Scrapbook Challenges - Sizzling Summer of Sketches

You are in for a TREAT next month at Scrapbook Challenges.... Things will be sizzling all month long.

Find out more tomorrow!

Nuts About Sketches - Design Team application

It was with excitement that I saw the announcement for the new Design Team call over at Nuts About Sketches.... here is my layout that I made:

Having served on the team before (a few times), I would love to serve on the team again.. so am holding thumbs.

Scrapbook Challenges - Sketch 306

The last week of July and out last sketch and layout for this month.

The sketch for this week is also lots of fun to work with.

Head over to the forum to see what the rest of the Sketch Crew has done this week.

Olympics....

It's happening today... the opening ceremony of the 2012 Olympics.

Google's doodle is very apt just for today.

Let the fun begin!

Scrapbook Challenges - Wildcard Challenge

Today I am running a wildcard challenge at Scrapbook Challenges.  The monthly theme is Patriotism.

For more details on how to partake in this challenge, please head over to the forum where all will be revealed.

This is my layout for this challenge

I used the July sketch from The Paper Mixing Bowl for inspiration for my layout.

Scrapkits catchup

Going through my list of layouts created this year, I see there are a whole host of Scrapkits ones that I have yet to share... so let's get cracking.  For most of these layouts I have substituted my own papers, embellishments, etc.

As I have lots of different Christmas papers I adapted this kit pretty easily.  I love the totally non-traditional colour scheme.

Next up is a layout that for which I adapted the top flap to work around the patterned paper I used (from Kaisercraft).

This next layout followed the kit pretty closely, except that I added in a whole mini-album which I had made at the Scrapbook Convention two years ago.  The album turned out quite bulky but was definitely worth putting on this page.

This layout got a complete facelift with bright colours and stickers.

 

To capture memories of our weekend in Cape Town in January this year, I turned to this great kit and used Art from the Heart papers.

Last up for now is this kit that I made of a "cooking" birthday party Aaron went to.

I pretty much used the kit as is but added my own cooking embellishments and added in the extra blue papers.

I love making Scrapkits work for me and my photos.  I still have a few that need to be made, so reckon I will have enough to keep me going for the rest of the year at least!

Scrapbook Challenges - Sketch 305

It's Monday again... the week's are running into each other.... just now it will be Christmas!!!  The best part of Monday is the new sketch reveals (I think I say this each week!).

Today's sketch is now live on the forum at Scrapbook Challenges.  Here is my layout.

The sketch called for one huge photo but as I didn't have any on hand, I adapted the sketch a bit and used four photos, but mounted them as one to give the same effect.

As an added challenge I am also using this layout at the Scrap Friendzy camp.

So now, head over to the forum and see what the rest of the Sketch Crew has done this week.

Edited: I have entered this layout in the Scrap Our Stash Stars and Stripes challenge for July. You can see it published here.

Scrapbook Challenges - Sketch 304

Back to school for us today... the start of Term 3.  but boy oh boy did we have a shock of cold weather to have to start the term with.... so not pleasant!

The highlight though of the day is seeing the new layouts up at Scrapbook Challenges.  Here is mine to brighten your day:

The sketches for this layout are a great way to get inspiration, be it the single or double one you choose.

Head over to the forum and see what the rest of the Sketch Crew did this week.

Scrapbook 'n Things - Challenge 6

Last month's challenge kit from Scrapbook 'n Things pushed me a bit on the creativity front, as it was not a colour combo that I would normally use... black, brown and cream... using the Simple Stories Documented range.  The challenge was to add in another colour cardstock... so I turned to my favourite colour and added blue! 

I did photos of Aaron's birthday party from last year and used a layout idea from Scrap Orchard as my inspiration.

If you happen to be around the Roodepoort area, please pop in to the shop and vote for my layout.

Also to let you know that I WON the lucky draw last week for my frames that I made... happy dance!!... my prize was R510 which I'm putting towards a new kit class that is coming up at Scrapbook 'n Things.

I'm in the process of packing my first ever kit for sale which should be available at the end of this month at Scrapbook 'n Things... super excited to have this opportunity... hopefully it will be the first of many.

I have already done my page for this month's challenge kit (using the Simple Stories Summer Fresh range)... but will only show it at the end of July.

