Inspiration Wednesday - Melissa Frances - Part 2

Hi Ladies and welcome to Inspiration Wednesday. I have another layout to share using the beautiful soft colours of the 5th Avenue line by Melissa Frances. This range is beautifully soft and would be great for baby photos as it has both pink , blue and soft green elements- as well as both girl and boy layouts. This range has stunning embellishments that make creating not only fun but easy as well.

This layout shows my third daughter in a common activity at the moment - busy scribbling or drawing in her notebooks- she is almost ready for school and it is neat to see her start to take an interest in writing!

Here is my layout

I am in love with these gorgeous Spellbinder dies that help you to create stunning flowers from your left over papers! The Websters trim is nice and pink and sparkly and the mistables are easy to glimmermist in the right shade for your layout !

I hope that you will have a play with some of these papers and products!

Happy Scrapping

Francine

Products Used

Melissa Frances- Chipboard embellishments

Melissa Frances- 5th Avenue- Rhinestones

Melissa Frances- 5th Avenue- Sticker Book

Melissa Frances- 5th Avenue paper- Ebony

Melissa Frances paper- Antonia

Melissa Frances paper- Essie

Melissa Frances paper- Geraldine

Melissa Frances paper- Pearl

Websters- Feather Fancy Trim - Pink

Prima- Londonerry Resist Canvas Shapes

Martha Stewart Punch- Large Monarch Butterfly

Spellbinders Die

Doily

Silver thread

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Fancy Pants - To The Moon

Hi everyone,

It is a long weekend here in New Zealand and after celebrating the nail biting win over the French last night in the Rugby World Cup final. I know I can speak for myself when I say that I have appreciated the extra day of weekend!!

Now it is time for me to reveal my second lot of design team inspiration for the month from the Fancy Pants - To The Moon range. This is an uber fun range for all those little (and maybe not so little boys in your life). Full of bright bold colours, fun patterns and lots of cool matching embellishments.

The first layout I created using the Robots patterned paper as the background of my layout and then added lots of embellishments by cutting out the banner and stars, "All Boy" and the little Robot from the Strips patterned papers. Which is a great way of creating lots of cool embellishments but doesn't break the bank. I then finished off the layout with some circles from the Aliens patterned paper and adding some of the Rubons.

My second layout from this range, I didn't specifically have photos about robots, martians or even space ships but instead I used the sentiments in the Rubons to match the papers in with the photo of Liam.

I have mixed up the patterned papers in this layout to include a small amount of MME Lime Twist which I think works really well with the colours in this range. I created the title by cutting out the words on the rubons individually to make them flow better around my circle and of course adding the spaceship to the layout as well. I didn't need to do much to the background of this paper as it is fun all on its own but I did cut a piece out behind my photo and used this for piece for some of the rubons and pop dotted them up to give the layout more definition. I have also used the Tim Holtz Rosette Die to and then mounted the planet rubon in the middle of it as it's centre.

That is all from me for now. Thanks for visiting and I hope you had a great weekend!!

//Michelle

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Alla Prima Inspiration Take 2

Hi everyone,

I am so excited to share with you all my second layout using the Alla Prima collection. The more I work with this collection the more I love it. Again, I have used a beachy photo of Liam on our 'walk' down to Cathedral Cove last summer, I love how the greens and the blues of the hills and the ocean tone in with the hues of the patterned papers.

Here is my layout:

I have used this Prima Brick Fence Mask to create a simple yet really effective background to form the basis of my layout. Next I fussy cut out the leaves and vines from the reverse side of the Low Key patterned paper to frame the left hand side of my photo. Lastly, I added a flower cluster and misted the Londonerry - Resist Canvas Shapes with Studio Calico Mister Huey's Mist.

I hope you have enjoyed my second layout that I have created with the Alla Prima collection. I know it is one of my favourites and Prima has managed to create another amazing and easy to use range with this collection.

Have a great day!
// Michelle

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Step by Step with Melissa Frances

Hi Ladies and welcome to Tuesday Step by Step. I thought that i would try something different today and something that i have seen quite alot on the internet recently. Today i want to share a  step by step layout that shows you how i pull everything together. This is the finished layout that is the end product!

I was delighted when Adrienne gave me the new Melissa Frances to have a play with this month as it is very much my style and so beautiful! i love the soft pastel colours and all the matching embellishments- it makes building a layout very easy!

