Smiles of Chloe - Sassy & Sketch N Scrap

* Please note I am still battling away posting from my pfiestawhile my computer is out of action. Please excuse poor picture and content quality. Thank you. *

So first up I'll start with an update on the computer situation. I have it back my hot little hands and all my photos are still there! YAY! I must say a huge thank you to my techy friend who prefromed the miracle for me! Thank you thank you thank you! However before I return it to its previous duties I want to do some TLC on it!

Now onto why your really here. I have a scrapbooking page to share.

For this page I have compined two scrap challenges. The first is the March mood board over at Sassy Scrappers, below. Without this mood board the layout would not have happened.

http://sassyscrappers1.blogspot.com.au/2014/03/its-new-month-and-another-great.html

I had taken these photos of Chloe just a day before I'd seen this board. The colours and florals reminded me of the dress she was wearing so I printed them immediately. The bottom right picture inspired me to use the jillibean frames around my two favourite photos.

The layout of the page was based on a sketch at Sketch N Scrap here (

http://sketchnscrap.blogspot.com.au/2014/03/sketch-n-scrap-53.html )

When you ask chloe to smile you could receive a wide range of looks, on this occasion I got two of them. My two most favourite. The nose scrunchie and the cranky glare. I kinda split the page in a way with the two 'smiles'

The top section featuring the cranky face and sub title life. The bottom section the nose scrunchie.

I have used the October Afternoon 'Midway' papers and chipboard pieces which I coloured with sharpie markers and placed on the photos making them extra fun! The photo booth paper was extra perfect for this page and the shots either side sums it up nicely.

I flirted with alot of different titled for my page (its normally the easy part) I looked up different quotes and long winded essays but eventually settled with just a simple description of the photos (at 3:30am while up with a non sleeping infant, thanks Jayce)

Oh how I wish I had a sewing machine just for my paper crafts! Instead I will stick to drawing it on and outlining everything.

Thanks for dropping in.

XoXoX Nicole

Pub Swagger - Glitz Design & The Scrapbook Store

* Please note I am still battling away posting from my phone while my computer is out of action. Please excuse poor picture and content quality. Thank you. *

So I thought it was about time I did a layout of just Jayce. It is no secret that my partner and I like to have the occasional beer. And we are very fortunate that the pubs near us have children friendly zones, some even play areas and petting zoos. 

Anyway, the local had a huge Christmas festival that we wanted to take our kiddies to but by the time both kids were awake and happy we missed most of the action. But did manage to snap this photo of Jayce chilling out.

When I was looking back at my printed photos this one jumped out at me and once I saw the sketch at The Scrapbook Store (here) I knew it had to be scrapped Immediately!

Glitz Designs 'Dapper Dan' was the absolute perfect match with this layout. Both for the colours and styling. The sticker below sealed the deal!

I had all the elements to this page cut and arranged but something was stopping me from sticking it all down, it needed something and I wasnt sure what. So I headed over to the Glitz Design company blog for a bit of inspiration where I discovered their month challenges, one of which to use a roller doodle on your project. I had my answer!

I have used two different roller doodles the woodgrain along the vertical edge and the triangles as a horizontal element on the page.

Once I'd used the roller doodles I was able to happily glue it all into place.

Mothers you may want to lock up your daughters when this guy will be allowed to hit the town!! 

XoXoX Nicole

Dancing Spirit - 123 Challenge

* Please note I am still battling away posting from my phone while my computer is out of action. Please excuse poor picture and content quality. Thank you. *

Welcome to my slice of the Internet. I have with me a scrapbooking page to share. I am finally recording more of the everyday moments and things that my kiddies DO rather then the 1 in a million picture perfect shots.
Chloe loves to dance/jump/spin/generally run around like crazy! When I'm in the kitchen she often dances to the ABC, so one day a just sat there and held my camera button down while she did her thing.

Inspiriation for this page came from the 1 2 3 challenge blog. The Febuary challenge went up a bit late so has been extended until March 22nd it can be found here 

http://123-challenge-blog.blogspot.com.au/2014/02/finally-fberuary-123-challenge.html

Colour: Purple. Well there is plenty of that. I think this is as close to a monochrome layout as I will ever get.

