February Challenge

Happy New Year and welcome back to the first of the monthly challenge for 2014. I know we may not have seen a lot of the sun this summer, but we've chosen a theme that might apply for February (with any luck!)

  February Challenge Theme - Summer & Sunshine

Enter anything that you feels fits into this cheerful theme! Perhaps it's layouts of lazy days on the beach, or cards created from bright sunny colours. Maybe you've decorated your table in a summer theme, or created a mini album of the holidays. You choose!

Sketch Challenge

Sketches in Thyme have teamed with Artfull Crafts and have provided a sketch that you may want to use for inspiration. You don't have to stick to the monthly theme if you use these. Sketches are great for cards or layouts - and are perfect for the time-poor crafter, or for late at night when inspiration is lacking...

Prizes

We have 3 challenge prizes this month from Kaisercraft's new Hello Sunshine collection

1) Overall Challenge Winner - Hello Sunshine Paper Collection
2) Sketch Winner - Hello Sunshine Paper Pad
3) First Time Entrant - Hello Sunshine Collectables

How to Enter

Entry is SIMPLE!! Click here, upload your image, include a sentence or two and voila - you're entered! Your entry will NOT appear immediately. We will have to activate it from our end - which may take a day or two.

Alternatively, from our website homepage, you can find the challenges and enter by clicking the Gallery Tab along the top menu bar, then click into Competitions. They are all listed there for you to view and enter.

We look forward to being inspired by your work!

Entries close midnight Thursday 27th February
Maximum of 3 entries per person 

Hello Everyone in Scrappyland....Robbi here with some...

ART OF LIFE Goodness!!!
I am sure over the last little while I have said "This......(enter.." whatever collection I'm working on at that time  here") is my all time favourite but Boy oh Boy, this one is absolutely "O" for Awesome...(as David Tua said)

If you haven't had the opportunity to play with it yet or even look at it closely well get away from that scrap desk and go find some. You will not be disappointed it is the most amazing collection of my favourite colours all rolled into one and anyone that loves working with creams and browns should definitely be checking this one out!

So heres what I have created for you, there is a couple of other items that are not quite finished yet but I have enjoyed playing so far, there is a special treat as well one of the pieces I was going to perphaps look at creating for SENZ....anyone interested in coming along this year should have an extra look.

 

Layering...its all about the layering!!!

In this layout I have used the following goodies:-

Art of Life - Always

Art of Life - Moments

Art of Life - Collectables Pack

Art of Life - Thankful

Art of Life - Negative Acetate

Bo Bunny - Chocolate Double Dot

Kaisercard - Burgundy

Misc flowers/leaves, Book sheet, Ribbons etc

Vintage Photo distress ink

 

In the following 2 photos is the card I created using the same collection

I couldn't actually believe but I made this in about an hour (and just had to add the flowers after work) a record I think normally I procrastinate over cards and they never look like I imagined but this one is almost a perfect rendition of what I wanted to create....

 

I love vintage type cards and think these papers are just so well suited for card making that I couldn't help myself.



 

Here is a side view, I have used cardstock on the inside as well and used one of the saying from the Everyday Moments 12x12 sheet. There is some wonderful affirmations on the sheet and can be used either in a layout, card, mini album....the uses are endless.

 

                                On this card I have used the following papers:-

Art of Life - Creative

Art of Life - Remember

Art of Life - Everyday

Art of Life - Memories

Art of Life - Collectables pack

Kaisercard - Vanilla

Flowers, Ribbons and Lace

 

Ok and here's the lucky last...can't wait to hear what you think

Last Year Liz sent me this piece and said "create something wonderful"...I have been waiting for the right papers and had almost given up hope, but then...

 

I have managed to use a lot of different products on this little piece and even got to include some of Tim's bits and pieces, although it is mostly Art of Life...I have an idea for it so watch this space

Ok that's it for me this time better go get dinner ready....(Ok Ok...I know I will watch Trev cook for me...while I have a glass of wine and watch and scrap....Yep I'm the luckiest girl around!)

Till Next Time...
Happi Scrappin"
Robbi xxx  





Betsy -Three Random Cards

Betsy here today to share another three random cards that I have made for orders.

I have been so busy decluttering, that the morning has just slipped away. Garage and laundry cupboard is now behind us. It sure does feel good to get rid of all that surplus stuff!

Now for the cards ladies.

A sympathy card made with Kaisercraft's Remember me - it is a very appropriate collection.

Using the same range and I do like this stamp which is an old one from Paper Inspirations. The words are lovely. I have used Spellbinders Labels 8 to cut out the sentiment. Very simple but nice, I think.

For this card I have used Kaisercraft's Hidden Treasure collection - the colours are lovely, predominately navy and mustard. The trellis was cut using Spellbinders Grateful Lattice and of course, Martha Stewart border punch, for the edges.