So i guess the first thing that i think of is story that i want to tell and what photo/s can i use to tell this story. I wanted to do a layout about my sweet four year old who always picks me flowers- everytime she sees one she picks one for me- and on this day i said to Lucy- " thank you for all the beautiful flowers that you give  me" and she said- "its because i love you mum". Awww so sweet. So i knew that i wanted to have this story as the feature of my page- usually i have hidden journalling on my pages but this time i wanted to have the story out there in front. Of course i didn't have an actual photo of her giving me flowers so i used one of my portrait photos that i try to take every month of each girl. Then i can add the journalling that i want that will go with my photo.

So once i have decided on my story and photos i then collect all my products together and lay them out on my desk. For me a page isn't me if i don't have at least 3 papers as i like to use lots of layering so once i have my 3 papers i then work on my embellishments. I bascially collect all the matching embellies that i have that go with the papers- this is easy as i tend to always buy some of the matching embellies that go with a range of papers that i like- but dig through your stash- look for elements that can be cut out of papers and packaging too- the lady in the cluster on the left was cut out of the packaging from the pearls i used. If you don't have matching embellishments- use white and glimmermist or colour them to match up!

You will notice that not everything in the picture got used- once i have my base sorted then i have a play around and see what looks good.

So the next step is arranging a good base for me to build the layout and embellishments on. So i cut my papers and arranged them like so. A couple of layers behind my photo and a small doily to break up the squareness of my layering is next before i add a punched layer going across the page. Because the papers are quite light i tend to always ink all the paper edges so that they stand out from each other too.

Because of the oval shape of the pattern on the paper - i wanted to emphasise that so i adhered some ribbon around the oval shape to give it some dimension and interest as well. A few more layers of stickers across the punched horizontal piece and i am happy that i have a good base to now have a play with some embellishments.

The embellishing stage takes by far the longest - and a fair bit of moving things around and adding and taking different things off till i am happy with how things sit. Quite often i will go away and then come back after 5 minutes and it can give you a different perspective and you can move things to a better place! I usually have 2 main embellishment clusters - one larger than the other with a mixture of sizes and shapes and dimensions for interest. You just have to play till you are happy!

I kept this cluster quite simple- with flowers. leaves, butterfly and the handcut lady - i had a tag and canvas pieces and chipboard pieces too that eventually got eliminated! They just didn't look right as they were too square or rectangular next to the rounder flowers. I added a square resin piece to the smaller cluster which looked better to me.

So here was the finished product again...with the title added to emphasise the story that i was telling in my journalling...

I hope this helps you see some of my creative processes and how i put a layout together... and helps you to maybe try a few new ways to create too....

Happy Scrapping

Francine

Products Used

Melissa Frances- 5th Avenue- Chipboard pieces
Melissa Frances- 5th Avenue - Rhinestones
Melissa Frances- 5th Avenue- Sticker Book
Melissa Frances- 5th Avenue paper- Geraldine
Melissa Frances- 5th Avenue paper- Hattie
Melissa Frances- 5th Avenue Paper- Minerva
Melissa Frances- Resin Frame- Newstand
Prima Ribbon
Prima Flowers
Martha Stewart Punch- Deep EdgeHearts
Martha Stewart Butterfly punch
Spellbinders Butterfly die
Petaloo Flower
Prima alphas

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Second challenge for October

Hi Ladies and welcome to the second challenge for October. All entries are due by the 31st of October and don't forget that you are in the draw to win some great prizes from Adrienne. You also get  a chance to be in the spotlight and have your layouts featured on the blog and in the newsletter as well assetting a sketch challenge for others to complete.

This challenge is a really easy one- i would like you to try a technique that you haven't ever tried before on your page- on my page i used a piece of discarded paper from the back of a felt flourish. I literally grabbed it out of the rubbish bin and used it as a mask on my page- i couldn't find my glimmermist that i wanted so i inked it instead!

I would love to see what you all try on your pages- if you are stuck as to what technique you could try - have a look at the past technique Tuesdays- on the blog page go on the search box and type in Technique Tuesdays and a list should come up from previous posts to give you some ideas. Maybe you already have something in mind that you have always wanted to try- now is the time!!

Here is my layout using the masking technique

I am looking forward to seeing what you come up with - make sure you mention what technique you have tried- so that others can see and learn from you too!

