Top 11 of 2011

Been doing some reflecting this week over what happened during 2011.  I really enjoyed my scrapping this year, I had some time off work, and I was able to spend more time scrapping.  I also went away to my first ever retreat, which was so enjoyable.....  loved it to bits, actually.
Anyway, I experimented with some different styles and techniques, tried using negative space and, shock horror, paint...lol.. I re-discovered the joy of using chipboard, and experimented with loads of ways to alter it. I hand made a lot of my embellishments - using fabric, dies and punches, and I also discovered my HUGE stash of stamps, and started using them as backgrounds to create layers.

So without further ado, here are my favourite layouts from 2011 - in no particular order :)

This would have to be one of my all-time favourite layouts.  I used the stunning Little Black Dress range from Basic Grey - and a Kaisercraft Lace stamp, along with some Prima and Kaisercraft flowers. The dress form is a Dusty attick one, painted in Tim Holtz Crackle paint.  I've addes some tulle (misted with Glimmermist) and some decorations to add interest.  The photo is of my Mum, aged about 17.  I have been lucky enough to score some fantastic vintage photos, and I am enjoying scrapping copies of them and putting them into a "Family History" album.

This is one I did really early in the year - I was still scrapping our Snow holiday photos at that stage, and used some Fancy Pants paper and other bits n pieces.  I did lots of paper scrunching and inking on this one - and even used my cricut to cut out snowflakes.  Love all the textures here, and how the paper wraps around the photo - kinda making my baby all snug and warm.

This layout was one I did at retreat - my gorgeous lil great-niece Eva.  I stamped the circle cardstock background - edging it in pink ribbon to add interest - and made a distressed artisan shape to hug it all in... Used Basic Grey Sweet Treats...loved the muted prettty colours of this range.  Ahhh - so glad I have girls to scrap now!!  LOL!

Going back to grunge - this layout was done by probably my favourite range of 2011 - Crate Paper Toy Box - one of the best boy ranges ever!!!  Used muslin, paint splatters and stamps to give texture to the background.  Don't you love the photos - took one of the best photos ever of Connor one minute, then the next he's pulling his hat over his face so I can't take anymore...little imp...lol..

Hehe - more stamping and glimmermisting of the background here.  Used another of my favourite ranges from this year - Jillibean Soup Watermelon gazpacho.  LOVE bright colours - and these were so good for boys, and matched this photo perfectly.  I made the Denim/Hessian flower using Tim Holtz Tattered Florals die.  Had a real love affair with banners this year too - handmade this one with a circle punch.  There is also a gorgeous lil flag from "A Lil Somethin"  - This would have to have been the best lil handmade embie site to crop up in 2011...gorgeous, and fantastic for boy scrappers.

This is another of my all-time faves.  I was thrilled with how this turned out - using gorgeous Webster's pages papers, lots of Prima/Kaisercraft flowers, lace and Prima/Websters Resin.  Photo is of my lovely lil Great Nephew Kian.  Couldn't resist "borrowing" this photo of my niece's Facebook album - I mean, who can resist a sleeping bubba??

Another vingage layout - using more beautiful Webster's pages...   This is me dressed for the beach, aged about 3... hehe...  That fence is a Dusty Attic, and it's been stamped, and Distress Embossed.  I handmade the creamy coloured flowers with a scallop circle punch and patterned paper.  Favourite thing to do in 2012?  Make handmade flowers...lol..

Haha - told you I was really getting into Vintage/Shabby...lol..this photo is of my Dad's parents on their wedding day.  Used a stamped background - and yes you've seen it before, this one is one of my favourite stamps, Hero Arts with script and butterflies...  Used Pink Paislee paper and diecuts, and Prima flowers/vines, with Dusty Attic and RW Laser Cuts chipboard.  Used Alcohol ink to alter the chipboard.  More Scallop punch handmade flowers are on this one too..lol..

I adore this layout because I love the story behind these photos - we found this crab in some bought prawns, on Bribie Island...Connor immediately wanted to put it back in the ocean to be with its family..so cute.  Pink Paislee Nantucket was used for this layout - another lovely range... I used dimensional magic on the crab diecut to make it shiney, and altered the chippy letters and coral with paint and glimmerglam.  Also, I experimented with the journalling here, and typed some journalling onto some masking tape..  I liked the effect, and will definately do this again!!
Sketch was from the Get Picky site.

Another layout from the Crate paper Toy Box range.  Used more muslin, this time sprayed with Mr Hueys mist and used a Tim Holtz Grunge stamp on the background.  Made the hessian cogs with the Sizzix/Tim Holtz cogs Die.  Loved the clustering of embies on this one - will have to do that more..lol..
Photo taken at the same time as the other Toy Box layout - amazing how Connor's mood can change ....now he's pretending to be cranky to stop me taking photos...didn't work though...  still clicked away..bwwhahahah!

Here is my gorgeous sun-shiney boy happy as can be at the harbour.  Used Echo Park papers for this one - one of the must-have manufacturers of 2011.

Hand made the banner here too - and used paint on the background of some swiss dot bazill - love how that technique brings up the texture of the cardstock. 

