BathTime - WW1

Time for another crop day share. This is the first layout I created on the day and really got me in the groove as it came together so easily and ending looking better then I'd expected.

These photos are clearly from quite away ago now (Chloe is about to celebrate her 3rd birthday). The inspiration to finally put them on a page came from the July challenge over at White With 1. This is a challenge blog that asks you to use only white and one other colour. Monochrome is something WAY out of my comfort zone! So I have been meaning to play along for ages! I love to try new tricks/techniques.

I actually start this page before the crop day by prepping my background white cardstock. First I found some 'duck egg' cardstock and mixed paint to match plus a little water, then I placed some of the Hazel & Ruby Confetti Pattern Stencil Mask randomly around the page. I am seriously in love with these! If any Aussie retailers are reading this please stock these stencil masks!! They are amazing!!!

Then using a sponge I spread my colour mix over the page. I went back over with a little white in places. Finally I used a very small tipped paint brush to add details in each circle to make them look more like bubbles.

For added detail on the background I hand stitched around a few random 'bubbles'. This seems to be a very popular trend lately and I plan to do more too.

I thought creating a monochrome layout would be super hard, trying to embellish and create interest in only one colour?!? But in fact it was liberating! I just gathered all my embellishment that are that colour into a bag and when it can time to put it together pull things only from here.

The only thing that I am not 100% happy with on this layout is the journalling. I could of written something much better/more descriptive. And I have now just released I have not put the date on this page yet. Woops. 

I will be doing another WW1 challenge again for sure!! Esp if I get the chance to go to another crop anytime soon (fingers crossed)
XoXoX Nicole

Mr. Whippy - Paper Secrets

Back again with another crop day layout to share. It was my quickest page for the day, under an hour!

This one is a newish (actually that reminds me I need to look up the date...) shot of Chloe enjoying her first ever Mr. Whippy ice cream. Needless to say she loved it and very surprisingly didn't spill a drop.

Mr Whippy

This page was based on the current challenge for July at Paper Secrets. The idea is to use the sketch (below)  and a scrappy item beginning with each letter in a chosen word. This months words is SPLASH. I have used S-Stripped paper. P- Polka-dot paper. L-Letters. A-Arrows. S-Sun. H-Hearts.

For this layout I went back to my Simple Stories Good Day Sunshine collection and have used only it. I am getting good use out of this one! So far 3 complete layouts almost entirely made from it and a forth in the making soon...

Check out that ice cream truck chipboard piece, I'm sure it was designed for this page!
I felt a little bit like the edges were too blunt, hence doodled around a few to break them up.

I am also linking this layout up at Paper Issues for their current Issue: Gettin' the Scoop on the Sweet Days of Summer link party. A great spot to get some extra summery inspiration from other scrappers.

Thanks for stopping by. More to share soon, so don't be a stranger, come again!
XoXoX

6 m.o. - ACC & Scrap Our Stash

So if you dropped by last week, I shared the tid-bit that I was attending a crop on the weekend. I am pleased to say I actually made it to this crop and did manage to create almost 4 pages (3 complete and 1 that just isn't sitting right yet with me) which I will be sharing over the next week.

First cab off the rank is a page featuring my most favourite photo of Jayce EVER! I LOVE this photo! I think it is a mix of the colours and the eyes and his super huge smile.

6 m.o.

The layout combines two current scrappy challenges for this month. The first being my good ol' faithful sketch challenge at the Australian online scrap store Annas Craft Cupboard.

The second comes courtesy of Scrap Our Stash and their latest Stash Challenge #16 which is a shopping list for you to choose 5 items and find them in your personal supplies. I have used wood veneer, stars, washi tape, flair button and a paper clip (close ups of each below).

I have had the Elle's Studio Cameron collection hiding in my stash for a looong time. Once I stumbled on this photo again I knew they were going together! Esp this background paper. The pre-printed cluster down the left side already had the perfect words for this photo. But I added extra to it for added omph.

The 'A smile is contagious' is a stamp that a lady next to me at the crop was generous enough to let me borrow! It is super suitable for this page.

You may have noticed I love to fussy cut around the natural lines of patterned paper. Maybe I'm just no good at original thought. I just can't help it.

And yes I am now going back to look at the layout again and see if the photo is in fact not at all straight! I really hope its straight!! Going to drive me crazy otherwise!
XoXoX Nicole

Edit. Very happy to note, this layout was chosen in the top 3 for Scrap Our Stash.Thank you for your support.