Happy Scrapping

Francine

Products Used

Prima - Printery-Monogram

Printery- Page Four

Printery- Signature

Prima - Raja Centres - Brown

Prima- Shabby Chic Resin - Birdhouses

Tim Holtz- film strip

Kaisercraft- Black Flourish

Petaloo and Kaisercraft Flowers

Imaginarium Chipboard title

(JUst wanted to add that this was based on a sketch for Little Shop of Sketches . )

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OTP Inspiration

Hi Everyone!
Ive had some fun creating with Dusty Attic 6x6 frames with more of Websters Pages Western Romance.  The one thing I love about Websters Pages is with a little bit of fussy cutting you get embellishments from your paper with out the cost of having to buy some to match. 
Ive honestly never been a fan of their reverse sides though - I used to look at them and think how do you go from something so beautiful to this?, and I never saw the benefit of them and could never get them to 'fit' with my scrapping.  This time I decided to take down my mind block and see what I could do with them.
This is the first of my frames - they come in packs of two, one has a window type of effect and the other uses the negative elements of the 'window'.  You'll see what I mean.
This first frame uses the reverse of "Line Dance" - a lovely bright yellow, with the front of the paper as well.  I've also used some Prima flowers from my stash, some old Basic Grey rubons and a fabric ticket that I have cut down to a smaller size.  This frame uses the negative of the 'window'.

The second frame is the 'window' frame.  Ive used two different papers from the same range, and fussy cut some of the flowers and layered them with foam dots for dimension.  I've also used another fabric ticket and inked the edges with Pinecone Ink.  The door lock and key is Melissa Frances. Tucked in behind my Prima cluster is a canvas resist silhouette that you could ink or spray with glimmermist but Ive chosen to keep it in its original form.  Ive also added a Websters push pin and tied my double using ribbon binding.  Both frames also come with their own little stands too!

I hope this has given you some ideas in how to utilise some of these awesome products!

Happy scrapping!!

Megan

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Alla Prima Inspiration

Hi everyone,

In my design kit this month I was lucky to receive some gorgeous Prima papers and embellishments from the Alla range. The Alla Prima collection includes a lovely mix of teals, mustard yellows soft browns, with a hint of olive tones which make it so versatile for both masculine and femine layouts. It would also be perfect to scrap those summer beachy photos as the colours mirror the sand and the sea.

I have one layout to share with you right now of my daughter Taylor on her first camping trip at Hahei beach last summer. I have actually used the Prima October BAP sketch to form the basis of my layout as well as the Prima Alla Papers, I have also included Jute Daisies, extra flowers, Prima bling, some Prima packaging, utilised various border punches and the English Rose Cherry Lynn die.

Products used:
All Prima Collection - Composition
Alla Prima Collection - Ferrulle
Alla Prima Collection - Motif
Prima Londonerry Canvas Resist Shapes
Jute Daisies
Martha Stewart Doily Punch
Martha Stewart Butterfly Punch Trio
Prima Bling
Prima Flowers Reflections

This is another fabulous collection by Prima which I am sure is selling fast in the shop. I really enjoyed creating with this collection and I will have another layout to show you in the next couple of weeks so stay tuned!!

Thanks
//Michelle

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Tech Tuesday - Paper Piecing 101

Hi everyone, Sarah here with the basics on paper piecing. Some of you have been asking about this fun and simple technique...so here's the low down. I'm using this adorable Snag 'em stamp.

Begin by stamping your image onto paper or your project and onto the paper you want to piece with. I'm going to cut this out, so I'm using a scrap piece of card. This is a great technique for using scraps of paper!

Colour the parts of your image that won't be pieced. It's best to colour first, any mistakes will then be covered up.

Cut around the pieced shape - here's the important part - I like to cut ON the lines. You'll get the best result this way. For a shape with lots of parts like the stripes on this stocking, just keep it all together in once piece, we'll add the second pattern over top.

I love this Tombow adhesive for piecing. Add a little all over the are to be pieced, you don't need much.

Lay down the piecing, being sure to line it up correctly. Because you cut on the lines, this is really easy.

I decided to add a second colour for some of the stripes. Cut out the basic shape again, ommiting the fiddly part at the top which you won't use anyway.

Cut out the pieces you will need. Adhere with Tombow directly over the original piecing.

You're done! I'll be using this little guy on a project I'll share soon. See you next month with some more advanced piecing options!