Well that's it from me - thank you for joining me on my scrapping journey during 2011 :)

Hope to see more of you in 2012 - enjoy scrapping!!

December Challenges

With just so much going on in December, I didn't get much of a chance to do many challenges in December - it is normally such a whirlwind month anyway, then with an emergency trip to Ipswich thrown into the mix, it was pretty hectic.
I did manage to do 2 challenges though.
First up, Wendy's fabulous Sketch Challenge over at Anna's Craft Cupboard.
Here is the sketch:

And this is what I did with it:

I had so much fun with this layout - sprayed glimmermist - Autumn Harvest and Coffee Shop, and used Simple Stories Yearography papers, Kaisercraft Diecuts and Bella Boulavard Stickers.  Photos are of Connor playing in the leaves at the Gooseponds here in Mackay.

I also LOVED Scrapbook Savvy's Very Merry kits in December - they are absolutely gorgeous, and I think there are a couple left, so if you've got any money left after Christmas I highly recommend snapping these up.
I did Sar's Random Kit Challenge - the challenge was to use
3 Brads
A Christmas Photo
A quote from this site.
Oh, and to use one of the December kits, of cours.
This is what I did - using the Very Merry Traditional Kit - and some gorgeous MFT dies - the doilies, the rolled roses/mini rolled rose and the Christmas ornaments dies.

If you want to get your hands on the dies - they can be found at Anna's Craft Cupboard - HERE.  They are gorgeous - and there are so many to choose from, AND they are reasonable prices too!

Before I go - I'll just share a couple more sneaks of what I'm secretly up to....tehe...

Still can't spill the beans - so you'll just have to wait...lol.
Thanks for popping by my blog!!

Finally - I've blogged!!

Sorry I've been awol on this blog awhile - I have been very very busy with various commitments - Nanna was sick and I had to travel to Ipswich to help Mum care for her, thankfully she is on the mend now, Christmas preparations of course, and well - the usual for a Mummy IYKWIM...Anyways, I have been scrapping, some I can't show yet - very secret squirrel...lol but here is a sneak or two..

And this layout, which would have to be one of my all-time favourite layouts.  It is a vintage photo of my Mum, aged about 17....

I've use Basic Grey paper, some Prima and Kaisercraft flowers, and some chippy dressed up with Glimmermist and Glimmer Glam.

I added to the dress frame by gethering together some tulle, which I had sprayed with glimmermist, and added some lace and a Kaisercraft sparklet to finish it off....

As I said, this would have to be one of my all-time faves as far as layouts go - just love doing vintage inspired layouts, and had a ball playing with Martha Stewart around-the-page punches, Kaisercraft stamps and mists...  yumyum..
Anyways, that is all from me for now, I am now busy scrapping my Chrissy photos - so I'll be back with more shares soon..lol...

Some scrapping for me!!

I did this layout last night - for no particular challenge just "for me."

I picked this paper up at Magical Memories Scrapbooking - my local scrapbook shop.  It is Websters, and I just loved it.  Teamed with a bit of Prima flowers,shabby chic resin, lace and vines, and Kaisercraft flowers - playing with some girliness in a shabby style was exactly what I needed.
Of coursce, being slightly OCD about colour matching, I just add to alter the colour of my Prima Shabby Chic Resin shapes...after a bit of experimenting, I found using my Copic Markers worked a treat - the alcohol ink in the markers was great to use :)
Here is a close up:

That's it for me, I am working on another "for me" layout at the moment - and experimenting with my Martha Stewart Fringing Scissors...
TFL!!

Hold on to your chairs....

I have scrapped a double!!  Used some Basic Grey, Dusty Attic Chipboard and some Kaisercraft flowers.  Some of the flowers were white, but I sprayed them - and the yellow part of the title, with some Studio Calico Mr Huey's mist - Sunshine
Here it is - photos are of Connor at his school's International Day - they did the German Clap Dance

I've also been participating in the monthly challenges over at Scrapbook Savvy.  This is Kerryn's Manufacturer challenge - which was to use some Jillibean Soup - I chose me fave, Watermelon Gazpacho.

Thanks for popping by - I promise I will be a more regular blog updater...lol...

October Kraft It Up

Well, it's that time of the month again - time to upload layouts for all the competitions around. 
This is my layout for the fabulous Kraft It Up Challenge Blog.  This month, the challenge was to create a layout that was either Monochromatic, Shabby/Vintage Style, or Minamalistic.
I couldn't make up my mind, so I did all 3 - this layout is about my journey with anxiety, and how I need to do my self talk to improve....

I've used a mixture of Pink Paislee Butterfly Garden and Prima Reflections.
TFL!!

Get Picky Challenge

For the first challenge this month at Get Picky, the challenge was to use the word "Celebrate" as inspiration.I did this layout:

These photos were taken on Christmas Day 2010 - and I couldn't resist the title because my cheeky little monkey of a son looks like quite the imp....hehe...
Had oodles of fun making flowers, punching borders, doilies and leaves and even did some stamping - something I got for inspiration from the talented Trudi Harrison here on Anna's Craft Cupboard's blog.

Really loved doing this challenge - it was great to get into Christmas scrapping again!!