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

Roller Skating!

During the recent school holidays my daughter Jessica tried roller skating for the first time. It was very tricky and she fell over lots but she kept smiling and kept picking her self up and having another go - I was so proud of her!!

These are pages from April in my "SMASH*ing 2014" Journal (using the Tasty SMASH* folio). I made the calendar using MS Word - I love to record our monthly activities this way!

Products I've used include: Kellie Stamps "Nailed It" and "Like a Boss" wood mount stamps and the camera stamp from the picture perfect stamp set; Amy Tangerine die cuts; Studio Calico wood veneer house and cork arrows; Freckled Fawn wood veneer hearts; Heidi Swapp butterfly and word stickers; Jillibean Soup Alphas; Pebbles roller date stamp.

Thanks for stopping by
Crafty Hugs xx

Let's Swing!

On a recent "Family Day" we ventured to a local playground then did some wine tasting. I havent been wine tasting for years - it was so much fun to try lots of yummy wines and buy a bottle or 6!! 

These pages are for April in my "SMASH*ing 2014" Journal (using the Tasty SMASH* folio). I've used lots of stamps on this page. I love the cool effect of stamps and they add interest without making my SMASH* pages too bulky! 

Products I've used include: Kellie Stamps  Shapes, and That Sucks stamp sets, as well as the "Oh Yeah" and "You are absolutely amazing" wood mount stamps; Prima stamps; Studio Calico wood veneer; Jillibean Soup Alphas; Pebbles roller date stamp.

Thanks for stopping by
Crafty Hugs xx

Daddies Girl!

My youngest daughter Jessica is very much a "Daddies Girl" - they have such a precious relationship <3. This photo was taken when we went out for a coffee recently - a weekend treat for us.

I started with a white page that I covered with gesso. Then I misted and splattered with various shades of blue Dylusions ink sprays to create this background. I love the effect of spraying the paper then holding it upright so the ink runs. Once this was dry I randomly stamped (Prima and KaiserCraft) and stencilled (Dylusions) across the page. 

Next was the fun part - embellishing with lots of D-lish Scraps yumminess! Many of the elements are from the Tangerine Splash Just Add paper Kit (flair, flowers, paperclip, chipboard, wire, bingo cards, washi) - this kit has sold out but there is still a huge variety of similar items in store. 

I made my own hearts using the orange coloured wire. Cute arent they! 

I added my title using my Motex labeller and some blue tape as well as a chipboard word from the kit and some alphas from my stash.

I love using the Just Add paper Kits from D-lish Scraps - the embellishments all coordinate and really make scrapping faster.

Thanks for stopping by
Crafty Hugs xx 

Rainbow Bands!

Has your house been taken over by Rainbow Bands? Well mine has and my girls really love it. I love that the kids love them, they can be creative with colour and design, all ages can do it, it is great for fine motor skills and patience, and they are cheap! What more could you ask for!! I had to SMASH* this experience so I decided to include some instructions from one of the packs as well as a small bracelet that I made :)

These are pages from March in my "SMASH*ing 2014" Journal (using the Tasty SMASH* folio). I made the calendar using MS Word - very easy and you can resize as you need :)

I've also used Amy Tangerine  diecuts; Studio Calico wood veneers;  Pinkfresh Studio puffy stickers; and a Heidi Swapp word diecut.

Thanks for stopping by

Crafty Hugs xx

Currently Me - Weeks 14 & 15!

Here are 2 more pages in my "Currently Me 2014" journal - the first 2 weeks in April. I love my coffee, and our local bakery makes an awesome latte - so this was the theme of these 2 pages and the Tea for 2 stamp set from Kellie Stamps coordinated perfectly.

Products I've used include: Kellie Stamps "Afternoon", "coffee", "you're my cup of tea" and the cups from the Tea for 2 stamp set; Stampin' Up! Epic Day This and That Journal, washi tape, designer series paper, and stickers; Currently card (free digi download) from Kristin at Rukristin.

Thanks for stopping by
Crafty Hugs xx

Girlfriends!