All from me today ladies, happy crafting and enjoy your day whatever you are doing.

Blessings,
Betsy.

Valou - Violet Crush Card

Hello my friends!

Valou today for a card! 

How are you today! Here, in Belgium, it's cold but fine.

Then, I used the new collection " Kaisercraft ", "Violet Crush"! This collection is of any magnificence!

I used an image " A Day For Daisies ".

I colorized it in the following way: 

- Ink "Distress Vintage Photo" and "Distress Tattered Rose" for the skin.
- Ink "Black Soot".

- Ink "Distress Worm Lipstick". 

- Mauve chalk.
- Pink Chalk.

- Glitter Stickels Frosted Lace.

For the decoration, I added:

- A knot realized with the ribbon " pink Organza ". 

- A knot realized with the mauve velvet ribbon.

- An ecru paper flower. 

- Small cloth white flowers. 

- Two flowers realized with a dies " Joy! Craft ".

- Two mauve roses. 

- Buttons of closed roses.

 All the flowers are covered with some touches of " Kindy Glitz - Crystalina ".

The die-cut is some Die-cuts of the collection "Kaisercraft - Violet Crush". 

Here we are! I hope that my realization has you more and that it will inspire you.

I thank you for your passage and wish you an excellent day! Bye for now!

And here is for today! 

I wish you an excellent day and Happy New Yar!!!!

Hugs,

Material used by the shop " Artfull Crafts Shop ":

                 

Beck - Marion Smith Garment District Layout

Hello there.  How are we today?  I am great - I have been in my scrap room creating again.  I swear, the more I do, the more mojo I have on tap, ready to create some more!

Today I have done something a little different.  I have scrapped a page BEFORE choosing the photographs.  You see, a friend of mine is fundraising for her terminally ill son, and she has asked me to make a page for her, to be added to an album that will be auctioned off.  So this is what I came up with...

I have used the beautiful Garden District range by Marion Smith Designs.  It's just gorgeous.  Now, I don't know about you, but I tend to pick out a photo I like, then choose the papers to match and start off that way...  It's totally different scrapping WITHOUT a photo to start you off!  I sat with the papers and had a bit of a rough play with layout design:

I have started by using two layers of Bazzill that tone in with the colours of the base paper, Manhattan - Java and Vintage Pink.I shortened the length of the pink chevron paper (this is the pattern on the 'off' side of Manhattan), and decided to sew it onto the layout using a zigzag stitch.  To make it fit nicely, I  used a craft knife to fussy cut around the rose in the bottom right hand corner of the page, so I could tuck the patterned paper underneath the edge of it.

Then I started shuffling around the four 3x4" 'pocket page' cards that I cut out of the Alterations paper.  In the end I decided to use only three of them.  I roughed up the edges with a paper distresser (you can use a piece of sandpaper or a nail file), then stitched around them using a straight stitch on my sewing machine.  To add another layer/more texture to the layout, I cut off a strip of darker patterned paper, and zig-zagged along the two long edges of it:

I then trimmed them down both sides of each zigzag until I had two fine strips of paper with stitching on.  And then I made a third strip, for good measure!  You may have noticed in my 'planning' photo, that there was a darker patterned paper (Picture Perfect) with a doily/rose pattern on the bottom corner.  I cut out that corner piece, roughed up the edges a bit by hand (so that the edges curled up, off the page), and tucked that in behind the pocket page cards.  And finally, I fussy cut a HEAP of roses out of the Blush paper, and then tucked them in around and under various parts of the layout.

And that takes me back to the finished product:

Now, as I said earlier, I am not actually putting a photo on this layout, but am donating it to a fundraiser.  I have put in the back of the page protector some scrabble tile alphas that I have had in my stash for ages, that tie in nicely with the Garment District colours.  That way, whoever ends up with the layout can add their own title and/or journalling.

Just out of interest, I have quickly photographed the layout with 4 different photos sitting in place.  To be honest, I don't think it matters WHAT photo you use, anything seems to go with it (excuse the photos, I took them quickly on my phone)

A shell-fish made at the beach, 2011

Jacob as a toddler, 2005

Me, taken in the 70's!

My with my great grandparents, 1975

So as you can see, just about any photo from any era can tie in with your layout.  If the colours really clash, get your photo printed in black and white - that goes with EVERYTHING!

So, it turns out that I might have to rethink this scrapbooking method of mine.  Sometimes I get so hung up on picking the perfect papers to go with a photo, when perhaps I should just scrap first and add the pics later?  I am going to have to try this some more!

Righto, I'm signing off... I have domestic goddess duties like housework and grocery shopping to do (yuck!).  I hope that you all have a great weekend.  See you next month :)

Toodles, Beck x

Art of Life with Sharon

What can I say about this paper range Art of Life !!!! It is just D I V I N E !!!!
It really suits being roughed up, and used in a bunch of different ways.
You will see from this post I was able to use this line to create a heritage page, a page using a photo from twenty years ago, and a more recent photo as well!

