Neanie - OUAS & Words + Paintery

So I figured I was about due to create a page that is completely not my normal style, although I don't consider myself as having 'a style' there are definitely styles I do a lot less then others. Plus I stumbled across a brand new blog challenge that would do just that.
But first things firsts. The layout.

(Nanna) Neanie

This page is a happy snap of my two crazy kiddies with their equally crazy Neanie (my mother).
That new challenge blog I referred to is Words & Paintery. So new in fact, that this is their first ever challenge.

Now the blog was a little light on exact details, but the idea is to embrace mixed media scrapbooking (something I don't often do and you know I like a challenge to be just that, a challenge). You are provided with colours and a word, as yet I am not sure whether the word is a technique to be used or a topic to be scraped (if the latter, woops).

I have done a bunch of painting incorporating the three challenges colours, which I mixed myself from dyslusion inks blue yellow and white, using a Heidi Swapp heart stencil over and over. I also did some messy stamping with some Kaisercraft texture stamps.

Every now and then I feel the need to make a page with more meaning then a happy snap. When that happens I head start to the Once Upon A Sketch challenge blog, they provide a sketch and a topic/prompt for journalling.

Novembers challenge prompt is 'inspiration'.
I split the journalling over two spots. The top is the more general, my usual, words about the who and what. 

While the journalling lower down is more in depth words, although I still wrote them in a light-hearted humorous way, it talks about how my mum has inspired me as a mum.

The gorgeous fabric heart is from Charms Creations (who, btw, is having a sale on the facebook page atm) I think I also took some inspiration from the pages she creates with the washi tape, sting, and doily.

As much as I dislike flowers on my pages, this page really did need them (I fought really hard too!)

Well that was my field trip into the world of mixed media. Maybe I will be back again...

XoXoX Nicole

Fabulous Darling - D-lish Scraps

With this layout a got a bit messy. Loved it! It came together super quickly (for me at least).

Oh So Fabulous Darling

I took inspiration for this page from the October Inspiration Board at D-Lish Scraps, another first time participate for this month.

I took a lot of inspiration form this one. First and foremost, the colours. I began the page by dripping a paint brush into the dylusions ink sprays green, pink and blue then added some spots of black too.

I did a quick round up of papers matching these colours and cut small strips laying them over the ink.

I couldn't resist adding these sunnies after noticing some in the board too.

Next I took the title directly from the inspiration board, all-be-it a bit sarcastically.
The washi tape down the sides could not be a more perfect match to the colour scheme.

After quickly jotting down the story at the bottom. The page was down. Yay for quick satisfying pages.
XoXoX Nicole

Big Sister - WW1

So my layout count for the month is a bit low so far. And this layout I share today is the reason. I spent a looooonng time on it and not for an obvious result.

Big Sister In Training

 The photo was taken in December 2012 not long after I discovered that bub #2 (now known commonly as Jayce) was on the way. Chloe loved (at still does) caring for her babies, giving them bottles, cuddles and tucking them into 'bed'. I used this photo to document about her super nice/caring nature and our confidence that she was going to be a great big sister.

I have once again taken on the White With 1 challenge, this time very happily as it is my favourite colour! Radiant Orchid aka purple!
Although it seems that the wider scrapping community does not sure my love for it. Very few companies produce anything purple (I have actually emailed a few on this topic) and many blog scraps recently have mentioned their dislike for it.

The hold up with this layout was not my usual issue, hesitation to cut the pretty paper, as it is mainly strips of scrap paper from various companies. It was the stitching. Although the papers were all purple they were many different tones and were in need of something to unify them. I decided on stitching which seemed like a simple yet effective solution, until my sewing machine decided to play silly-buggers on me.
Hence most of the stitching was done by hand. Wow was it time consuming!

The star and heart are hand made embellishments from the super generous and talented Charmane from Charms Creations.

Now that it is finally complete and my fingers have stopped bleeding hopefully I can quickly create some more layouts before the month is out.
XoXoX Nicole

P.S. I already have an idea for the next WW1 and I don't even know the colour yet. I believe it has become my favourite monthly challenge.

Gammy & Gunnie - SUYS

So I am finally sharing a layout that has actually been finished for over a week now.

It just kept floating around my desk, getting moved to and fro, as I just wasn't 100% happy with it. To be honest I still feel that something might be missing.

Gammy & Gunnie

This month I discovered a new-to-me challenge blog, Show Us Your Stuff, which provides a piece of inspiration (sketch/mood board) and asks that you use a hand made item on the page. Octobers challenge is the sketch below.

I LOVE this sketch. It was an absolute MUST for this month. The handmade item included is a flair button from APOCD. 

It was this section in the picture above that was giving me the drama while completing the page, not sure if it is still missing something...

The journaling has been hand written with a white pen and tells the story of the nicknames and love from my aunt and uncle to my daughter Chloe. I thought it was about time I started scrapping the other people in my kiddos lives. Many of them are just as important if not more. And they are two extremely loved little people.

The flower is an old blossom from Bella Blvd and all the papers are also Bella Blvd, the Family Forever collection, rather fitting hey.

Thanks for popping in. Hope you like the page. I intend to create many more on Chloe and Jayces extended family, even the non related ones.
XoXoX Nicole.

Our Lil Bub - Scrap & Play

After an enjoyable venture into the card making word, I am back with the usual, a bright layout of my kiddies.