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In the Spotlight 'Just for Fun' Sketch Challenge from Andrea

Andrea has created this gorgeous sketch as well as a lovely example using the new Kaisercraft Bonjour range.  Join in this fun sketch by uploading your take to the gallery by 31 October

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This month's Spotlight is on ...

... Andrea Davey!

I would like to share Andrea's winning layouts. Here's her layout for September's sketch challenge:



And here are her layouts for September's fortnightly challenges:





And so you can all get to know Andrea better, I conducted a little interview:

1. Tell us a little about yourself - your family, where you live, etc.
I live in Lincoln with my husband Tony who I have been married to for coming up to 15 years in November, with our two children Lucas (9) and Brie-anne (8). My kids like most people are my inspiration and many pages are done on what we have been doing in our life and these memories can be shared and passed on to the next generation. We moved down from Auckland 5 years ago and even with all the earthquakes and aftershocks we wouldn’t move back as we like the lifestyle in Lincoln (10 minutes from Christchurch) as it is semi rural. This seems to be changing a bit now though with so many people moving out this way. We own our own business so my scrapbooking time is limited to a couple of hours on a Sunday afternoon. The kids know that if they want anything it has to be asked for before lunch time Sunday otherwise it’s not going to happen as that’s my time.

2. How long have you been scrapbooking?
8 years.

3. What got you into scrapbooking?
I started scrapbooking when Lucas was 1, as I was taking so many photos and I didn’t know what to do with them. That’s when I did a basic class at Spotlight and then other classes at the Mt Eden scrapbooking store to get ideas and skills.

4. Where do you get most of your inspiration from?
Most of my ideas come from the photo or paper and also by the challenges that are set by the design team. When I don’t have much time having some guidelines makes it easier for me to come up with an idea so a sketch to follow is great.

5. If you had to choose just THREE scrapbooking products, what would they be and why?
Basic cardstock, I seem to use this quite often as a starting block and I have lots of different colours. I think this is because I find it hard cutting up pretty paper.
Double sided tape as it can be used to stick lots of different things down.
Mesh ribbon as it adds interest to a layout yet doesn’t take over the page.

6. Who are your favourite celebrity scrapbookers?
I don’t really have time to surf the internet to get ideas but I have gained heaps of ideas from looking at Heidi’s pages and sitting next to her at the retreat I got inspired by her suggestions – yes Heidi I now use a lot more ink (a wee hint from her).

7. Your favourite quote is ....
"Live, Love and Laugh - this is how life should be."

I hope you have all enjoyed seeing Andrea's work and getting to know her better. Stay tuned, because in a couple of weeks we will be posting a special "just for fun" weekend sketch challenge based on a sketch chosen by Andrea (as well as her interpretation of it).

Congratulations Andrea, on being this month's winner. I hope you've enjoyed being "In The Spotlight" (and it's not over yet)!

Hannah

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Product Focus: Chalkboard Glimmermist and more!

Hi everyone, Sarah here with a product focus. Today we'll be talking about the awesome Chalkboard Glimmermist, Distress Stains from Ranger and Prima Mistables.

I created this tag with all three products....

For a more in depth look and discusion about these fun supplies, here's a video (where I call the Londonerry Prima range Londonberry! oops!):

View full size here at You Tube

I hope you've enjoyed a peek at these wonderful products!

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Inspiration Wednesday- Scrapping your old Christmas Photos

Hi Ladies and welcome to Inspiration Wednesday!

This week Adrienne gave me some of the lovely Making Memories - Noel range to play with.  These papers are in the traditional colours of muted reds and greens and come with some lovely embellishments to make your layout come together very easily!

I chose to scrap the highlight of my eldest daughters Christmas last year- finally getting her Ripstick! ( an areodynamic skateboard that you have to wiggle to move)- it was at the very top of her list to Santa and so she was very excited to open up that parcel and see her ripstick!

Here is my layout

As you can see i used lots of star embellishements that i cut from one of the patterned papers and also used some of the gorgeous brads that compliment this range. I cut up a Prima gold Xmas vine and placed it around my photos to make a frame.

Here are some close ups of my embellishments

I hope that you will give this range a go - its great for your traditional photos and for Black and white and because the colours are so neutral the range would be great for some boy pages too!