Over the last 12 months or so many of my gorgeous and amazing girlfriends have turned 40. I've made special keepsakes for each of them. This was the most recent gift I made for my friend Lisa - a scrapbook page in a frame. I just love White on black layouts and this is the third variant I have made.

The photo was taken at my friend Sharyn's 40th. The theme was red and formal! We were all wearing red but for this project I decided to print out the photo in b/w. 

I started by adding some large white paint splats (process described in detail here) and some little spatters. 

Once this had all dried I added my embellishments - all from D-lish Scraps. On the bottom right corner I added a white Forget Me Not, a white Cherry Blossom, a white mini PVC doilie; a punched tag stamped with a roller date stamp, and some white embroidery thread.

In the bottom corner of the photo I've added a white Forget Me Not, a white mini PVC doilie, and a flower from the All That Glitters Just Add Paper kit, as well as a charm and white embroidery thread from my stash.

I've used some silver coloured wire to make this gorgeous "girl friends" title for my page. I like to write out my title on paper first then you can easily bend the wire following the shape of your writing.

I've also added some silver star mini sequins and clear 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.

In the top corner I've added another white Forget Me Not, more embroidery thread and sequins.

I just love how this turned out - I will have to make another one for myself :)

Thanks so much for stopping by
Crafty Hugs xx

Currently Me - Weeks 12 & 13!

Hmm, a bit of catch up for me with my "Currently Me 2014" journal. These pages are for the last 2 weeks in March. We were going in to Autumn so that meant the end of our glorious summer vegetables. This year I made tomato sauce, yumm!! 

Products I've used include: Kellie Stamps "I made that" from the Food Shot stamp set, "around here" from the Currently stamp set; and "Hello" and the arrows from the Hello Arrows stamp set; Stampin' Up! Epic Day This and That Journal, washi tape, designer series paper, stickers and hexagon punch; Currently card (free digi download) from Kristin at Rukristin.

Thanks for stopping by
Crafty Hugs xx

SMASH*ing 2013 - Finished!

I've finished my 20013 Journal ... Yayy! The book was so fat by the time I had finished. I really tried to use flatter embellishments but it just never works out. In some ways I wish that the spine was wider on these journals! I find it very hard to photograph my journals towards the end - here is a photo showing how I tried to elevate one side so it would be flatter for photographing. But it still doesnt work that well because as you can see the pages still dont lie flat (they are lower near the spine) this makes it very hard to focus the whole page. If anyone has any suggestions on how to photograph this better I'd love to hear :)

Thanks for stopping by
Crafty hugs xx

Fun @ Sports Day!

I love to make monochromatic scrapbook layouts. Perhaps it is because it makes it easier to decide what colour embellishments to use. I really love the colour teal at the moment so I focussed on these colourings for my "fun @ sports day" page.

I started by painting with watercolours in an ombre fashion on a white background. When this was dry I added splatters of the paints across the page. Then I matted a heap of KaiserCraft papers behind my photo.

Next was the fun part - embellishing with lots of D-lish Scraps yumminess! I've made my title using some Jillibean Soup Alphas and a Freckled Fawn Wood Chip @ symbol. I've also used a Freckled Fawn Wood Chip heart and house on my page. I've looped some blue coloured wire across the page and also curled some and used it in my embellishment cluster. 

In this cluster I've used a white Forget Me Not, a white Cherry Blossom, a teal Resin Heart, a teal mini resin 2-toned daisy, a Pearl heart cabochons and some Freckled fawn enamel dew drops. I've also stamped the date using a Pebbles roller date stamp. 

Here I've added a white Forget Me Not, teal Resin Flower, a teal resin 2-toned daisy, some Freckled fawn enamel dew drops, and cotton thread from my stash.

Thanks for stopping by
Crafty hugs xx

SMASH*ing December 2013!

Todays post has some more SMASH pages from my 2013 Journal (using the 365 SMASH* folio). These are photos from December when Rachael went to her first Disco and had her last day at Primary School (sob sob!). This year each of my girls made a gingerbread house. They had so much fun - we will definitely be doing that again next year!