Word: Spirit. It is front and centre (technically bottom and right) in the title. 

Technique: Texture. It is hard to portray this through pictures but it's there. I have used texture paste, foam, glitter glue and sequins.

I enjoyed working with so many photos on the one page. My theory is more photos equals more story. It did make embelliahing and arranging a little more difficult, to fix this I used the 3rd dimension height. (Again hard to photo)

Ok, I have to be honest. This page took me a lot longer then what I thought/hoped it would. I knew instantly the general look, squares/rectangles in a diagonal small to big and back again. However just when I thought it was done I'd look back at it and think something is missing. I got to the stage below and considered calling it a day but it wasn't quite right and was described as "not fun enough"

Looking back at it again I still wonder if the right bottomish is still a little lacking.

Since painstakingly typing this up on my phone (seriously this is not easy) I have thought of a possible addition which might fix this and add even more texture. Not sure if I should or not. What do you think? Take it a step further? Leave it as is? Or have I already gone too far? Let me know.

XoXoX Nicole.

Daily Drive - Scrap365 & Simple Stories

* Please note I am still battling away posting from my phone while my computer is out of action. Please excuse poor picture and content quality. Thank you. *

Hello. So I broke my word and printed a new photo to scrap but I'm sure when you see the photo you'll forgive me. It was printed direct from my phone so there had been no editing or anything. This is the picture exactly as it was taken and I think it's a good one.

This is a common sight in my review mirror and it makes me super happy! I couldn't help snapping a quick pic of it one day, safely of course.

I based the layout design on the sketch over at Scrap365 ( http://scrap365.blogspot.com.au/2014/02/happy-sketch-day.html )

I loved this sketch instantly and knew exactly what I wanted to create. Simple Stories Daily Grind collection was the perfect match for this page. I have used it exclusively.

In my usual style, I have kept very true to the sketch. I loved the prompts to put lots of little bits around the photo.

You will notice my own way less then perfect hand writing twice on this page. I am trying my best to journal more, especially about the bigger picture rather then the direct photo content.

Another of the littles things about my kiddies preserved on a page to remember for ever (and remind them that they did love one another once upon a time)

XoXoX Nicole

Kiss Kiss Hug Hug - Kraft It Up

*Please note I am still battling away posting from my phone while my computer is out of action. Please excuse poor picture and content quality. Thank you *

Hello. So I'm still keeping to my word to scrap older pre-printed pictures of the kids while I'm in a technology black out. And today I have a page from when they first meet. 

I was inspired to finally scrap this special moment of Chloe giving her new brother a gentle kiss from the Febuary Kraft It Up challenge which can be found here http://kraftitup.blogspot.com.au/2014/02/design-team-febuary-july-feb-challenge.html

The challenge is to scrap something you love using a kraft cardstock background. Have I mentioned before that I love these kids...? 

Well I do just a little bit though... And love this photo of them! It shows just how quickly Chloe knew to be gentle and began to care for him!

Once again the title was cut way back in September from my Auntys cricut, along with all the other paper elements on the page! 

I loved these banner letters as soon as I saw them and quickly cut out my signature line 'XoXoX', a perfect match for the photo and title!

As I already had many embellishments for this page I decided to give myself an extra challenge and not use any other paper! I was completely lost in the beginning but remembered my new found love of getting messy and using the awesome anything goes with it kraft cardstock created my own busy background with paints, stamps, washi tape and twine.

Avoiding any paper really was difficult for me! It is the scrap item I have the most of by far! When it came time to stick the picture down I noticed it was disappearing into my created bussyness, normally I'd mat it but no other paper... hmm... instead I used strips of ribbon around each edge and added some knots for interest.

About time I scrapped this one hey.

XoXoX Nicole.

You 2 Warm My Heart.

*Please note I am still battling away posting from my phone while my computer is out of action. Please excuse poor picture and content quality. Will update them once I'm back online. Thanks.*

I'm back. How is everyone else going?
I have stuck to my word and created a page using older already printed photos during my technology lull.
First up is a layout with my two kiddies laying together on the couch.