Our Lil Bub

Surprise. Surprise. This layout has been inspired by a sketch. This time from Scrap & Play a fairly new scrapbooking challenge blog. The challenges vary from colour combos, words plays and sketches. Challenge #11 is the sketch below.

For this layout I have used only Bella Blvd. 90% from the Molly collection. I was totally shocked to discover that I had not used ANY of it yet. Well that certainly had to be fixed!

I fiddled with different supplies to create the 'banners' behind the photo strip from the sketch, I considered paper strips, washi tape, flowers and finally decided on the feathers. Thought it was something new to try and had the perfect colours to match Chloes dress.

Also because of the dress I had to include at least one flower. The Baby Blooms from Bella Blvd where again just perfect for the page.

I didn't have a title in mind when I created the page, so it was a last minute. The 'everyday girl' die cut was again just what the page needed, as these are just photos of Chloe that I like.

Thanks for checking out my layout.
XoXoX Nicole.

Two Crazy Kiddies - Bo Bunny & My Creative Sketches

So. This post is going to be short and sweet with terrible picture quality for now. It is well past my bed time!
Tonight I created my third ever double page layout of my two crazy kiddies on a shopping trip to Kmart. My previous two-pagers have had varying success, the first was certainly not a masterpiece, in fact I don't think I ever completely finished it, and the second was picked up and published in the American magazine Scrapbook and Cards Today.

2 Crazy Kiddies

The photos are from a shopping trip to Kmart wear these beanies were just screaming to be worn! I couldn't help myself and popped one on each and snapped some quick pics. I am a very indecisive person so shopping trips can drag out a bit but doing silly lil things like this help keep the kiddos happy, well... tolerable.
The title and journalling are more about shopping trips in general and other silly things I do to while they are in the trolley to ward off tears and tantrums.
This page combines two sketch challenges.

The first page is from My Creative Sketches September Sketch and looks like the above. Can you see the resemblance? It was the Bo Bunny - Our Lil Monster 'Rawr' paper which married these photos with this sketch for me.

The second page was based on the Bo Bunny September Sketch challenge. I loved this sketch as circles are an element that I rarely use but know they create great effects.

I used only the Bo Bunny Our Lil Monsters collection for this page. I have wanted it since its reveal but could not find it until a holiday trip which just so happened to drive directly past a scrapbook store! Yay.

The few times I have created a double page layout I insist on putting embellishments over the page split to help unify them and to make my life more difficult this time I did so with a banner.

 Each letter has been fussy cut from the All Star paper then stuck over the string.

An assortment of fitting words have been stuck near the two separate photos.

That is all for now.
I will be back again with better pictures when the sun is high and I have had a reasonable amount of coffee!
XoXoX Nicole

Not So Beachy Keen - Creative & Sassy Scrappers

A very big hello to summer!!! Wait. What. Its only September. Who cares, this weather is gorgeous!

I am again outside while the kiddies play lathered in sunscreen (they got my skin, poor lil things) on a perfect 30 degree day. And it is meant to stay this way the whole week! High five Mother Nature.

Anyway. On to the business. Today I share a layout of Chloe back in April last year when she had her first full beach experience, she wasn't a fan...

Not So Beachy Keen

The page design is based on Creative Scrappers sketch number 277. To make it my own I switched triangle for shells.

Meanwhile the inspiration to scrap this photo came from the September Mood Board at the online store Sassy Scrappers.
I must confess, during our holiday to Mollymook two weeks I ago, I may have staged a photo or two with this scrappy challenge in mind (you know your a scrapper once that happens!) but couldn't stop thinking about the difference between her first time and now. So I thought it best to get that on paper asap.

Unlike last months Sassy Mood Board entry HERE, this time I was inspired by the overall 'feel/topic' and mostly the top right image, such as the title.

 My partner loves terrible puns, so after reading the image words I couldn't help but make the title a play on words from the saying 'peachy keen'.

The quote on this PL card could not be more perfect because that is exactly what happened.
With my continued effort to journal more I decided to write about both beach experiences that lend me to this page. I journaled the photo-relevant details in clear view onto the background itself.

And used this extremely relevant PL card to hide the 'now' contrast details.

Thank you muchly for checking out my page.

I hold very high hopes of being able to create another page before months end (yes I do realise that is tomorrow... I pray for an early night for the kids!)

XoXoX Nicole

First Day - ACC & Scrap Our Stash

Ever since this photo was taken I knew it would have to be scrapped as it was such a big moment for my kiddos, but my guilt over the subject matter kept me from putting anything together... 

First Day

This is a pic snapped before my kids first ever day at day care when I returned to work last year. Looking back I am still shocked that I was comfortable sending my kids (esp Jayce - soo young) but I was able to take them to work with me at an on-site childcare with a fantastic reputation. Anyway I won't harp on about the personal side of this, it could get very long and heated...

It was the September Scrap Our Stash Stash Challenge #18 that finally made me revisit this photo and finally create the page. As per the challenge I have used lined/ruled paper, chalkboard paper, pencil, alphas, apple, book and ruler.

The layout of the page was based on the September Sketch at the Australian online scrap store Anna's Craft Cupboard.

I stitched the fussy cut 'pocket' on to the page so that it can be used as a pocket and hide my long journalling about the day and my feelings and why I sent my kids to day care. It is on the day' card that pulls out and is hand written on both sides... I had a lot to say.

I also fussy cut out the apple and books from Simple Stories Smarty Pants paper, in fact most of the page is from that collection.

Thanks for stopping by.
Come back again soon!
XoXoX Nicole