Scrappy Plans

So after months and months, actually probably more like years!!! I will finally be attending my second ever crop day!
I am very excited to go, more so than I expected! Especially after a few failed attempts to make it, even paying the fee but then having to cancel at the last minute (darn kids).
My first ever crop day was a bit of a failure, I don't think I completed one entire layout... This time the hardest part should be deciding which layout to do first!
This is normally a tid-bit that I'd keep to myself but hopefully by filling you guys in I'll be extra driven to get lots of scrapping done knowing you will be awaiting heaps and lots of shares next week.
Heres to a child-free scrapping session!!
XoXoX Nicole

Teddy Bear - My Creative Sketches

Welcome to the 2nd half of the year. Still hard to believe we are already here.
I have another 'My Mr Man' series layout to share with you today. If you would like you check out the other layouts from this series I invite you to use the 'Content' labels which you can find listed at the bottom of the right sidebar.
The picture is of Jayce looking particularly cute in his super fluffy suit on a shopping trip, I think he stole a few hearts this outing.

My Mr Teddy Bear Man

This photo has been printed and hanging around my scrappy mess since it was taken in November last year, almost teasing me to be scrapped. But when I saw the Webster's Pages Hello World collection announcement I knew I had to be strong and wait to match these two up!

This layout is designed around the June sketch from My Creative Scrappers.
Normally a sketch instantly inspires me and I know that I must use it asap, however I wasn't completely sold with this one. I printed it out anyway and it seemed to gradually grow on me until that light bulb moment did finally hit.

It was the lighter triangles in the corners and the dashed lines that brought the layout together, they made me think of transparencies and stitching respectively.

The idea of stitching over the clothes line on the transparencies just seemed logically to me.

It was the triangles to the left of the photo in the sketch that kept me from jumping on this sketch, everything I thought of/tried took anyway from my photo too much. Eventually good ol' never going out of style chevrons came to my rescue.

The 'smile' charm is from the Websters 'Record It' collection my equal favourite Websters collection.

You may notice that the absolutely perfect sticker 'can you believe how cute this is?' has a bit of extra colour... That would be Chloes addition =( thanks bub.
XoXoX Nicole.

Edit: I am very pleased to note that this page was chosen in the top 3 at My Creative Sketches. Thank you so very much for your support.

Oh No - Scrap The Boys

Wow! 30/06. Half the year done and dusted! Seriously, time just slow down!!
I have with me today a Jayce layout with a photo taken just over a week ago. This kid is SUCH a BOY! At just over 1 year old he can't walk yet but is climbing like a pro! I have my hands very full trying to keep him down.

Oh No. He's A Climber!

This months challenge over a Scrap The Boys is to use a large photo, 5x7 or bigger.
After I took this photo (and the heart beat slowed back to normal) I knew it had to be scrapped because it perfectly shows what this kid is like atm and with STB inspiration to go big it helps depicted how much of a feet this was. I used an arrow to show were Jayce was before I walked away for mere seconds.

I have used the Bella Blvd 'Max' collection for this page. A collection which at first I wasn't super keen on, I didn't think I would get much use out of it but it turned out to be perfect for this guy.
I have used a few of the skull and crossbones embellishments to show the danger of the situation. Plus the army men and camo patterns are perfect to match his sense of adventure crawling through the garden.

Along with the 'Max' collection I dug out some super old 'Making the Team', in particular a piece of paper called 'Fan Club' which I have been fussy cutting speech bubbles from and sneaking them into a number of my pages lately (such as this one).
I have also fussy cut a couple of appropriate words from the Max 'Thats My Boy' and stuck them in the darker parts of the picture for subtle detail.

I have used a tag from the 'Paper Pieces' pack to hide my journaling under the photo for no other reason then I forgot to leave room for it on the page.
It reads "20/06/14 Picture taken after I quickly ducked inside for mere seconds. Earlier he stuck his head around the bathroom door, not a big deal except for the 7 curved stairs that were between us! Oh dear! He is a climber!"

To me the title reads across the photo 'oh no, he's a climber!' and I'm sure Jayce is taunting me to keep up if I can, he is QUICK!
XoXoX Nicole
P.S he was not hurt and I quickly lifted him down.

Water Dragon - Purple Pumpkin

Hello everyone.

How are we today? What is the weather like in your part of the world? Sydney has been windy and horrible for 3 days now making the kids and I stir crazy but scraping some happy summer photos that bit extra pleasing.

