And Then There Was Me!

I'm currently working on a scrapbook for my youngest daughter. I'm doing a year per opening and using an 8inch x 8inch album. My aim is to have one album which summarises the first 10 years. Of courseI also have other albums for each of the girls and our family where I scrap events in more detail.
This post features a layout for the front page and is when she was 3months old. My previous post is for when she was 1 year old.
I love to follow sketches when I'm both cardmaking and Scrapbooking. For this layout I'm using sketch #190 from Creative Scrappers.

Materials

Papers:  Chanteuse collection (KaiserCraft) 

Other :  antique brad (Stampin' Up!), flowers, doilie (Prima), flower, pearl (KaiserCraft), crystal garland (Magnolia), Life Documented alpha stickers (MemoryWorks),  ribbon (stash)

The Eyes Have It!

Yes, more scrapbooking from me - and loving it! I've recently found a fantastic Australian online Scrapbooking/Art store Blue Bazaar. I actually found them when I was looking for SMASH products. Well, they have a Crop Bootcamp with fabulous topic and sketch ideas. I immediately signed up (it is free!!).
My layout is Layout 5 from their January Bootcamp.

Materials

Cardstock: Confetti white, Baja Breeze, Real Red (Stampin' Up!)

Papers:  Sidewalks (October Afternoon) 

Other :  pearl brads, Life Documented alpha stickers (MemoryWorks),  ric-rac, crotchet doilies, lace trim (stash)

It's Time To Scrapbook!

Happy New Year Everyone!!!
I'ts been far too long since I've done some serious scrapbooking, so I have made it a new years resolution to scrapbook at least once a week. I really hope I can achieve this as I have so many precious memories of my family that I want to record. A scrapbook that I have just finished has eleven 2-page layouts of my daughter from birth to 10years. On one side of the layout is a feature and the other is a collection of photos of her throughout the year and a summary of activities, likes, dislikes etc. It is really quite fun to look through the whole scrapbook and see how much she has grown up, changed, and yet stayed the same. I've followed the sketch over at Sketchy Thursdays for the feature. I've had so much fun, I just loved using this adorable paper from October Afternoon, and I cant wait to do more!

Materials

Cardstock: Confetti white, Baja Breeze (Stampin' Up!)

Papers:  Sidewalks (October Afternoon) 

Other :  olive inkpad (Stampin' Up!), pearls, alphas (KaiserCraft), flowers, ric-rac, wood number, bubble wrap (stash)

These are a Few of My Favourite Things!

The Challenge this week at Tickled Pink Stamps Challenges is "Pick any past favourite Tickled Pink Stamps Challenge". Well, so many were my favourite - but I narrowed it down to a combination of "Vintage", "Flowers", and "Use a Doily".
I wanted to try something different with this Christmas card and make the sentiment a focal point. The Pink Victorian Christmas sentiments from the Tickled Pink Stamps are perfect for this.

Card Recipe

Stamps :  Pink Victorian Christmas Sentiments (Tickled Pink Stamps)

Cardstock: Confetti white, early espresso, always artichoke, Riding Hood Red (Stampin' Up!)

Papers:  Christmas paper pad (Lost & Found) 

Inks:    early espresso (Stampin' Up!)

Other :  ribbon, linen thread, brads, Floral Fusion dies (Stampin' Up!), Pink Christmas Sentiments Die (Tickled Pink Stamps), Rose leaf and Leaf & Swirl Doohickey's dies (Magnolia), Fleur De Lise accents dies (Spellbinders), pearls (KaiserCraft), tea die distress stickles (Tim Holtz), doily, adhesive lace accent, bells (stash)

Challenges I'm joining:
Card Makin Mamas - Christmas
Crafty Boots Challenges - Christmas
Divas by design challenge - Merry Christmas
Paper play challenges - Christmas
Seriously creative challenges - Christmas
Southern girls challenge - lets celebrate

More Christmas Inspiration!

This month the Challenge at Bizzy Becs Store Blog is "Christmas", and I'm lucky enough to be a Guest DT member for the month, Yay!!! We would love for you to join this challenge and be in the running to win a fantastic prize!