I love all the little bits and pieces that go with this range of papers, then there is the papers themselves!!!!

First up the recent photo. If you look really reallly reallllllllly closely....you will see I have used a glass bead gel through a stencil in the background. this has given the flourish a very sparkly effect, and once sprayed with mists, the beads just sparkle even more!! I have then created an embellishment cluster and photo matt area using the art of life papers. ( Love the wee butterflies that came in one of the packs!!)

For the second photo, I took a more traditional approach and just layered papers up, then attached a beautiful floral assemblage to add a pop of colour. Dont be afraid to go back in time, and scrap photos from the past!
 ( Check out my STUNNING " Deidre Barlow" glasses....I cringe every time I see them these days LOL)

Last but not least is the layout I gave the heritage treatment to. This photo of my father in law ( now 91) was taken in the 1940's when he was serving the Royal Navy in WWII.

I loved the way these papers took the layering, and the sprays to add depth of colour, and them the embellishment with lots of vintage bits and bobs....yes!!! even some old lace!....and on a MANS PAGE!!!! 

I have included a close up of the embellishment cluster, so you can see how I put all the embellies in a close knit group! Don't be afraid to group things together this way. 

Thanks for looking!!! Catch up soon 

Sharon

Beck - Art of Life mini book

Well good morning to you... how is your New Year going?  Hard to believe that it is January 22nd already, nearly the first month over.  Before you know it, it'll be Christmas time again!  Ah, don't panic, it's still 336 sleeps away :)

Today I am here to show you a mini book I have made with the Art of Life collection from Kaisercraft.

Art of Life is one of those wonderful paper ranges that is universal - you can use it for practically ANY topic.  Lovely neutral shades that blend with everything - just what every gal needs!  It's also full of lots of positive affirmations, many of which I have used in this book.

Now I don't know about you, but I have been a washi collector for quite some time now... Yes, that's right, I love how cute it is, I buy it and take it home, sit at my desk and admire it, then I never use it.  Until now.  That's right, I bit the bullet and USED some.  

To be honest, it's one of those things that is so easy to use, I wonder why I haven't used it more often. Duh!  I liked the way that this particular washi tied in with the Art of Life colours, and in the end I used it to bring more continuity to my mini book, using it on every page to link them together, even going back to the cover page (which I thought I had finished), and adding some there too :)

So here's my challenge to you... take something from your stash that you have been 'saving for a rainy day' and USE IT.  Right now.  Today.  I know you have something at home that fits the bill, you know, the 'oh-it's-too-pretty-to-cut' patterned paper, or the 'but-it-looks-so-nice-in-it's-packaging' packet of flowers/embellishments.  Go on, do it, I dare ya!  Once you have, leave me a comment and tell me about it, and I'll find a little something to send out to one of you :)

Now before I go, did you see the newsletter this week?  Very exciting news.... a good friend of mine Trina McClune is coming down in March!  She will be one of the tutors at the Staveley Stamp Camp from 14-16 March, and also teaching her famous 3-in-1 class on Thursday 13th March.  I can't WAIT to catch up with her, and I promise you, she runs a GREAT class :)  There are limited spaces for the Thursday night class, so if you're keen, BOOK IN NOW!  See you there?  Yes?  Good!

Right, I'm off to spend some more time in my craft room.  I'll be back on Saturday to show you what I've been up to.  Until then, 

Toodles, Beck x

Melissa - Kaisercraft Art of Life

Good morning, its Melissa here with a couple of layouts that I made with Kaisercraft's new Art of Life Collection.  This collection is described as alluring and reflective, with neutral colouring and a strong yesteryear presence. 

For my first layout I went through all my coloured cardstock and selected a dark red background, and chose to scrap these older photos of Sam reading to Azaria when she was a baby.  I love that fellow Design Team member Michelle also chose red as her background, and both of us scrapped our layouts without knowing this!

I love the transparent frames that come with the collection, and I cut one in half to both use as a layer, and to feature as the title of my layout.  I also love the map and text print papers, and of course the die cut pieces.

For my second layout I wanted to embrace the neutral feel of the collection, and selected an Instagram photo that I took while mountain biking on our camping trip last summer.  I knew this photo would work well with the vintage feel of the collection, based on the Instagram filter I had used.  I chose a kraft cardstock background, and then just started layering elements in a horizontal line. I cut out the small elements at the top of the page from the 6x6 paper pad, sewed them through the middle, and then lifted up the edges.

The die cuts in this collection are super cute, I especially love the butterflies!

Although this collection is not my usual bright go-to style, I love the vintage elements and I'm really happy with how both layouts turned out.

Thanks for looking.  You can purchase Art of Life from the shop here.

Have a great Tuesday.

Melissa x