so much fun - once upon a sketch June challenge

 Hello and happy Monday!  Another new week - I hope to have a few posts this week ☺
Today, I'm sharing my page for the Once Upon a Sketch June challenge - here is the sketch and the journalling theme is:  "the best things in life aren't things'




 Here is my take on the challenge:

 I've chosen this particular photo taken by one of my boys.  It captures his youngest brother playing in the rain and puddles.  One of his favourite things to do!!
Most of the products on this page are by Heidi Swapp.
Here are some close-up's:

I loved adding layers to this page with the papers and frames.  Also used some fun resist pieces with the Colour Shine and some stars.  I found some really cool stamps recently - one of them is a large ink splatter which I've used to imitate the 'splashing in the puddles'.

Another fun challenge and page completed ☺
Thanks so much for coming by.
Created with love and happiness ♥

once upon a sketch challenge - May

 Hello - hope you are enjoying the weekend!!  Yesterday afternoon, I spent some 'crafty time' at my craft desk and created a page for the Once Upon a Sketch challenge for May.  I always enjoy their sketches and the theme was: ANYTHING ☺
So I picked out a picture from my pile and created .............

Here is the sketch - I've popped the photo on the other side of the page!

 

 The picture is of my beautiful niece - (photo taken by Aimee Claire Photography)
I love the feeling of freedom in this picture and really wanted to create something pretty.  So I picked out some Prima goodies and just had some fun ...........

 Thanks for a fun sketch challenge Once Upon a Sketch ☺

Creating with love and happiness ♥

reflect - once upon a sketch challenge

Hey - two posts in one day - that's amazing ...... but I wanted to share my page for the Once Upon a Sketch challenge - I always find the sketches so pretty to work with and with a theme to go along with it - that's a great combination to create your page ☺
So here is the sketch - the theme is a quote: you only live once but if you do it right once is enough. I've not used the quote directly on my page, but was definitely inspired by it!

 And here is my page:

 My son has been using my camera, so I have heaps of photo's to work with lately.  He needed to do portrait style for a digital media project, so he found me willing to be his subject!  I don't often create a page about me - but with a photo in hand and a great challenge theme, I took the opportunity ☺ 
I've used some papers from MME - Izzy collection, Prima & Manor House Creations blooms and mixed media products.
Here are some close-up's:

 I don't often use many flowers on my pages so this was a fun time to use heaps of them ☺  You can also see an Ornate frame peaking out from behind the photo - these are by Manor House Creations and are so pretty.
The sticker letters are by Heidi Swapp - B & W Epoxy sticker letters.

 Some more blooms and my journal work!!
Just some thoughts to reflect on - my little word for 2014 is 'gratitude' so I wanted to bring this in my scrapbooking as well.

I've used a white paper bag to matt my photo - it's easy to distress and curl the edges.

I had a great time creating this page and am loving mixed media and incorporating it on my pages. 
Thanks for coming by ♥

our story

 Hey everyone, posting two days in a row ........ that doesn't happen often!! ☺
I just wanted to pop in and share this page that I created for the Once Upon a Sketch challenge - yay, I had time to do a challenge ☺
Here is the Feb sketch and the theme is: totally addicted to ............

 and here is my page:
(I flipped the sketch over to one side so that I could use a vertical photo)

 I chose to use a photo of me and my littlest man.  He's five and a half and is very much an affectionate boy who loves giving me hugs and kisses as much as he can ♥♥
I'm cherishing these moments - he's just started full-time school and they grow up way too fast.
I've dabbled in a bit of mixed media for this page: layering paper, modelling paste, paint, mist and stamps.  I had so much fun and I think I should do this more often.
Here are some close-up's:

 The little banners are die-cuts from Teresa Collins - the He Said She Said collection.  I've also used stamps from the same collection.

 I've used one of the ornate frames by Manorhouse Creations - they are just so pretty.
Here is also my journal work which I've typed out with my manual typewriter.

 The pretty blooms are by Prima and Manorhouse Creations.

And here is a closer look at the texture.  The stencil is a WOW stencil called Moroccan which I've used with modelling paste.  I've created colour with paint and mists.  And I've also used some of my favourite stamps by Prima - Script stamp and the Stitched Circle stamp.

Thanks so much for coming by ♥ 

new year - OUAS challenge

It feels like a long time since I've played along with any challenges ☺  So I'm quickly sneaking this one in before the month ends!  It's for Once Upon a ... Sketch  - loved the theme - the start of something new and sketch for January ☺

 Here is my page:

 We were having some fun with this wooden frame and my camera recently;  I got my oldest to take some snaps of me at the same time ☺  They went well for this challenge as I wanted it to be from my perspective and some things that I would like to focus more on this year.  I've used papers from Studio Calico and some AC Amy Tangerine canvas stickers.  Here are some close-up's:

 ... the prettiest of Prima flowers - some canvas letter stickers - AC Amy Tangerine ...

 ... little black Kaisercraft sticker letters - perfect for titles ... and a cute flair button from Paper Stories ...

 ... the canvas fabric stickers by Amy Tangerine -

... and a frame by Studio Calico ... another bloom by Prima and one from Kaisercraft ...