I've been wanting to try colouring using distress inks and this is one of my first attempts. I find this method of colouring more casual (not so precise) than using copics and gives much more of a watercolour look. I'm keen to do more of it (now that I have all the stuff - hehe)!

Card Recipe

Stamps :  Tilda with Fir tree (Magnolia), digi ticket stubs (Bizzy Becs)

Cardstock: Confetti White, teal, Baja Breeze, Whisper White, Water colour paper (Stampin' Up!)

Papers:  Eskimo Kisses paper pad (Basic Grey) 

Inks:    black (Stazon), teal (Stampin' Up!)

Coloured with:  Distress inks (Tim Holtz)

Other :  rhinestones, rhinestone brad (Stampin' Up!),  lace border and Leaf & Swirl Doohickey's dies (Magnolia), white acrylic paint, stickles, ribbon (stash)

Challenges I'm joining:
All That Scraps Challenges - Anything Goes
Card Makin Mamas - Christmas
Crafty Boots Challenges - Christmas
Deep ocean challenge blog - let it snow
Divas by design challenge - Merry Christmas
Magnolia down underchallenges - lost and found (I used some ribbon from a gift box of handcreme)
Paper play challenges - Christmas
Seriously creative challenges - Christmas
Southern girls challenge - lets celebrate

Christmas Cards - done for this year!

Wowee, I'm done with my Christmas cards. I thought it would never end! But I still have a few to show you over the next 2 weeks. I'm following the sketch over at The Sugar Bowl again. This card is for my youngest daughter. She is 3 and Pink is definitely best!!! Santa - please bring her something pink and sparkly!!

Card Recipe

Stamps :  Wish upon a star (Sugar Nellie), digi ticket stubs (Bizzy Becs)

Cardstock: rose red, baja breeze, confetti white, Whisper White (Stampin' Up!)

Papers:  eskimo kisses paper pad (Basic Grey) 

Coloured with:  Copics (cool grey's)
Other :   ribbon, scallop circle punch (Stampin' Up!), pearls, wooden ornament (KaiserCraft), flowers (Prima), crystalina Kindyglitz, crystal leaves (Magnolia)

Challenges I'm joining:
Allsorts Challenge Blog - going round in circles
aud sentiments challenge blog - Winter Holiday Sentiments
Cute Card Thursday - Anything goes
Papertake Weekly - Anything Goes
Pixie Dust Studio - glitter and bling

 

Getting Sketchy at the Sugar Bowl!

There is another fantastic sketch this week over at The Sugar Bowl. I love sketches to get me started with a card. This is my second to last Christmas card - for my eldest daughter. Turquoise is her favourite colour at the moment - looks pretty for Christmas!!

Card Recipe

Stamps :  Titania (Sugar Nellie), digi ticket stubs (Bizzy Becs)

Cardstock: taken with teal, confetti white, Whisper White (Stampin' Up!)

Papers:  Chapter One paper pad (Kaisercraft) 

Coloured with:  Copics (cool grey's)
Other :   ribbon (Stampin' Up!), pearls, wooden flourish (KaiserCraft), flowers (Prima), crystalina Kindyglitz, crystal leaves (Magnolia), ribbon (stash)

Challenges I'm joining:
aud sentiments challenge blog - Winter Holiday Sentiments
Cute Card Thursday - Anything goes
Papertake Weekly - Anything Goes
Pixie Dust Studio - glitter and bling
Sweet Stamps Blog - Christmas bling
 

A Christmas Challenge at Bizzy Becs!

Wowee, I won the October Challenge at Bizzy Becs Store Blog  - how lucky am I. Even better, they asked me to be a guest designer for their December Challenge! Of course I said yes.

This month the Challenge at Bizzy Becs Store Blog is "Christmas". Hopefully you are all well on your way to finishing your Christmas cards, and Christmas shopping maybe (lol). We would love for you to join this challenge and be in the running to win a fantastic prize!

I purchased a few of these mini Magnolia stamps months ago when they were first released (yeah, you know what I'm saying - I must have them all!) and I have only just used them. This one is perfect for Christmas and just the right size to fit on this cutie-pie tag die-cut.