Happy Scrapping

Francine

Products Used

Making Memories - Noel- Brad Combo 

My Minds Eye- Noel paper - Collage 

Making Memories - Noel paper - Poinsettia Ledger

Making Memories - Noel - Postage Stripe paper

Prima Gold Christmas Vine

Prima Flowers- red

String

Alphas

Bracket

Making Memories range- paper and titles

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OTP Challenge

Hi Everyone!
I have a card making challenge for you today.  Recently in my DT kit I received some gorgeous Websters Pages product - Western Romance papers, with fabric tickets, ribbon and flowers.  As much as I love their papers I have never bought the fabric embellishments myself, I looked at them and not a skerit of creativity came forth and all that had to change when I saw my kit this month :)

So my challenge to you is to create a card that uses a product you would normally shy away from, and to make an easel card instead of a standard shape card.  Heres how to make the easel card:

Take one piece of cardstock  12 x 12" and cut it in half.  Then take one of those halves and and cut it in half again.  So you should end up with one piece 6x12" and two pieces 6x6"

Take your 6 x12" piece and fold it in half to create a 6x6" card.  Now fold the front of the card in half towards the top.  It should look like this:

Decorate the inside of the card as desired.  You will need to include ribbon in the base of your card, it acts like a door stopper for the top piece to catch on.  You can add this later once you have a better idea of where you want it to sit.  To make your 'catch' you could use flowers or ribbon or even a double layer of cardstock.

Now take one of your 6x6" pieces of cardstock.  This will be the front of your card, decorate as desired.
Adhere double sided tape to the  top fold of your card and apply the decorated piece of cardstock to it.
Heres mine:

I have used Spellbinders Labels 22 and Picot Edge circles.  One piece of the fabric ribbon has little letters on it so I have cut out three of them and raised them with foam to create a small cluster on my base.  I have also cut out the surround of the ticket and mounted it on cardstock.  All products used are from Websters Western Romance with the exception of the seam binding ribbon, Prima rosebud and misc heart pins.

So, I  have to say, the fabic products were actually easy to use :) and just like paper you can cut them up to suit your needs!
Happy Scrapping!!

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October Sketch Challenge

As Michelle still has no, or very limited, internet access due to her recent house move I am posting the October sketch challenge on her behalf :)  And I have for you a multi photo double page layout!!!!  I love doing these myself and hope you enjoy this just as much as I have.

You have until 31 October to upload your take on this to our gallery.  To be eligible to win the RAK from Adrienne you need to enter at least 3 of the challenges of the monthly challenge as well as getting the chance to be in the spotlight. You will be interviewed and your interview and examples of your creations will be posted on the forum so that we can all get to know you and your fabulous work.

Happy Scrapping!!!
Adrienne

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October Challenge- Scraplift your Favourite

Hi Ladies and Welcome to the first challenge for October! This month i thought that we would change it up a little from the usual challenges- there will be no theme for the month of October- we listened to your feedback and decided to drop the themes for the rest of the year- so you can scrap whatever and whoever that you choose!! So we are hoping to see alot more  of you competing and sharing your layouts with us in the gallery!

For this first challenge i would like you to scraplift one of your favourite designers but also putting your own twist on their layout -  it shouldn't be an exact scraplift down to the last detail. Please tell us who you are scraplifting and why you like their style so much. If you can please leave a link to their layout or blog page so that we can see what you are scraplifting! It's very important to honour the designer that you are scraplifting- they have put alot of time and effort and love into their work so that we can all  be inspired by them!

My favourite designer at the moment is Camilla Eckman from Sweden. She currently designs for Zva Creative, Swirlydoos Scrapbook kits and Get Picky-and of course Glitz Designs amongst others too. She has a beautiful elegant style with lots of beautiful layering, punching, flowers and bling!! Please check out her blog at http://camillaslillasida.blogspot.com/ to see the layout that i have scraplifted.

Here is my version- also using the same papers as i just love this Glitz range SOOOO much- as you can see i have scraplifted the base of the layout but changed the photo- she had one - i added 2 photos and i have embellished mine differently to hers but have been heavily inspired by her beautiful style!

Products Used
Glitz Designs- Laced with Grace-Floral
Laced with Grace- Butterflies
Prima Flowers
Kaisercraft Hunt and Gather- Tags
Cheery Lyn Leaf Flourish Die
Lace
Trim
Green Tara rose buds
Green Bazill
Kaisercraft Rubons

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