Believe in the Magic of a Dream!

I love creating backgrounds on white paper. I particularly love using mists and sprays but these can get messy and difficult to do when you have a small workspace. So I decided to try creating my background with just stencils, stamps and inks. Wow, I just love the result!!

I took my colour inspiration for this page from my photo - of my gorgeous daughter Rachael! So I stuck with a green, black and white colour scheme. After considering my photo placement and general page layout I selected 3 different green inkpads and used these with a selection of Heidi Swapp, Prima, and Studio Calico stencils. I then used a range of stamps from Prima and Kaisercraft and a black ink pad.   

I matted a number of KaiserCraft papers under my photo and on the edges and I used KaiserCraft alphas for the title. I journalled around the entire edge of the page - love this look!

Then it was time to add lots of embellishments from D-lish Scraps. Around the photo I added a white Cherry Blossom, green bitty blooms, green Polka Dot Heart Button, Journal it Tab, black cabachon Resin Flower, black Resin heart, a green sequin bow, green coloured wire, and Freckled Fawn Wood Chips hearts.

In the bottom left corner I added green bitty blooms, green coloured wire, black polkadot button, a white Forget Me Not, and Pinkfresh Navajo arrows Colourblock Wood Veneers.

Across the page I've added some green heart mini sequins. I like to scatter the sequins across the page (to give a random look) and dot glue next to them, then I use a Clever Sequin Pick-up Pencil to place the sequins on the glue - easy.

Thanks so much for stopping by
Crafty Hugs xx

Do You Like to eat Cannelloni?

When I initially started blogging it was all about my crafty life. I really enjoy reading about other aspects of my crafty friends lives - what they have been doing, other interests and hobbies, what they are reading of eating. So, I'm going to try and post about some of these things myself. I have been inspired by the lovely Kellie Winnell and in particular her "20 things to blog about" post here.

So today I'm sharing a recipe for Cannelloni. This is a recipe that my daughter Rachael came up with and she loves to cook it for us ... Yum!!

Ingredients:
200g dry cannelloni shells
200g feta cheese cut into 
250g ricotta
100g baby spinach - chopped finely
500g jar pasta sauce
2 cups water

Method:
- Add the chopped feta, ricotta, and chopped baby spinach to a bowl and mix well.
- Push the 1-2 tablespoons of the chess mixture into the cannelloni shells - using your fingers is best!
- lay the shells in a single layer in a large lasagna dish.
- pour the jar of pasta sauce over the cannelloni
- pour 2 cups of water gently over the top
- bake for 50 minutes in a preheated 180degC oven   

I did intend on taking more progress photos but I forgot - by the time I remembered there was hardly any left lol!

This is a popular family meal in our house :)

Thanks for stopping by
Hugs xx Karyn

Slip-n-Slide Fun!

I've been experimenting with lots of different kinds of watercolour backgrounds. Trying different ways to apply the paints/mists and with varying amounts of water. I've also started using clear gesso instead of white gesso. Often white gesso dries to an off-white colour on your page which isn't always what you want. The clear gesso is also much grainier/rougher to feel once dry.

For this page I first covered the paper with clear gesso and let it dry. I like to do a few pages at a time so you always have a page ready to work with. I sprayed my paper with water, then added drops of coloured mist (I used a blue, green and yellow from the Tattered Angels chalkboard range) from a bottle (unscrew the nozzle and add drops from the inside tube). Then I used a wet paintbrush to spread some of the colour and more water spray to disperse. Some drops I just left as is. Play around until you are happy with the result then let it dry. I find it best to let each colour dry before you add another colour. 

The papers I have used are from the Studio Calico Printshop collection - fun cool summery colours perfect for this layout! 

I've used some amazing and fun embellishments from D-lish Scraps: Freckled Fawn heart wood veneer and enamel dew drops, white blue and green bitty blooms, and Pinkfresh hearts, arrows, and envelope Colourblock Wood Veneers, and a chevron Journal Spot.

I've also used a heap of stamps from Kellie Stamps: the 2014 Summer Fun stamp set, the Shapes stamp set, and the 2013 Summer set. I added the date using a Pebbles roller date stamp. I created a title using KaiserCraft alphas.

Thanks so much for stopping by
Crafty Hugs xx

Currently Me - Weeks 20-21!

I've had so much fun working on my "Currently Me 2014" journal. It's a great way to reflect back on your interests and activities over time. I'm keeping it simple, using papers etc from mainly 1 collection, using lots of stamps, and using relatively flat embellishments. 

These pages are for the second half of May. The first photo is from my birthday - cake time! The other photo is of me cuddling a koala - it was so soft, gentle and adorable!  

Products I've used include: Kellie Stamps the Shapes, Photo Bomb and Favourite mini stamp sets; Stampin' Up! Epic Day This and That Journal, washi tape, designer series paper, and stickers; Freckled Fawn wood veneer; Studio Calico cork arrows; Currently card (free digi download) from Kristin at Rukristin.

Thanks for stopping by
Crafty Hugs xx

Currently Me - Weeks 18-19!