I finally have another layout to add to the 'My Mr Man' series about Jayce. Taking the total to only 3 but plenty more in planning. You can view the other two here and here. 

My Mr Water Dragon Man

This kid LOVES the water. Jumps in any chance he gets whether it be shower, bath, pool or puddle. He got this super cute swimming outfit from my mother for Christmas so I HAD to snap a few shots the first time he wore it (and everytime since)

The layout of the page was inspired by the current sketch challenge over at Purple Pumpkin, a super cute embellishment shop. Can you see the resemblance? 

Like my previous page, this one also uses only Simple Stories 'Good Day Sunshine' collection. I was actually working on them both at the same time to ensure I didn't use something on one page I wanted for the other.

I LOVE the colours in this collection. So bright and happy. Plus like any SS collection there are plenty for embellishments to match! I have used a bunch of the brads on this page, two of which hold the twine banner.

There is absolutely no glue involved in this banner. The 'flag' pieces were fussy cut from the blah blah paper then two tiny holes punched and twine threaded. I then wrapped the twine around the brads a few times and tied the ends together, job done. This way it looks naturally placed and a bit different each time.

The photos are much more important then the title here, so I backed them with white and used flat alpha stickers. I tried to blend the My Mr Man part into the background colour to make the main part of the title stand out. The 'g' in dragon was actually blue but I coloured it with a yellow marker to make it match.

XoXoX Nicole

Edit: I am also linking this layout up at Paper Issues for their current Issue: Gettin' the Scoop on the Sweet Days of Summer link party. A great spot to get some extra summery inspiration from other scrappers.

Bloomin' Lovely - SATW

G'Day.

Today I am sharing with you a layout that has been playing on my mind since the start of June and the photos have been hanging around my crafty areas since August 2013. 

Bloomin' Lovely

The photos are of Chloe in my mothers backyard while it was full of bright yellow flowers (it doesn't matter that they are technically weeds, its still pretty) She had HEAPS of fun running like a maniac back and forth. I love how kids find fun and happiness in everything!

The page was inspired by the June Challenge at Scrap Around The World. It's a real good one!

I LOVE this mood board! I was instantly inspired by the flowers, the LOVE and all the yellow. Originally I began creating a grungy/messy/more mixed media page but I just couldn't stop thinking about these photos. I mean seriously, look back at the mood board and tell me you don't think about them!?! ... LIES.

This layout uses only Simple Stories, mostly from the latest 'Good Day Sunshine' collection and also a few stickers from the DIY range. I even managed to feature a bike with a bunch of flowers in the front like the top right picture in the mood board.

I thought having such a large focus photo would make the embellishing easier, boy was I wrong! But after LOTS of struggling the DIY stickers words 4x6 helped save the day.
I also fought with the right title for the page, I had so many ideas but none seemed quite right or wouldn't fit in the space I' left after looking back at the mood board I found my solution.

I am quietly pleased with how this layout finished up, I think there will be more super large photo pages in my future.
What do you guys think? Any big picture tips?
XoXoX Nicole

Yay Me!

Hey Hi Hello Blogosphere Friends!
I'm just popping in to let you guys know one I've my layout is going to be featured in the Bella Buzz Newsletter released tomorrow on the Bella Blvd Blog.
Here's a quick sneak peak:

And in case you missed the last Bella Blvd Newsletter I just so happened to be in that one too! Go check it out here.

Two in a row! It feels good.
Thanks for your support guys and girls!
XoXoX Nicole

it's a hard life - Creative Scrappers 270

I find it soo frustrating having so much inspiration and soo many scrappy ideas/pages in mind but just not enough time to get them done. I spend the start of the month thinking/planning/hoping to get something created until about mid way through I finally steal some time but often can't decide which one to work on...
Anyway. On to the page that made the house work wait for this mid-month session.

it's a hard life

Another case of FINALLY scrapping some photos that have been floating around my scrap space for a long time. In fact almost exactly one year. These are a few snaps of Jayce at 6 days old just chilling.

The page design came from sketch #270 from Creative Scrappers. Once I saw the sketch I knew the perfect photos for it and didn't use much (or any) imagination, how you see it is how I used it.

Each square is a different colour and pattern with one matching embellishment while every piece of paper is backed with black cardstock. I did an absolute terrible job when cutting my so called "squares" so please don't look too closely.

As always I am extremely disappointed by the appearance of my own hand writing, it never looks the way I imagine it.

Hard to believe these photos are JUST over one year ago. Crazy.

XoXoX Nicole