Love how this one came together ☺  Ok, off to link it up and then finish packing.  It's Australia Day this weekend, which means a long weekend with the public holiday, so we are going camping with some friends.  Should be lots of fun.  Till next time - thanks for visiting ♥

capture the moment

ahhhh, the end of another week.  And the weather is gorgeous - just in time for the weekend ☺  Just popping in to share my page for the Once Upon a ... Sketch challenge - another fun sketch and great quotation to use:

 Here what I've come up with:

 I've used the very beautiful papers from the Vintage Chic collection by Heidi Swapp - which you can find at The Scrapbook Store - this is really an amazing collection ☺
Here are some close-up's:

 ... I love my chevrons - here I've used my EK Sucess punch to create these - have added in some gorgeous Prima and Kaisercraft blooms ...

 ... love these buzz words from the same collection ... I've used just a small part of the quote for my page ...

... more chevrons and Prima and also a cute camera flair button from Paper Stories ...

... it's always a happy day when I get to 'capture the moment' ☺

Thanks for coming by and have a fabulous weekend ♥

its just abc

Just sharing a page I did for the Once Upon a ..... Sketch challenge - this month they have four challenges and have joined up with Colour Stories Inspiration ☺  This LO is for Challenge #2:

 The colour scheme caught my eye straight away - I love it and I had some papers in my collection that matched wonderfully.  Most of the papers are from Authentique - Celebrate collection.   I've also added in some touches of Hambly.  And I love this recent photo of my boys - along with the journalling, it reflect the stage in life we are at with them. Here are some close-up's:

 ... my title ties in with the journalling A - adventurous B - busy C - colourful - have used American Thickers for the abc and the little letters are from Fancy Pants - Little Sport collection ... there are some circles in the background as part of the evidence.

 ... mini rosette - Tim Holtz die - my all time favourite ☺ - the black doily is a wooden flourish which I inked with black ink and then stamped with white ink using a pattern stamp ...

 ... some of the background texture and also a Hambly label - part of the evidence ...

... another mini rosette and label ... my journalling is spread out over the page as part of the testimony ...

So there you have it - case solved and a sketch completed - fun challenge - I especially love these colours together.  Thanks for coming by and hello to my newest followers ☺

rainy days

Hello - I have a LO to share that I created for the Once Upon a ..... Sketch challenge - I always enjoy Nadia's sketches and journalling theme ☺ For August, it's all about seasons and I've chosen Winter!!

 I really did enjoy creating this page, not only because of the challenge but also because I got to use Basic Grey - Clippings collection - totally love this one!!!
I've added some background effects to the base paper using a Unity Stamp called Splatters & Stars from Paper Stories. I've stamped with white ink and also paint!
I've also sneaked in some Hambly and chevron washi tape ☺
And I've used a photo of my youngest boy walking in the Winter rain with his umbrella ☺
Here are some close-up's:

 ... mini rosette die using the Clippings collection papers ... the paper garland is from the same collection - it's already sewn together, you just need to pop it out from the paper and stick to your LO - so easy and so lovely ☺

 ... another rosette and more of the garland papers ... also a flair button from Paper Stories ...

And here is the fabulous sketch should you wish to play along - really love the design of this one ☺

Basic Grey - Clippings Collection can be found at Handmade by Suzanne - this really is a pretty cool collection and I can't wait to use it some more.
Have a great week - we have a birthday in the family tomorrow - my baby is turning FOUR and he's so excited.  I'm looking forward to his little party☺
Happy crafting and thanks for coming by.

a special kind of friendship

Hello - half way during school holidays - it's been fun and busy - as always, it's going by too fast.  I've created this LO for the Once Upon a .... Sketch challenge for July - with the theme of FRIEND.

Here is the fabulous sketch:

 And here is my LO:

 A photo of my beautiful niece with their family puppy dog - what a great shot that was taken by her mum!!
I've used lots of different products in this LO - it really is fun to jumble them all up every now and then!!
There's papers from October Afternoon, American Crafts, Hambly and Studio Calico.
Here are some close-up's of the details:

 .. some of the cute chipboard embellishments from the Dear Lizzy collection ... a crochet heart from my stash ... typewriter journalling ...  Martha Stewart doily punch ...

 ... paper heart bunting using my heart punch - it's actually an 'old' Carl punch and I totally love it ...

 ... shipping tag with some background stamping ... more of the chipboard accents (love the mason jar theme) ...

... little letters from the same Dear Lizzy collection ... and a cute mint green doily peeking out ...

Loved working with this sketch and challenge theme!
Hope to be back soon with more inspiration from my DT Kit for Handmade by Suzanne.

Thanks for coming by ♥♥

ten years old

Hey, happy Monday - hope you are all well.  

I got some scrappin' done and joined in with the challenge at Once Upon a .... Sketch - a great sketch and birthday theme from Nadia!!

Here's what I've created:

 I've used papers from Simple Stories - Summer Fresh collection - love all the use of primary colours in this collection as well as faux denim and burlap. I have plenty of layers with distressed edges and also some gorgeous rosettes using the Tim Holtz mini paper rosette die.
So this photo is of my twin boys who turned TEN in January - this was the perfect challenge for this photo as it also gave me the opportunity to do some meaningful journalling.
Here are some close-up's:

 ... rosettes finished off with buttons, cabachon and twine ...

 ... paper curling - such a fun way to add dimension to LO's and it suited this birthday themed page ...

 ... my computer journalling...

And here is the sketch to work with:

Another month is flying by - there's still a few challenges that I'd love to give a go, so hopefully I will be back soon with some more shares.

If you would love a challenge, head over to ARTastic - they have a fun challenge this month with insects - either as an embellishment or in the photo - we would really love to have some entries ☺☺

Early next month I will have some super exciting news to share - cannot wait for this new opportunity - it's going to be fun ☺

Thanks for coming by.