I took inspiration from the February sketch over at The Creative Sketch blog run by The Creative Scrapbook ( 

http://mycreativesketches.blogspot.com.au/2014/02/february-sketch.html ). 

I think it was the hearts in the sketch that prompted me to use these together with the Love collection from Bo Bunny.

The title was cut out on my Auntys Cricut while visiting way back in September last year, like I said I had this photo printed for a while... The original cut file reads 'you warm my heart' but by cutting out the number 2 and a shadow for it the same colour as the titles shadow I was easily able to edit it.

In amongst the Cricut cartrigdes I found these super cute heart stick pins (if this page doesn't convinve you of my love for hearts I dont know what will!) and cut a bunch in different colours. I think you will be seeing more of them creep into my layouts now I've rediscovered them.

Washi tape is all the rage atm. It is a scrapbooking supply that I love and buy but seldom use. This is something I aim to change starting with this page. I've snuck 3 different styles in there and they can be the perfect touch.

I am slowly getting more brave/confident with inks and paints. And have randomly stamped some Kaisercraft texture stamps around the background then painted some stenciled hearts once everything was stuck down.

Thanks for stopping by.

XoXoX Nicole.

3 Months Old - ACC

Hey hi everyone!
So I have a little bit of good new with quite a lot of bad news but hoping for a good outcome...
So the bad news starts with me almost completely destroying my laptop! It is totally unusable for at least 2 weeks. More bad news, I hadn't backed up my photos for a LONG time! So whether I will have any baby photos of Chloe or Jayce is yet to be seen. Fingers crossed!! And hence in the mean time I can't print off any photos to scrap but hopefully that means I meant get around to scraping photos I've had printed for awhile.
Good news. I had finished a couple of layouts just before my technological meltdown and can share them through my phone. Picture quality and blog content may be a bit diminished but here goes:

3 months old

The subject of the page is pretty straight forward, Jayce is 3 months old on this day.

The layout design came from the Febuary sketch over at Annas Craft Cupboard (ACC).

I kept very close to the sketch, the only change is not immediately noticeable. I couldn't decide which photos I liked the most so turned the photo spots into photo flaps by simply folding over a piece of white cardstock.

The page is almost entirely Simple Stories, mostly Daily Grind. I like all the lil bits and pieces they bring out with their collections.

Along with them I've used a Kaisercraft cogs mask with black dylusions spray in three spots then used it as a stamp in the top right corner.

I have also used the '3' tag from the photos as part of the title, bit of a size comparison. 

Other then those, two WOW Chipboard cogs and a Lil' Something Else flair bagde and page complete.

XoXoX Nicole

You & Me - SATW & ScrapFriends

Hello there!
I'm back with your regular viewing, a layout! I suppose a slight difference though, this layout has ME in it. Shock! I absolutely love this photo of Chloe and I (and some eagle eyed views may have noticed it become my profile picture all over the place back in December). It was taken by my camera crazy work friend Toan at the work Christmas party, Chloe did so well! She was super duper tired by the time this photo was taken then had to back it up with another Christmas party after.

You & Me

So because I'm pretty much a junkie for these things =P I designed my layout around the current sketch challenge over at ScrapFriends an online scrap shop that knows how to throw a sale!

I don't think I could have got more exact to the sketch! It was such an amazing design that it didn't need any twisting.

However I was inspired even more so by the current mood board at Scrap Around The World.

This truly is an amazing board and I think I took a lil' some'em some'em from every picture!
The bottom middle picture convinced me to use lots of hearts (not that I need much) and to marry this with the sketch while the top right picture of the cake moved me to make them an ombre from dark purple to light pink both with a stencil and with chipboard hearts.

The top left picture lend me straight to the background pattern paper from Websters Pages Record It collection and I decided to stay there for the rest of the papers as well. It also prompted me to get a bit messy!

I used the bottom right picture of ombre increasing size pots influence the hearts on my page. The full hearts have simply been painted while I liked the hint of bare wood from the outline hearts although they needed a something, twine to the rescue! Just wrap and staple.