Using up some of my scraps

I have a box full (and overflowing) of scraps... and every good intention of using them someday.  Well "someday" arrived last week when I popped in to Scrapbook 'n Things and found out about a competition.... decorate a frame any way you can.  Well I decided to pull out my scraps and see what I could do...

First up I decided to make a picture and then frame it.  These are some of the close up details.

I used a house pattern from a past Scrapkits page that I did and then things just went from there.  I also decided to try the sunburst idea that Michelle van Wyk showcased on her blog a few weeks ago.  I really love the final product.

Having completed this frame, I decided to tackle another one.  This one is all about school.  I made a page a few years back that will show Aaron through his twelve years of school.... so it's a continuous work in progress.

 I used lots of different papers to wrap the frame and then added lots of leftover stickers and rubons to add extra embellishments.  Again, here is a closeup of some of the details.

So there you have it... two frames made with lots of scraps..... no 12x12 pages were harmed in the making of these projects!

I also entered both of these in the "Use your scraps" challenge for the DT Debut at Scrapbook Challenges last week.

Interactive Layouts

A few months ago I did a web search on how to make a pop-up layout and found Karin Burniston's page.  She has some of the most amazing interactive pages.   I got notes from her for two pages and managed to put them both together.

First up is this one that I did about my niece, Gemma.

This page has a CD hidden at the back, which you turn and it lifts the arrow on the right page, which lifts the photo and reveals hidden journalling.  The two pull up tags also reveals more photos.

The next page that I made has an even bigger surprise

When you open the envelop on the right hand page... hey presto, up pops a ball with lots more pics.  And then for even more fun, the ball spins around!  Love it!

You can see lots more of Karen's pages on her website.

As complicated as these pages may look and sound, they were actually very easy to put together.  I would definitely to do a few more of this type of page.

Scapbook Challenges - Sketch 303

I've spent the last week glued to the tv watching Wimbledon.... it was absolutely fabulous.  I loved the matches and was rooting for my favs throughout... must say I was extremely happy with most of the winners.

So with that said, I haven't done a heck of a lot of scrapping but have managed to do my design team commitments for this month.   Here is this week's layout for Scrapbook Challenges:

My layout even has machine stitching on it... something that I do very seldomly.... much rather just stitch by hand!  Instead of brads, I used little golfball stickers at the junction points.

Here are the sketched that you can follow too.

Check out the forum to see what the others on the design team did with this sketch... there is some awesome inspiration to be seen.

Scrapbook Challenges - DT Debut

There are lots of games and challenges happening in the Scrapbook Challenges forum this week... each Design Team member is contributing somehow.... come and join us in the excitement.

I'm hosting a guessing game to discover the new name for our design team.... clues will be given all week!

Scrapbook Challenges - Sketch 302

Today has been a day full of ups and downs.... a real "Monday Mayhem" sort of day..... it took me over an hour to get to work.  Then after a few good hours at work we had a power failure.  This was surpassed by my boss taking us out for lunch.  This afternoon at home I had time to scrap and managed to do two layouts... yippee.  Then time for another downer... wanted to make supper and discovered that the gas to our cooker is finished.... urgh!  Oh well, tomorrow is another day and full of fun!

Today also is a fun day in that a new sketch is up at Scrapbook Challenges.... with lots of new exciting developments happening in this new term too.  So here is my layout for this week:

I used this single page sketch:

The double page sketch is just as awesome...

There is a whole host of inspiration to see in the forum... go and check it out.

Paper Mixing Bowl - July Challenge

It was just a few week's ago that I got the news that I was chosen to be part of the design team for Paper Mixing Bowl, and here it is time to have my first reveal.

You have till the end of July to link your layout up on the blog.  Leave me a comment too so that I can come and check out your creation.

It's official

I can now let the cat out the bag..... I'm serving a second term with Scrapbook Challenges... yippee!!!

One of the best parts of this announcement, is that I get to serve with my dear friend Theresa... yippee!!!!

To introduce our new team there will be a week-long event happening on the forum this week.... so please come and join us for some extra fun.

Happy Canada Day

All the best today to all our family and friends in Canada.... may your day be full of fun festivities.