Here are 2 more pages in my "Currently Me 2014" journal - the first half of May. The first photo is of me enjoying a coffee at Bracegirdles chocolate cafe (yum!!) while on a shopping trip with my daughter Rachael. The other photo is of me at the Michael Buble concert - and yes "Bowties are cool"!! 

Products I've used include: Kellie Stamps the Tea for 2, Shapes, and Geek stamp sets and "Awesome" from the Awesome Flair set; Stampin' Up! Epic Day This and That Journal, washi tape, designer series paper, and stickers; Freckled Fawn emoticon and music notes wood veneer; Studio Calico stars and circle word wood veneer and cork arrows; Currently card (free digi download) from Kristin at Rukristin.

Thanks for stopping by
Crafty Hugs xx

Currently Me - Weeks 16 & 17!

Here are 2 more pages in my "Currently Me 2014" journal - the second half of April, and school holidays. The first photo is of me and my Grandma - she had broken her leg and was in hospital at the time (no more roller skating Grandma!!). The other photo is of my rather large "Fur baby" - I dont have time for riding at the moment but I will get back into it in the future :)

Products I've used include: Kellie Stamps the Birthday 2013, Mothers Day 2013, and Pets 2013 stamp sets and "Today" from the Awesome Flair set; Stampin' Up! Epic Day This and That Journal, washi tape, designer series paper, and stickers; Freckled Fawn arrow and heart wood veneer; Currently card (free digi download) from Kristin at Rukristin.

Thanks for stopping by
Crafty Hugs xx

Game Of Thrones!

I've recently become a hugs "Thrones" fan. I've always wondered what all the hype was about, and I had tried to watch an episode but I just couldnt get into it. That was until the first 3 seasons aired on Foxtel a few weeks before season 4 started. SO I watched it all from the start and although I find it a bit violent at times I just love the characters and the relationships between them and I just love watching all their wargaming tactics!!

Anyways, there was a Medieval fair that we went to at the start of May with lots of cool props and photo opportunities. We had a go at archery and watched the horses jolsting - was a fun day out!!

These are pages from May in my "SMASH*ing 2014" Journal (using the Tasty SMASH* folio). I made the calendar using MS Word. Usually I wait until the end of the month before I start SMASH*ing for the month (that is why my calendar is unfinished) but I had these photos that I had to SMASH straight away!!

Products I've used include: Kellie Stamps Birthday stamp set; Studio Calico cork arrows; Jillibean Soup Alphas; and washi from my stash.

Thanks for stopping by
Crafty Hugs xx

Loosing First Tooth!

Some more pages from March in my "SMASH*ing 2014" Journal (using the Tasty SMASH* folio). Jessica lost her first tooth! It was a momentus occasion. 2 days before her 6th birthday (and school photos lol). There were tears, as well an exciting visit from the tooth fairy who delivered a shiny gold coin!!

These pages are very simple - I just loved these background pages and couldnt cover them up. 

I've also used an Amy Tangerine diecut; Studio Calico speech diecuts and cork arrows.

Thanks for stopping by

Crafty Hugs xx

SMASH*ing 2014 - April!

Today I have some more pages to share with you from April in my "SMASH*ing 2014" Journal (using the Tasty SMASH* folio). There are some fun Easter photos here. Jessica made baskets for the Easter Bunny - I thought it was a huge joke to give dad a tiny bottle top for his basket, but that didnt stop him from eating/sharing all of our eggs lol!

Products I've used include: Kellie Stamps  you are the best, magical, Easter 2014 stamp sets; Amy Tangerine die cuts; Studio Calico wood veneer birds and cork arrows; Freckled Fawn wood veneer house and emoticons; Heidi Swapp word sticker; Pebbles roller date stamp.

Thanks for stopping by
Crafty Hugs xx

Life Is Good!

I always like to try different things with my scrapbooking. Lately I've been trying to include more of my handwriting on my pages. I dont particularly like my handwriting but I love the unique and special effect it brings to a page. So as well as hand journalling around the entire edge of my page I also hand wrote the title. 

I started with a white page that I covered with gesso. Then I painted and splattered yellow and orange Dylusions ink sprays to create the background.

Once it was dry I journalled around the edge using a black SMASH* pen. After considering my photo and embellishment placement I added a variety of arrow stamps across the page and below my photo. The stamps I used were the Kellie Stamps "Oh Yeah" wood mount stamp; and the arrows from the Hello Arrows stamp set. I also added the date using a Pebbles roller date stamp - I actually have lots of roller date stamps but this simple one is my favourite!! 

At this point I also painted my title. I practiced a lot on scrap paper but it never works out quite like you intend it to - that makes it unique right!! I used black gouache paint mixed with water. This paint mix was also good to splatter across my page.   

Next was the fun part - embellishing with lots of D-lish Scraps yumminess! I added yellow Forget Me Nots, a white Cherry Blossom, large orange wild rose, apricot Hand dyed muslin, orange Hand-Dyed Seam Binding, yellow cabachon Resin Flower, and yellow Resin Butterflies, and some Freckled Fawn enamel dew drops. 

I also added an Amy Tangerine flair and twine from my stash.

Thanks for stopping by
Crafty Hugs xx