The title is a Kaisercraft wood words which said all I needed to say and leaving it bare made it stand out the perfect amount.

I used a stencil/mask to paint little gold triangles around the page and even on the photo also due to the pot picture! Pretty big deal for me! To finish the page off I threw on two flair badges from APOCD.

As I feel that my own hand writing destroys a scrap page I have hidden the who what where when behind the photo.

Thanks for checking out my lastest creation. Why not leave some love in the comments, or hate, I like to hear it all!
XoXoX Nicole

Couple of Cards

Hello fabulous people!
Things have been a little quite around here for a bit. The start of each month always seems to be my busiest time and so far this month the time I have had I haven't been able to concentrate on just one project long enough! Once again too many ideas from way too much inspiration!
But I did manage to sit down a create a lil couple of cards for Brenden.

People that know Brenden and I will know we are definitely not the most romantic couple! In fact we have barely ever been on a date before and Valentines Day... Whats that?!? But for some unknown reason this year on February 14th I was compelled to make a card, so this is what I did:

Its pretty simple, 3 coats of paint from the same stencil slightly moved on 'brick' pattern paper with a punched heart and stamp on a strip of 'wood' paper. Thats it. And lucky I did too because Brenden surprised me with a single red rose!
Not very long after Valentines Day comes Brendens birthday so while I was at it, I whipped up a card for that too. 

Again a very simple design, using the reverse of the 'brick' paper, the same 'wood' paper, 2 MME wood banners and 1 screw brad. 

I'll keep the insides of the cards between Brenden and I. But hope you like the fronts.

XoXoX

Love You Guys - ACC & Scrapbook Creations

Well I did it. Yet another layout for this month. That takes the grand total to 6! And think that will be it. I was hoping to get in one more but seem to have run out of time. There was just soo much inspiration around this month!!

Love Love Love You Guys!

I have LOVED this photo pf Jayce and Chloe from the moment I saw it! They look so happy having a nice cuddle in the morning.
Inspiration for this page came from two different places.
First up, the layout is from the January sketch challenge over at the online store Annas Craft Cupboard

My followers out there have probably realised by now that I just can't help myself when it comes to hearts! They make their way into most of my pages one way or another. So when I saw this sketch I just knew I'd have a photo perfect for it.

Second is from the January Inspiration Board at the blog of the Scrapbook Creation Magazine.

You can probably guess that most of my inspiration came from the top left photo of the bright umbrella with the dull background. I couldn't resist re-creating it on my page.

To create the heart I simply drew the it on white cardstock, divided it up, numbered the pieces then cut up the slices and then cut out that shape from Bella Blvd papers. By using Bella Blvd I knew that any papers I chose the colours would go together well. Love that all their products. Then it was just a matter on sticking them back in order onto another piece on white cardstock.

Like the inspiration piece I wanted the only colour to be in the heart hence I kept embellishments to a minimum. Instead making the title a bit more interested by backing the words love 2 and 3 times in grey-scaled cardstock. Plus two lines of grey vellum hearts to really hit home the love around the photo.

I really do love these guys and it makes me soo proud to see them love each other soo much! They light up when they see each other! I know it will all change one day but until then I relish every moment!
XoXoX Nicole

Materials.
Cardstock - Black, dark grey, light grey, white.
Bella Blvd - Freestyle Sophisticates - Scallop
Bella Blvd - Baby Boy - Mommas Boy
Bella Blvd - We're Expecting - Baby Boy Bump
Bella Blvd - Mr Boy - Borders & Blocks
Bella Blvd - Freestyle Sophisticates - Pickled Juice
Bella Blvd - Baby Boy - On The Go
Bella Blvd - Socialite - Cute Cuts
Bella Blvd - Winter Wonder - Icy
Bella Blvd - Too Cute To Spook - Spooky Night
Bella Blvd - Christmas Wishes - Christmas Love
Bella Blvd - Baby Girl - Snuggly Safari
Bella Blvd - Winter Wonder - Blizzard
Bella Blvd - Baby Girl - Boarders
Bella Blvd - Birthday Girl -
Skipping 5 - Puffy Things
Amy Tangerine - Thickers - Goodness
Vellum