Inspiration Wednesday with Francine

Welcome to Inspiration Wednesday- todays inspiration is of course to inspire you to create some lovely Valentines layouts for the partner in your life. This week Adrienne gave me some My Minds Eye- State of Play papers which were very lovey dovey in muted reds and pinks and come with a diecut sheet which makes it easy to embellish your page with matching embellies.

Here is the layout i created using this line



I have had a big diecut heart shape in my stash since i first started scrapbooking years ago so thought that i would drag that out to use on this layout of my husband. i traced round the shape onto one of the papers in the range since my red diecut was too bright for the papers. Lots of inking around all the distressed edges to give a more masculine feel as well. i used some calico and ruched it up abit with some plain swirly stick on ribbon to look more masculine as well.

i made an envelope out of my scraps to write all my journalling in so that stays private!! A great idea for layouts where you want to Add heartfelt journalling that only you can open and read. Of course my layout woudn't be complete with out some flowery embellishments somewhere so i added this prima vine rather than flowers.

Why not make a layout of your loved one? It's easy to forget the partners- since most of our pages tend to be focussed on our adorable children!


I hope that this will inspire you to have a go and i hope to see some amazing layouts in the gallery coming up to Valentines Day on the 14th February.

Francine

Products Used

State of the Heart- Accessory Sheet
Full of Love paper
Love Meter
Sweet Nothings
Prima Valentine Vine - Red
Calico
Ribbon
Prima Red Alphabet stickers

Tweet

In the Spotlight

It's time to explain how the "Spotlight Patch" will work.

Anyone who enters ALL THREE CHALLENGES during the month (i.e. the monthly sketch challenge posted on the first Saturday of the month, and the 2 fortnightly challenges posted on the 1st and 15th of the month) will be eligible to be chosen for the SPOTLIGHT!

I will be choosing the person who will be in the spotlight each month. I will contact that person with a list of "get to know you" type questions. The answers to those questions, along with the layouts/OTPs that the person created for the 3 challenges, will then be featured on our site, on the blog, and in the newsletter.

In addition, I will be asking the lucky person to choose a sketch and to create a layout based on the sketch. This sketch, and the layout, will be posted around the middle of the following month as a "Weekend Challenge" (there will be no RAK for this one, it's just for fun).

I hope that all sounds good, and has inspired you to enter ALL of our challenges each month so that you are in to win!

We would love to see as many of you as possible "in the spotlight" this year. It's a great way to build up your confidence, try some new things, get your work noticed, inspire others, and most of all, have FUN!

The first person to be in the "Spotlight Patch" will be announced on or around the 6th of March.

Stay Tuned
Hannah

Tweet

February Sketch Challenge - Handmade with Love

Hi Ladies,
Welcome back to the challenges on the forum.

On the first Saturday of the month there will be a sketch challenge put up by one of the design team members. To be in the draw for the RAk and a chance to be the Designer in the Spotlight you need to enter all 3 challenges for the month. YOu have till the end of the month to upload your creations here to be in to win....

This months sketch is a Pagemaps one from October 2010 but thought that since its Valentines Day soon and the month of love that this sketch with all its hearts would be perfect... If you haven't checked out Pagemaps yet please visit their site on www.pagemaps.com ......... they have monthly sketches for 12 by 12 and double layouts and 8 by 11 sketches too.

With out further ado here is the sketch for this month... remember to keep in theme for this month- handmade with love...

And here is my version of this sketch- with sewing - a miracle for me- it really is handmade with love for me to attempt sewing!!

look forward to seeing your creations
Francine

Tweet

Wednesday Inspiration with Robbi

Well Hello Ladies welcome to our new and exciting Inspiration for 2011
firstly we have for you a couple from the Basic Grey - Hopscotch Line

This 1st sample is a very simple layout for you and could be adapted to turn on its side and have
4 photos going longways down the page, the good thing with a simple layout like this is that they look good as they are or you can keep going and "Robbi" them as you will see in the 2nd sample....



and here is the "Robbi-ed" Layout



Goodies used to create these layouts:-

Basic Grey - Hopscotch - Sidewalk Chalk
Basic Grey - Hopscotch - Suede Brown Medium Cardstock
Basic Grey - Wheat Cardstock
Websters Pages - Wonderfall - Trim Pack
Tim Holtz - Ornate Plates
Prima - Mini Roses - Fuschia Pink
Prima - Fairytale Roses - French White
Prima - Blossom Branches - Walnut
Prima - SIIP - Cream
Prima - Crystals/Pearls Platinum
7 Gypsies - 97% Complete Tags - Paddington
Tim Holtz - Hitch Fasteners
Prima - Jewel Box Princess Flower 531669
Prima - Tea Roses - Latte 537487
Misc - Lace, Chain, buttons, ribbon, metal butterfly, ribbed cardboard, sepia ink

I hope these 2 layouts have given you some inspiration and just remember create layouts that reflect you and the photo-(s) you are using, sometimes overdoing a layout just because you can doesn't make it a good layout, sometimes the right photo and papers are enough, the minimalistic look is always clean and tidy and not too much for the eye to take in......
Thanks for looking
Robbi

Tweet

Fortnightly Challenge - Ending 14th February

Well as promised we have changed the challenges for you this year, and our very first THEME is HANDMADE WITH LOVE, as February is Valentines we thought we would do something "lovey dovey". All the challenges this month will have something to do with this theme, but with a twist as there will be different elements to that challenge.

My challenge for you is a RECEIPE CHALLENGE, create a layout using pastel shades / hearts / twill or sewing / one photo / making your own embellishment.

Both Robbi and I have used the same range of papers from Basic Grey - the brand new HOPSKOTCH

Robbi has made her own tags as well as a TIM HOLTZ Flower.... I just love that FLOWER which Robbi has created, its just fabulous



Goodies Used were:-
BG Hopscotch - Jump Rope
BG Hopscotch - Potsy
Prima - Songbird Vine Pink - 539054
Misc - Lace, metals, button, ribbon
Hearts - 2 x metal hearts
Sewing - down edges
1 x Photo - Miss Emma
Handmade Embellies - Tags and Tim Holtz Flower

and here is my take on the challenge,



Goodies used
Bazzill Pinecone
Kick the Can PP
Skipping PP
Passing Notes
Hopskotch Ribbon Doillies
Pink Paislee Expressions Alpha Stickers - Ocean
[Basic Grey Pink Alpha stickers
Green Tara Brown / Taupe Flower 4cm

I created a little envelope using the diecut sheet from the Teresa Collins Noel range - I traced it onto the Basic Grey paper and then cut it out, as well as cutting some of the hearts from the Passing Notes PP, popped on a tag and a flower and there you go, your own handmade embellishment.

Upload your layout by the 14th February in the new gallery.

Remember you need to enter both fortnightly challenges for the month to be in to WIN the RAK from the shop.

HAPPY SCRAPPING

Tweet