On the top page I've used some stamps from Kellie Stamps - "Best Friends" from the Best Friends set, "Catching the bus to school"  and "Last Day" (I used the First day stamp but only inked up the last 5 letters and then hand wrote the "LA") from the School is out set, and "Proud moment" wood mount stamp. I've also used a heap of my other staple goodies from my stash (chevron bags, tags, paper doilies, wood veneer, alphas, paper clips and enamel dots). 

Thanks for stopping by

Crafty Hugs xx

SMASH*ing 2013!

In November last year I took the plunge and organised my craft space. I had always thought I would do this in a spare room but firstly we don't have one and secondly it actually works better for me to be out where all the action is! I had my first trip to Ikea (can you believe I have never been there before) and purchased and put together 2 Expedit's and a heap of drawers and boxes to match. It is now an absolutely amazing space!! 

Todays post has some more SMASH pages from my 2013 Journal (using the 365 SMASH* folio). Again, I've kept my pages relatively simple and I'm also trying to include more visible journalling on my pages (not hidden away in pockets)!  

I just love the photos of my youngest daughter on this next page. She had just had a bath and washed her hair and the first thing she did was pick up a library book to read. She is just finishing her Reception year at school (the year before year 1) and can now read picture books - she just loves it and it really blows me away how far she has come with her reading over the past year!

I made the calendar myself using MS Word. I've used some stamps from Kellie Stamps on the bottom pages - "Coffee" from the Tea for 2 set, "I love reading" from the School is out set, and "Proud moment" and "You are absolutely amazing" wood mount stamps. I've used heaps of stickers from old Amy Tangerine collections. I've also used a heap of my other staple goodies from my stash (chevron bags, tags, paper doilies, wood veneer, alphas, paper clips and enamel dots). 

Thanks for stopping by

Crafty Hugs xx

She Is Such A Delight!

I like to try lots of different styles and techniques on my scrapbook pages. I love the challenge and I love the variety. On this page I've tried using a softer "pastel" colour scheme. I won some amazing Heidi Swapp goodies in a facebook competition (yayy!!!) and they are so gorgeous that I almost dont want to use them - but that is not the point of having all this yumminess so I forced (lol) myself to cut up the papers!

The colours on this page are also perfect for the D-Lish Scraps May challenge - Peach Cooler :)

The photos on this page are of my youngest daughter Jessica wearing a flower girl dress from my wedding - she loved trying it on and pretending for the day. I got married 7 years years ago and at the time my other daughter Rachael was 5 years old - same age as Jessica in this photo. I should scrap photos of both girls wearing the dress at the same age - great idea! 

Most of the papers and paper embellishments on this page are from the Heidi Swapp collection.

The other embellishments are all from D-lish Scraps. In the bottom right corner I've added a white Forget Me Not, Freckled Fawn wood chips hearts, and coral petite resin rose.

In this cluster under the photos I've used a teal mini runner from Charms Creations. From  D-lish Scraps I've used a white Resin Butterfly, a white Cherry Blossom, another white Forget Me Not, blue Lilly and Freckled Fawn wood chips bird.

On the LHS of the photos I've added more Cherry Blossoms and Lilly's as well as another Freckled Fawn wood chips heart, an apricot resin forget-me-not, and a Pick n Place Bow.

Thanks for stopping by
Crafty hugs xx

SMASH*ing November 2013!

Todays post has some more SMASH pages from my 2013 Journal (I used the 365 SMASH* folio). I've kept my pages relatively simple yet still used lots of my favourite SMASH*ing goodies and using up lots of stickers I have accumulated. During this month I took my daughter shopping in the city for a year 7 graduation dress and my hubby bought himself a new ride on lawnmower.

I made the calendar myself using MS Word. I've used some older stamps from Kellie Stamps on the top pages - the Picture Perfect set from 2013. I've used heaps of stickers from old Amy Tangerine collections. I've also used a heap of my other staple goodies from my stash (chevron bags, tags, paper doilies, wood veneer, alphas, paper clips and enamel dots). 

Thanks for stopping by

Crafty Hugs xx