Card Recipe

Stamps :  Mini Tilda with Presents (Magnolia), digi ticket stubs (Bizzy Becs)

Cardstock: Confetti White, Riding Hood Red, Cherry Cobbler, Always Artichoke, Early Espresso, Whisper White (Stampin' Up!)

Papers:  Christmas paper pad (Lost & Found) 

Inks:    tuxedo black (memento), early espresso (Stampin' Up!)

Coloured with:  Copics (warm grey's)
Other :  rhinestone brad, linen thread, artichoke denim jean ribbon (Stampin' Up!), Rose Leaf, Christmas Poinsetta, doily, Vintage tag, and Leaf & Swirl Doohickey's dies (Magnolia), bell (stash)

Challenges I'm joining:
Aud sentiments challenge blog - Winter Holiday Sentiments
Card Makin Mamas - Sentiments
Copic oz - Christmas creations
Crafty Boots Challenges - anything goes
Divas By Design Challenge - anything goes
The Pretty Little Ribbon Shop - Christmas with a bow

Lets Get Organised for Christmas!

This week the challenge over at the Tickled Pink Stamps Challenge Blog is "Anything Goes". We would love for you to join in with this challenge (make sure you use a Tickled Pink Stamps image please) and be in the running to win a great prize!

For the last 3 years I have made a Christmas booklet that stores all my Christmas information such as my Christmas Card list, gift list, November and December Calendars, Christmas day plans, Christmas letter etc. I really prefer to make this by the end of October and it helps me organise myself for this wonderful time of the year.

I normally keep embellishments to a minimum because I prefer to have this booklet sitting flat and compact (I like to carry it with me everywhere while I'm shopping for gifts or doing other Christmas planning) but this one is a bit thicker - personal preference really.

Card Recipe

Stamps :  Lil Christmas Lolita Christina (Tickled Pink Stamps), Established Elegance stamp set (Stampin' Up!), digi ticket stubs (Bizzy Becs)

Cardstock: Kraft, Naturals Ivory, Early Espresso, Whisper White (Stampin' Up!)

Papers:  Christmas paper pad (Lost & Found) 

Inks:    tuxedo black (memento)

Coloured with:  Copics (warm grey's)
Other :  Boho Blossoms punch, adhesive pearls, linen thread (Stampin' Up!), fancy tags dies, oval and scallop oval nestabilities (Spellbinders), doily lace edge punch (Martha Stewart), charm, lace (stash)

Challenges I'm joining:
aud sentiments challenge blog - Winter Holiday Sentiments
Card Makin Mamas - Sentiments
Copic oz - Christmas creations
Crafts and Me Challenges - pearls and swirls
Crafty Boots Challenges - anything goes
Deep Ocean Challenge Blog - "C" as Christmas
Divas By Design Challenge - anything goes

Merry Christmas from the Adorable Crystal Flakes!

Have you ever made a card for a challenge then just as you went to upload it you realised it was too late! Well that just happened to me - Oops! Never mind, I also had my eyes on a few other challenges. I find challenges a great way to motivate me - with inspiration and a deadline!
Isn't this image just adorable, its "Crystal Flakes" from Sugar Nellie, and I love all the white cards I've been seeing out there lately!!

Card Recipe

Stamps :  Crystal Flakes (Sugar Nellie)

Cardstock: Whisper White (Stampin' Up!) 

Papers:  After Five Collection paper pad (KaiserCraft)
Inks:    tuxedo black (memento),

Coloured with:  Copics

Other :  lace, doily, snowflakes, kindyglitz (stash)

Challenges I'm joining:
Bearly Mine Challenges - "All of my favourite things" (well I couldnt fit everything - lace, doily, white)
Copic oz Challenge - Christmas
Crafters Companion Monthly Challenge - Let it Snow
Creative Inspirations - Winter colours (blue, grey, white)
Divas By Design Challenge - Monochromatic
One Stitch at a Time Challenge - Anything Goes
The abc challenge - D for dazzle
The Sketchy Challenges (formerly Pink Ink Sketch) - Sketch