.

A Prima flower and swirls of orange/white twine which you can find in my shop - Creative Bits.

Assorted buttons and paper roses attached to a tag!

I really love how this LO came together - I created it after having a wonderful visit with the amazing Leeann Pearce - it was so lovely to meet her IRL and to see her AMAZING craft room - wow - I couldn't stop thinking about it for the rest of the day!!!

Thanks for coming by and happy crafting.

enjoy - colour combo's galore #181

Hello and hope your week has started out great - our hot weather is continuing in the West, though the nights have been a bit cooler which is really nice.  Today I'm sharing a LO with you - I've managed to sneak in another challenge from CCG - love these and the inspiration they provide - really gets you thinking and creating in different ways!

Here's the inspiration board:

 And here's my LO:

 I was inspired by the pretty roses and intricate lace detail in the picture, so I've added little bits and peices from my stash.
I've been enjoying using stamps on my LO's and have used a BG stamp from Stampin'up with the different words coming out in the background.
I've cut out some detail from a Webster page and this was also the idea for my title - enjoy.
Here are some close-up's of the details:

 This pretty lace detail comes all the way from Venice - my sister brought me some cute things from her recent travels to Europe!  I thought it was perfect for this challenge.

 A chipboard bird from Stuff 2 Scrap - I've sponged the edges and added some stamping.
There's also a small pebble from basic grey - first time I've used these.

 I just got some of the doily lace by Basic Grey - it's so pretty and delicate - I've used it as a border here.
Also a title made with stamps, tag and flower.

Another tag with some doily lace and rose.  I've added a border of twine around the page - this is done with my sewing machine - by placing the twine between the guide foot - once you are sewing the twine just follows!

I'm loving how this turned out - great colours and inspiration to work with.
Thanks for coming by and happy crafting.

Cheeky Smile

Hello and I hope you are all having a great week - we are getting some rather warm weather, so am trying to stay cool.  Today I'm sharing a LO that I've created for the latest reveal at CCG #180 - the colours are very fun this week.

Here's my LO:

 I snapped these cute pics of my baby boy just a few weeks back and I just love that cheeky smile!
Here's some close-up's of the details:

 A stamped frame with some little letters from Adornit - Carolee's Creations.  The heart embellishment is three hearts ruffled up together, then stapled in the middle.  I've also added a small rhinestone.
You can also see some dotted hearts stamped as a BG onto some of the papers.

 My little owl button - hand-stamped onto calico - I've layered some small doilies and then attached to the bunting.

Some more crochet hearts - these are so fun to make - I've added buttons to the centre and to this one pictured, I've used a birdie pin from the Chip-Chop Shop.
The Large Heart Border is from Stuff 2 Scrap!!  I've left it raw, just sponging the edges - then I've added some heart stamps and also the crocheted hearts.

I'm really happy how this one came together, even if it did sit on my craft table for a few days!  Hope to be back with some more soon.
Thanks for poping in and happy crafting.